Powell pride as she claims Burghley title

Posted: Sunday 5th September 2010 | 23:16

By David Jordan, Sportsbeat, at Burghley

CAROLINE Powell paid tribute to her veteran horse Lenamore as she secured the biggest victory of her career at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

CAREER HIGH: New Zealand's Caroline Powell produced a clear round on Lenamore to win the £50,000 Burghley title, part of the HSBC Classics Series (Getty Images)

Powell followed fellow Kiwis Mark Todd, Andrew Nicolson and Blyth Tait onto the Burghley honours board with a clear showjumping round on the 17-year old grey securing the £50,000 first prize.

Five-time champion William Fox-Pitt settled for second on Seacookie while Oliver Townend and Carousel Quest, who were looking to become the first combination to retain the title, dropped to fourth after downing two fences.

"The horse has been such a star all week. He just jumped - he loves it," said Powell.

"I'm just so pleased with the way he jumped. This is just amazing, it just doesn't happen to girls like me. I'm absolutely chuffed."

Fox-Pitt paid tribute to Seacookie's performance while his second place moves him to the top of the HSBC Classics Series leaderboard ahead of the concluding event in the series in November.

"Seacookie is a brilliant horse," he said. "Hopefully, he'll have his day. To be in second place to Caroline and the amazing Lenamore is an honour."