Everything Horse UK Everything Horse Magazine, October 2018 issue 38 | Page 11

Andrew Nicholson on
Swallow Springs. Image
credit Steph Freeman
“To be here and eventually be in this position [first
place] is something I never would have predicted, I just
thought I was good at breaking in horses and sitting on
tricky ones for quite a number of years.” Tim joked of
his result, “but it’s just fun to be here and beyond any
wildest dreams to be honest.”
After a text book display of cross country riding,
stopping the clock just one second over the optimum
time, the pair had the odds stacked against them going
into the final day of show jumping –Burghley 2015. being
the only previous occasion on which the combination
have jumped clear at four star level in their eight year
partnership.
A rather ‘chuffed’ Tim
Price. Image credit Mike
Bain
naïve horse and was definitely on the novice side and
won it out of naivety. This year he’s gone again beyond
my expectations and just feel ever so fortunate to have
him on the yard.
In the biggest climb up the leaderboard in the top five
after cross country, rising from 16th after dressage to
fifth, Eventing’s ever-present stalwart, New Zealand’s
Andrew Nicholson, piloted the 10 year old Swallow
Springs around the gelding’s first Burghely to eventual
third place.
“I hadn’t really thought about [being in the top three]
before coming here,” Andrew said of the inexperienced
Irish Sports Horse “all of a sudden you’re going onto
“SJ is always tough on that particular horse,” Tim said
the show jumping and you’re in with a chance, but all
of the Irish Sports Horse, “he throws
credit to Swallow Springs, he let me
his heart over the fence and sometimes
ride him and although some moments
“He [Ringwood
his head gets a little bit left behind.”
were rough and ready, he did jump for
me.”
Sky
Boy]
throws
his
Despite the gelding’s tendency to drop
one or two poles, the course suited his heart over the fence Overnight dressage leader, Sir Mark
natural ability to balance. “The time
Todd’s hopes of another win at Burghley
and
sometimes
his
wasn’t too demanding, but you have to
came to an abrupt halt when parting
ride in a good rhythm so that was one
head gets a little bit company with Kiltubrid Rhapsody at
thing I was fortunate for today and I
fence 10 of the cross country course.
left behind.”
thought it was a challenging course,”
The biggest casualties of Sunday’s show
- Tim Price -
Tim said of Richard Jeffry’s track.
jumping track were a Great Britain’s
Piggy French riding the highest
Last year’s winners, Great Britain’s
placed mare of the competition, Vanir
Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class climbed from
Kamira, and Harry Meade on board Away Cruising. 
fifth after dressage to overall second by producing one
of only four clear cross country rounds inside the time,
Sitting in third and fourth respectively overnight after
rolling one unfortunate show jump on the final day.
impeccable cross country rounds, both riders picked
“There’s always something more you can improve on
up four faults, knocking a fence early on in their rounds
but I couldn’t be happier with his performance,” Oliver
- Harry taking down the Rolex Grand Slam fence at
said of the Irish Sports Horse gelding. “The way he’s
3 and Piggy being the only rider to knock the gate at
given himself to me this week I really felt like he was
fence four. 
completely with me all the while, in all three phases. A
The lack of Oliver’s inclusion in the GB squad for the
little mistake happens here and there but just to come
World Equestrian Games was a much debated topic at
back [to Burghley] and, for me, give a better performance
Burghley this year, but the World number one was keen
to come 2nd was very special.”
to express his pleasure for his compatriot’s success,
especially considering this wasn’t the first time Oliver
The classy 11 year old grey gelding who has been with
has come second to a Price this year, having come
Oliver since a cheeky 4 year old, clearly thrives on
second at Badminton to Jonelle. “The family have been
Burghely’s undulating terrain, “Ballaghmor Class is
a pain in my backside all year!” He laughed, “but really
probably as special a horse as I’ve ever ridden, and for
well done to Tim, it was his day.” •
me this week he turned into a professional.” Oliver said
of the Courage II offspring, who co-incidentally shares
the same sire as Tim’s mount. “Last year he came as a
Tim Price riding
Ringwood Sky Boy.
Image credit Mike
Bain
Oliver Townend
on Ballaghmor
Class. Image
credit Mike Bain
ISSUE 38 • OCTOBER 2018 • EVERYTHING HORSE MAGAZINE 11