Please note that all Cross Country details are subject to change as the Ground Jury will make their final inspection on Wednesday 1 September 2010.
By Capt Mark Phillips CVO
Burghley Cross Country Course Designer 2005-2010
Like the Masters at Augusta, Burghley still stands as one of the sports truly great ‘majors’ and this year’s cross country course will surely maintain Burghley’s reputation of having a truly influential cross country track.
There is a familiar start as horses and riders leave Ring 2 over the Burghley Overture (1) with the image of the Marquess of Exeter who had so much to do with the Olympic movement and of course starting the Horse Trials in this beautiful Park. Still with the backdrop of Burghley House the Range Rover Flower Trailer (2) comes up very quickly but shouldn’t cause too many worries.
Riders then get a chance to settle their nerves as they head back towards the stables to the Picnic Table (3). Nestled in a furrow this looks huge and will leave riders in no doubt that they are now at a real Four Star competition.
The Leaf Pit (4) is a Burghley classic and comes very early in proceedings and having just passed the gate to the Stables field only complicates matters further. This year riders will have to choose between the dizzying drop down off the Step or jumping the Log on the LHS before the precipitous descent into The Leaf Pit. In the bottom awaits a choice of very ‘missable’ Triple Brushes made all the more difficult by the momentum gained in the descent. Riders would be well advised here to concentrate on steering rather than control as the latter will be in short supply!
The Trakhener (5) is large but a routine affair at this level. The Discovery Valley (6) though needs more thought and has developed into something of a bogey fence in recent years and for many the dream of a Burghley title has foundered here. I’ve tried to make the question a little more straight forward this time with one less jumping effort. However all will still need a good jump over The Trunk to get the three forward strides down to the Step to jump up to the Discovery that’s proved so elusive in years gone by.
After galloping through the Jubilee Plantation there is something of a let up at Herbert’s Hollow (7). A little steering is required as horses come out of the hollow but few will be wanting to take advantage of the alternative here.
It’s then a brand new route to another of the Burghley classics, the Land Rover Trout Hatchery (8,9,10). The Cabin perched on the top of the bank is a little daunting as it will launch horses down to The Goose Nest that will come up very quickly in the water. Riders will want to make a good job of these fences so as not to rattle the horses confidence before an old favourite in the Upper Trout Hatchery. There is nothing new here but it is still very difficult for riders to predict how their horses will land in the water. There are three strides across the Hatchery and a bounce out, however if the ship is not sailing so well riders can circle before the last element.
It’s then up to the Waterloo Plain (11) to the Oxer that is still the smallest fence on the course and the one that frightens me the most. Luckily the horses don’t get so much time to think about it.
The HSBC Malting’s Branch (12,13,14) has a brand new look this year. The big table will not hold too many fears but the two houses, 4 strides apart off the turn and angled towards the crowd over a naughty little hump in the ground, will require a little concentration and steering before circling back to the massive white oxer which is the biggest fence I’ve seen in my 40 years in the sport.
The reputation of the Rolex Combination (15) grows every year. This time there are some brand new rails over the ditch and then two strides to an awesome open corner. Ridden well this will look easy, riders that are not so confident though would be well advised to take a good look at the easier scenic route.
The Capability Cabin (16) is something of a let up before riders reach the Land Rover Dairy Farm (17). The first corner is unchanged as we had some spectacular pictures here last year. Riders though should be more confident this time and the second corner will be much easier to find.
Riders can then relax a little and look at their watches as they take the shorter track over to the Winners Avenue Bridge (18) and the Birch Hedge (19). Back at Capability’s Classic (20) the log is an old favourite but the corner coming out does not look any smaller after the ground work in the winter. Riders need to decide here how much of an angle they are going to take on. Many could be advised to take an extra step or two and play safe. No one will win the competition here, but it is a very easy place to lose it.
The Burghley Station (21) looks as big as ever and the Cascade Hedges (22,23,24) even bigger! The two angled hadges are something the riders will not have seen before. The two strides in between look long but will ride easier than people think and then horses have six strides to get up a head of steam before the Cascade itself. A number took fright at this last year, hopefully this time it will not hold so many fears.
Jubilee Leap (25) is something of a let up before the Land Rover Arena (26,27). The Glider theme brings a whole new look to this combination where riders will need to turn their horses ‘in the air’ over the two middle glider trailers. This two stride, one stride, two stride combination should ride well for those that still have petrol in the tank and a horse that is still listening,. There is a circuitous route through for those that are tiring.
It is then set sail for home time over the Flower Frame (28), Lambert’s Sofa (29) with just a little care needed at the Land Rover Finale (30).
Cross country day promises to be as exciting as ever and whoever takes home the Land Rover £50,000 first prize will be a worthy Burghley champion. |
