Former British champion point-to-point rider and H&H columnist Richard Burton, 36, has been doing a different type of riding recently — cycling a stage of the Tour de France.

“It was the toughest sporting event I have ever taken part in,” he said.

Richard joined 11,475 cyclists from 50 countries in the 21st L’Etape du Tour.

One of the toughest on the tour it involves 130km of Alpine climbing that tests the mental and physical endurance of amateurs to the limit. Roads are closed for a limited period, and riders who fail to keep up a certain pace are returned on buses.

After 8.5hr of riding Richard and five friends, including his brother-in-law, amateur rider and racehorse trainer Will Kinsey, completed the course.

“The heat was immense, people were physically sick and most of us experienced the shakes and felt faint at some point,” added Richard.

“It was a real mental and physical examination and the hills were relentless, but I’m absolutely chuffed we did it. I’m just waiting for my body to feel normal again.”

Richard’s interest in the event came through watching the Tour de France — won last year by Sir Bradley Wiggins — and he saw his challenge as a way of raising money for the Injured Jockeys’ Fund.

An injury to his grandfather’s brother, former champion jockey Tim Brookshaw, in the 1960s, led to John Oaksey founding the IJF.

“All retired jockeys feel a desire to give back to a cause that is close to their hearts whether they have needed IJF help or not,” he said.

Richard won four British men’s championships, rode a record 414 winners in point-to-points in addition to three winners at the Cheltenham Festival.

He has raised over £1,000 for the Injured Jockeys Fund. To donate visit: http://www.justgiving.com/Richard-Burton36etape

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Former H&H point-to-point columnist Richard Burton has retired from the saddle.

The 35-year-old has decided to quit raceriding to spend more time with his family – his wife is expecting their second child at the end of the month – and to concentrate on his equestrian property business.

Richard, who is the subject of our “Reveals” page this week (H&H, 29 December), retires as reigning men’s point-to-point champion – a title he also won in 2003, 05 and 06.

He has ridden 414 pointing winners and a further 64 under Rules.

Richard’s major wins include the Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival twice, the Aintree Fox Hunters’ (Scots Grey, 2007) and the Christie’s Foxhunter at Cheltenham (Cappa Bleu, 2009). 


For more see next week’s issue of H&H (5 January).

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Horse & Hound columnist Richard Burton looks certain to take the 2010/11 National Men’s Point-to-Point Championship after Transporter’s restricted win at a rain-lashed Bratton Down on Sunday.

The former three-time champion, who was making his first visit to the Devon course, has a 37-34 lead over Phillip York, who pulled up Son Of Karinga when well-beaten after making the early running.

Phillip’s earlier mounts, Cavite Zeta and Caught In Time were unsuited by the softened ground and could only finish third and second respectively, despite being well-supported in the market.

“If Phillip had won on those two, we would have probably shaken hands and settled for a tie, but it just didn’t quite work out.

“It will be hard for Phillip to ride three or four more winners now and I’m sorry for him, as I know what it’s like to be so close”, said Richard, who lost out 54-50 to Ashley Farrant after a hard-fought battle for the 2004 title.

The season ends with the Torrington Farmers fixture at Umberleigh on Saturday.

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Richard Burton has broken the record for the number of point-to-point wins by a British rider, scoring his 385th victory at the South Herefordshire meeting at Garnons on Sunday.

The 34-year-old three-times national men’s champion rode a treble on Thats Ben, Heavy Weather and Sin E An Capaill, the latter being the one who beat Julian Pritchard’s 384 set in 2005.

“The crowd cheered me all the way back down the run-in and into the winner’s enclosure and the jockeys came out to greet me,” said Richard.

See Richard’s column on page 49 of this week‘s issue (10 March, 2011).

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Reigning point-to-point men’s champion Richard Burton heads the men’s championship but will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a broken leg at the Melton on 12 May.

“My leg is broken just above the ankle,” confirmed Richard last Sunday. “I hoped it was a sprain but X-rays confirmed the worst. I’ll definitely be out for the rest of the season.”

