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First look at the Burghley cross-country course – check out photos of Kitty King walking the track

Pippa Roome Pippa Roome

    • With Defender Burghley (30 August-3 September) fast approaching, it’s time to get a first look at the Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course for 2023.

    Horse & Hound sent recent European team gold and individual silver medallist Kitty King to Lincolnshire to review Derek di Grazia’s second Burghley track, following his debut as course-designer at the event in 2022. You can read her thoughts on every fence in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine (dated 24 August). In the meantime, check out these pictures of the course…

    Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course: first look

    Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course: fence four

    Kitty checks out the first combination, the LeMieux Arena Rails at fence 4ab.

    That’s a long way down! The big drop at The Holland Cooper Leaf Pit (fence 7abcd) is always a feature fence on the Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course.

    Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course: fence 9ab

    Kitty susses out the line through fence 9ab, Herbert’s Hollow.

    How big is it? Kitty peeks over the top of fence 9a.

    Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course: fence 10a

    The Defender Trout Hatchery (fence 10abc) always catches out some of the field. We’re pleased to see Kitty has her wellies on ready to take a thorough look at the water fences.

    Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course: fence 10abc

    The bounce into water at the Defender Trout Hatcher (fence 10abc), seen from the landing side.

    Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course: fence 15abc

    The angled skinny hedge in a ditch which forms the first element of the Rolex combination (fence 15abc).

    The Lion Bridge (fences 26 and 27) is the final big question before two plain fences on the way to the finish.

    Pictures by Peter Nixon

    • Read Kitty’s thoughts on every fence on the Defender Burghley cross-country course in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, on sale 24 August 2023, plus videos of Kitty walking some of the key combinations online the same day

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    Pippa Roome
    Pippa Roome

    H&H magazine editor and eventing editor
    Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
    Pippa Roome

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