Although rueful, Pippa Funnell and Sam Watson impress on Burghley cross-country day

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Burghley Horse Trials cross-country: Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope
Mark Phillips said Pippa Funnell “showed all her evergreen class” across country with Majas Hope at Burghley 2023.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Pippa Funnell has thrown her hat into the ring of contenders at the Defender 2023 Burghley Horse Trials after a super round with Majas Hope. They jumped clear, but picked up 8.8 time-faults for finishing 22 seconds over the 11min 6sec Burghley Horse Trials cross-country optimum time. They go into fifth place at this stage of the competition with around a third of the field left to compete.

Pippa and Majas Hope, who she co-owns with Marek Sebastek, were eighth after the first phase on 29.6 and a good clear jumping round today could pay dividends given the track has caused its fair share of problems.

Gemma Redrup
Gemma Redrup
Former web features editor, point-to-point editor and digital racing editor

Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.