Men’s championship

Men: 34 Richard Burton; 27 James Tudor; 22 Nick Scholfield; 21 Stuart Morris, Richard Woollacott; 20 Phillip York; 19 Dickie Barrett; 18 Oliver Greenall; 17 Darren Edwards; 16 Ryan Bliss, Julian Pritchard; 15 Ian Chanin; 14 Chris Dawson, Michael Miller; 13 Sam Waley-Cohen; 12 Neil Harris, Tim Vaughan; 11 Luke Morgan, Adrian Wintle; 10 Guy Brewer, Rhys Hughes, Tim Lane, Nick Pearce, Andrew Richardson.

Women

24 Claire Allen; 19 Polly Gundry; 18 Jacqueline Coward; 16 Rachael Green; 10 Isabel Tompsett; 9 Lucy Gardner; 8 Diana Hobbs; 7 Rilly Goschen, Jodie Hughes, Sue Sharratt; 6 Kelly Bryson, Cynthia Haydon, Katherine Hobbs, Alice Mills, Charlotte Tizzard, Jane Williams; 5 Sam Beddoes, Maxine Filby, Jenny Gordon, Emily Jarvis, Hannah Watson.

Novice men

22 Nick Scholfield; 9 David Maxwell; 5 John Mathias, Michael Smith, Will Telfer.

Novice women

8 Diana Hobbs; 6 Alice Mills; 5 Maxine Filby, Emily Jarvis, Hannah Watson; 4 Lucy Alexander; 3 Carey Buckler, Marta Graholska, Pernilla Hermansson, Clare Hobson, Joanne Mason, Emily Noszkay, Kelly Smith.

H&H Leading Horse

9 Sea Snipe; 6 Carryonharry, Irilut, Let’s Fly, One Five Eight; 5 Ballylusky, Lough Ennel, Noble Persian; 4 Aaron’s Run, Bon Accord, Dante’s Back, Double Honour, Fauntleroy, Iron Express, Lady Myfanwy, Magicien, Millenium Way, Nautical Lad, Noakarad De Verzee, Sir Alf, Southwestern, Twenty Degrees, Watchyourback, Why Connie and Wise Man.

Harley Racing National Novice Riders Championship final standings

David Maxwell 27pts; Nick Scholfield 16; Kelly Smith 12; Tim Park 10; Luke Riley 10; Diana Hobbs 9; Suzy Berry 8; George Greenock 8; James Jones 8; Emily MacMahon 8; Joanne Mason 8; Richard Mason 8.

Weatherbys Chase PPORA Young Horse Awards final standings

Lady Myfanwy (South Wales) 49 pts; Why Connie (West Midlands) 44; Maxou Des Brosses (Wessex) 38; Machrihanish (Wessex) 36; Winter Scene (Devon & Cornwall) 34; Narciso (Yorkshire) 33; Aaron’s Run (West Midlands) 32; Bon Accord (South Midlands) 32; Noakarad De Verzee (West Midlands) 32.

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Men

12 Richard Burton;

9 Jamie Snowden;

7 Julian Pritchard, Richard Woollacott;

6 Dickie Barrett, Oliver Greenall, Neil Harris, James Tudor;

5 Darren Edwards, Michael Miller, Phillip York;

4 Tigger Barnes, Ryan Bliss, Joe Docker, Gary Hanmer, Fred Hutsby, David Maxwell, Ran Morgan, Stuart Morris, Sam Waley-Cohen, Adrian Wintle;

3 Will Biddick, Andrew Braithwaite, Guy Brewer, Rhys Hughes, Will Kinsey, Matthew Mackley, Godfrey Maundrell, Nick Scholfield, Mark Walford;

2 Sam Allwood, Shane Byrne, Ian Chanin, Mark Ellwood, Alistair Findlay, Harry Fowler, George Greenock, Colin Heard, Nick Kent, Tim Lane, Alex Merriam, Luke Morgan, Nick Oliver, James Owen, Andrew Richardson, Stuart Robinson, Tim Stephenson, Nigel Tutty, Alex Vaughan-Jones, Guy Weatherley.

Women

8 Claire Allen, Polly Gundry;

6 Jacqueline Coward, Rachael Green;

3 Lucy Alexander, Maxine Filby, Diana Hobbs, Katherine Hobbs, Charlotte Tizzard, Isabel Tompsett;

2 Kelly Bryson, Rose Davidson, Lucy Franks, Lucy Gardner, Jenny Gordon, Cynthia Haydon, Emily Jarvis, Alice Mills

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FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Men

39 Richard Burton, 28 James Tudor, 25 Neil Harris, 20 Richard Woollacott, 19 Ryan Bliss, Rowan Cope, 17 Dominic Alers-Hankey, 15 Darren Edwards, Jamie Snowden, Rupert Stearn, Adrian Wintle, Philip York, 14 Tim Vaughan, 13 David Kemp, James Owen, Julian Pritchard, Nick Williams.

