Jock Paget reacts to losing Burghley title
Last year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials winner Jock Paget and Equestrian Sport New Zealand (ESNZ) have “welcomed” the partial tribunal ruling made by the FEI yesterday (23 June) which officially disqualified Jock from the 2013 event.
Jock’s disqualification handed the 2013 title over to fellow kiwi Andrew Nicholson.
Jock’s ride Clifton Promise tested postive for banned sedative reserpine at the event in September and a “B” sample confirmed the result last November.
Despite the postive tests, Jock’s Burghley win was due to stand until an FEI tribunal hearing had taken place. But in what is believed to be an unprecedented move, Jock requested that a ruling on his “automatic disqualifation” be made before the full hearing.
A statement released by ESNZ on Jock’s behalf said: “Paget is aware that the ongoing uncertainty with regard to the Burghley title is having a detrimental effect on the sport of eventing and especially the build-up to the first 2 major events of the northern hemisphere.”
The statement also confirmed that the Jock will attend in person the tribunal hearing, which is due to take place on 3 June in London.
“Paget submitted a comprehensive dossier of evidence explaining and supporting his claim of ‘no fault and no negligence’.
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“Paget is clear that all presently available evidence shows that neither he nor anyone else knew of the presence of the banned substance, before the sample was taken,” the statement added.
“Today’s ruling is welcomed by ESNZ and Paget, who will continue to focus on his case to the tribunal in London in June.”
Jock’s mentor Australian Kevin McNab’s Burghley ride, Clifton Pinot, also tested positive for the banned tranquiliser reserpine. The FEI has not yet confirmed whether McNab has also been officially disqualified. The date of his tribunal has not been publically announced at the current time.
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.