Burghley champion claims his third title – with a second win for an outstanding horse

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Burghley Horse Trials result: Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class
Oliver Townend on his way to winning Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2023 with Ballaghmor Class.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class topped the leaderboard in the 2023 Defender Burghley Horse Trials result this afternoon (3 September).

Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan’s gelding, who won here with Oliver as a 10-year-old in 2017, was second going into the final phase. They jumped clear until the final fence fell, but when overnight leaders Tim Price and Vitali picked up 12 faults, the victory was handed to Oliver and “Thomas”.

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.