Women (sponsored by the Racing Post Weekender)

28 Rachael Green, 22 Claire Allen, 17 Polly Gundry, 14 Rose Davidson, 12 Lucy Gardner, Lucy Rowsell, 11 Pauline Robson, Charlotte Tizzard. Novice men: 9 Josh Guerreiro, 7 Felix de Giles, Alex Vaughan-Jones, 6 Richard Bandey, Henry Kinchin, Alistair Ralph, Ben Robarts. Novice women: 5 Cynthia Haydon, 4 Carley Goodall, 3 Phine Banks, Emma Brader, Charlotte Brown, Carey Buckler, Suzanna Charrington, Emily Jane Harbour, Diana Hobbs, Kirsty Whitbread, Helen Williams.

Horses (sponsored by Horse & Hound)

8 Cape Stormer, 7 Nokimover, Sandy Duff, Watchyourback, 6 Southwestern, Web Master.

AREA AWARDS

Devon & Cornwall

Riders: Richard Woollacott, Lucy Gardner. Novice: Ben Robarts (also owner-rider), Alice Mills. Over-40: Colin Heard. Horses: Jalons Star (overall), Soldier Of Rome (novice), Tyre Hill Lily (mare), Sea Snipe (home-bred).

East Anglia

Riders: James Owen, Zoe Turner (points), Rupert Stearn (wins). Novices: Richard Morgan Evans, Kelly Smith. Horses: Deckie (open), Memsahib Ki Behan (mare).

Midlands

Riders: Rowan Cope, Jill Dawson. Novice: Matthew Briggs. Horses: Upham Lord (open & family), True Friday (mare), Sadler’s Lamp (novice).

Northern

Riders: Clive Storey, Rose Davidson. Novice: Catherine Walton. Hunt: Border. Horses: Web Master. Confined horses: Red Gauntlet (Northern England), Alittlebitopower (Scotland).

North-West

Riders: Richard Burton, Sue Sharratt. Novice: Carly Goodall. Veteran: Gary Hanmer. Horses: Darnil (open), Latzod’alm (novice), Chadswell (family).

Sandhurst

Rider & novice rider: Richard Bandey. Owner-rider: Clare Wills. Horse: Quickswood.

South-East

Riders: Chris Gordon, Cynthia Haydon. Novices: Steve Spice, Helen Williams. Horses: Cape Stormer (overall), Court Award (novice).

South Midlands

Riders: James Tudor, Emily Jane Harbour (also novice). Owner: Alan Hill (Bering Gifts).

Wales

Riders: Dai Jones, Lucy Rowsell (points), James Tudor (wins). Novice: James Stephens. Horses: Bobosh & Classi Maureen & Khatani & Oneofthemongoes (overall), Gipsy Girl (mare), Bobosh (ladies’), Moon Tiger (veteran), Brave Caradoc & Hot Produxion (maiden).

South Wales

Rider: Tim Vaughan. Novice: James Stephens. Horses: Khatani (open & Pentyrch), Boyne Shadow & Hot Produxion & Montys Island & Royal China (maiden).

West Wales

Riders: Dai Jones, Lucy Rowsell. Novice: Josh Harries. Horse: Brave Caradoc.

Welsh Border

Riders: Andy Hanly, Michael Scudamore, Lorna Brooke. Novices: Michael Scudamore, Sarah Myhill. Veterans: Kenny Ford, Ray Rogers. Owner & trainer: Marilyn Scudamore. Horse: Samuel Wilderspin.

Wessex

Riders: Ryan Bliss, Rachael Green. Novice: Josh Guerriero. Owner: Sarah Hobbs (Saint Romble).

West Midlands

Riders: Adrian Wintle, Claire Allen. Novice: Adam Brown. Trainer: Andy Hobbs. Horses: Father Tom (overall), Rathcoole Dancer (mare), Dicks Dream (novice), Coole Venture (owner-trainer-rider). Groom: Angie Bevan.

