USEF Land Rover Grant Recipient Symansky Finishes in Top 15 at Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4

September 6, 2015

Stamford, England - The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4* came to a close on Sunday with the show jumping phase in the main arena of the prestigious venue. Fifty combinations moved forward to the final phase over Richard Jeffery's show jumping track. The U.S. combinations had a day of solid performances, led by USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Lynn Symansky and Donner, who finished 14th in their Burghley debut.

Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) and The Donner Syndicate, LLC's Donner began their week at Burghley by scoring 47.7, a personal best at the CCI4* level, in the dressage phase on Thursday. On Saturday, she and the 2003 Thoroughbred gelding made light work of the massive track, though took some time to settle into a rhythm and went the long routes at Maltings 360 and Discovery Valley, collecting 13.2 time penalties. In its show jumping round, the pair had a rail at fence three for four faults, but finished strongly, ending on a score of 64.9 in 14th place.

"I think jumping on turf is a challenge since we don't practice on it a lot at home. He felt great this morning, but he got a little spooky in the ring and the footing is a bit holding so we had a rail," Symansky explained. "Being the person that I am, I always want to do better, but I am thrilled with such a great finish in our first appearance at Burghley."

Colleen Rutledge (Frederick, Md.) and her own Covert Rights, recipients of a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition Grant through the USET Foundation, had a great showing in the horse's second CCI4* start and first appearance at Burghley. Rutledge gave the the 2006 Thoroughbred Cross gelding solid rides throughout the three phases, beginning with the dressage phase where they earned a score of 46.5. On cross-country day the pair came home with no jumping penalties and 28.4 time penalties. Their weekend came to a close with a phenomenal double-clear round in the show jumping phase, putting them in 22nd place with a score of 74.9.

Laine Ashker (Henrico, Va.) and her own Anthony Patch also made their debut at Burghley and earned valuable experience on the international stage. She and the 1999 Thoroughbred gelding had a respectable dressage test to receive a score of 48.8. The pair completed the renowned cross-country course, but had a few issues along the way, collecting 40 jump penalties after stops at fences 4B of the Lion Bridge and 20A at the Land Rover Trout Hatchery and 46.4 time penalties. They knocked three rails for a 12-fault show jumping round, ending on a score of 147.2 in 48th place.

Michael Jung (GER) and La Biosthetique-Sam FBW claimed top honors with a final score of 40.0. Tim Price (NZL) and Ringwood Sky Boy finished in second with a 41.5, while the only combination to finish on its dressage score, Chris Burton (AUS) and TS Jamaimo, was third with a 45.0.

Find out more about the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4* and view the results.

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