The honor and self-confidence of Gemma Stevens were reaffirmed in dramatic fashion with a fault-free show jumping effort Sunday aboard Chilli Knight at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials, capitalizing on her cross-country lead to claim top honors.
The victory was special for more than just the obvious reason, which is having a British rider win a British event — one that is regarded as the world’s most difficult 5-star.
But it also came just three weeks after Gemma was eliminated at the FEI World Championships in Aachen following three cross-country refusals with Flash Cooley.
Gemma, 41, was a member of the British squad that won gold at August’s title meet, but her effort was the drop score under the formula where only the best three totals count. She called the experience, understandably, one of the lowest points in her career. Although she was able to stand on the podium at Aachen with her teammates, she felt “horrendous” guilt at her personal outcome.
The new champion, who won her first 5-star at Bicton in 2021, proudly was able to finish Burghley on her dressage score of 29.6 penalties. Just one percent of competitors in the last 20 years have finished on their dressage score at Burghley, according to EquiRatings, and Gemma’s winning margin was the biggest since Blyth Tait’s in 1998.
Gemma wound up with a huge distance between her and her compatriot, second-place Katie Magee and Treworra, who added a rail and time penalties in the final phase, to end on 43 penalties.
That edge would have enabled Gemma to topple three rails and incur time penalties if required to gain the victory. But she needed nothing of the kind as she wrapped up a stellar competition for herself and “Alfie,” a son of the great Chilli Morning. Alfie is out of King’s Gem, the mare on whom Gemma started her 5-star career in earnest.
Gemma and Alfie were popular winners.
Considering her achievement, Gemma said, “This represents 25 years of work and finally I have managed to win a ‘big B,’ ” meaning Burghley or Badminton.
“We so nearly won Badminton a couple of years ago, and I have just known in my heart of hearts that there was a big win in this horse. We just needed our stars to align, and everything has aligned this week.”
She received her trophy in a presentation from the 1971 winner, Princess Anne.
New Zealand’s Tim Price, number one in the world, toppled from second after cross-country to eleventh overall on Global Quest after dropping a rail at the second fence on course, then incurring knockdowns in the double and triple combinations. His 12 faults put him on a score of 48.9 penalties.
The top U.S. rider was Caroline Pamukcu, third with HSH Blake after dropping a rail at the first fence in the show jumping to wind up with a score of 44, one penalty more than Katie. Caroline was the best-placed Burghley first-timer in the competition, and the first American to make the Burghley podium since 2012.
Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. (Libby Law Photo)
She also enjoyed a reclamation of her own, because she had been in a similar position to Gemma at Burghley, since Blake stumbled at a fence during the cross-country at the world championships and her subsequent fall eliminated her. But she still was able to stand on the podium in Aachen with her country’s bronze medal contingent.
The only other U.S. rider to complete Burghley was another world championships bronze medal team member Will Coleman, fault-free in jumping with Very Dignified, but slow on cross-country to end in a very respectable seventh place (47.2).
“For me, Burghley is the ultimate in our sport, the crown jewel of 5-star eventing. It’s the ultimate test. It’s a wonderful place. It’s like riding in a fairy tale and I can’t wait to come back,” said Will, adding, “But 2026 has treated me well.”
He won the Avebury trophy for the best cross-country round, as judged by two-time Burghley winner Pippa Funnell. That’s pretty special, especially considering it was the mare’s first 5-star.
Rosemary Barlow presents Will Coleman with the Avebury trophy, named in honor of her three-time Burghley winner, ridden by Andrew Nicholson.
Jennie Brannigan had been in twelfth place after cross-country with FE Lifestyle, but the horse was held, then spun, at the final horse inspection.
“Unfortunately, he pulled his bell boot off before the Trout Hatchery (obstacle 19 on cross-country) and has an over-reach on the inside and outside of his right front,” said Jennie.
While the ground jury did not pass him, Jennie emphasized the bright side: “most importantly, he is just fine.”
A total of 26 horses finished the event, from a starting field of 48. The other horse who didn’t make it to the end on Sunday was Benedict Radau, ridden by Matthew Heath of Great Britain, who was eliminated after knockdowns and a refusal in show jumping.
Switzerland’s Nadja Minder, the leader after dressage with 19-year-old Toblerone, finished fifth with a single knockdown atop the oldest horse in the competition.
Was this his last 5-star? The rider won’t commit, giving an “age is just a number”-type reply to the question. She explained any such decision should be made on what the horse wants to do, as opposed to making it based only on age.
A highlight of the day was the retirement ceremony for 19-year-old Ballaghmor Class, who got a standing ovation from the crowd. Many tears were shed at his farewell.
The Irish-bred gelding made Burghley the first of his four 5-star wins in 2017, and went on to win it again in 2023. He also was on the 2021 gold medal Olympic team.
“Kids have dreams and because of him, my dreams came true,” said rider Oliver Townend, who considers the horse he calls Thomas his best friend.
“Burghley is part of me. I first went there as a two-year-old when my dad competed as an amateur in 1984. It is something that has been a very important part of my life, the most special event you can win,” noted an emotional Oliver.
Click here for final results