Yorkshire

Riders: Ben Woodhouse, Jacqueline Coward. Novices: Ian Smith, Charlotte Brown. Horses: Wilfie Wild (open and joint most wins), Polar Gale (joint most wins), Gunner Royal (novice). Owner: Bob Woodhouse.

Ireland

Man: Derek O’Connor (also south and joint north). Woman: Clare MacMahon. Novice: Johnny Farrelly. Senior: Eamon Magee. Area: Mark O’Hare (joint north), Jamie Codd (east), JT McNamara (west).

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Richard Burton appears to have a stranglehold on the men’s championship with an impressive total of 33 wins under his belt this season, up to and including racing on 30 April. Burton’s nearest challengers are Neil Harris and James Tudor with 18 wins apiece, but few would bet against Burton repeating last year’s victory.

In the ladies’ division Rachael Green has continued to enjoy a successful season with 22 wins to her credit. This gives her a cushion of seven winners ahead of her closest rival Claire Allen (15). Last year’s ladies’ champion Polly Gundry is in third place on 13.

Sandy Duff is the horse everyone needs to catch at the head of the winners’ table with seven triumphs this season taking him one ahead of Web Master. Five horses are snapping at their heels with five wins apiece.

Championship leaderboard (up to and including April 30)

Men: 33 Richard Burton, 18 Neil Harris, James Tudor, 16 Ryan Bliss, Rowan Cope, 15 Dominic Alers-Hankey, 14 Jamie Snowden, Rupert Stearn, 13 David Kemp, 12 Dai Jones, 11 Darren Edwards, James Owen, Nick Williams, Adrian Wintle, Phil York.

Ladies: 22 Rachael Green, 15 Claire Allen, 13 Polly Gundry, 11 Pauline Robson, 10 Rose Davidson, Charlotte Tizzard.

Horses: 7 Sandy Duff, 6 Web Master, 5 Cape Stormer, Nokimover, Premium First, Saint Reverien, Southwestern.

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Richard Burton is in a strong position to repeat last year’s victory in the men’s point-to-point championship as he heads the men’s leader board with 19 winners to his credit. A spectacular 20-length triumph on board Which Way Now in the restricted division II race at Tanatside at the weekend gave him a comfortable cushion of eight winners. Neil Harris and Jamie Snowden currently share second place with 11 wins apiece.

Last year’s ladies champion Polly Gundry is currently in third place in the ladies’ leader board with seven wins, behind Rachel Green on 11 and Pauline Robson with nine. Pauline enjoyed a particularly successful weekend taking four wins from four rides, while Rachel extended her lead with a win in the confined race at the New Forest.

Current joint leader in the H&H leading horse standings, Web Master, was among Pauine Robson’s successful rides at Tynedale. A spectacular leap at the fourth last in the ladies’ open ensure the victory for the pair and brought Web Master on level terms with Sandy Duff with four wins each this season.

Rankings

Men: 19 Richard Burton, 11 Neil Harris, Jamie Snowden, 9 Dom Alers-Hankey, David Kemp, 8 James Tudor, Nick Williams, 7 Godfrey Maundrell, Rupert Stearn. Women: 11 Rachael Green, 9 Pauline Robson, 7 Polly Gundry, 6 Rose Davidson, Charlotte Tizzard. Horses: 4 Sandy Duff, Web Master; 15 on three wins.

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Last year’s men’s point-to-point champion Richard Burton has made a strong start to the 2006 season to head the Volkswagen Touareg Gentleman’s Open leaderboard.

Burton has nine wins under his belt at this early stage, but Jamie Snowden is just one behind on eight, with Neil Harris in third with six. David Kemp, Godfrey Maundrell and Philip York each have four wins to their credit.

National ladies champion Polly Gundry has made her intensions clear so far, heading the ladies’ leaderboard with four wins, ahead of Claire Allen, Rachael Green, Pauline Robson, and Isobel Tompsett, who have three winning rides apiece.

Rhythm King has been busy during the opening weeks of the season, with three wins to his name so far. He heads the current horse standings with some 16 horses snapping at his heels with two wins each.

• Read all the latest point-to-point results, plus news and features, on Horse & Hound Online’s dedicated point-to-point microsite, in association with Volkswagen Touareg, official sponsors of the Men’s Open Championship.

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