NICOLA WILSON picked up an 11th-place finish at the Burghley International Horse Trials at the weekend.

On Opposition Buzz, who at 16 is showing no signs of age, the Morton-on-Swale rider took ninth place in the dressage, staying in that position after the cross-country, with a tricky showjumping round eventually seeing the combination finishing 11th.

Olympian Wilson had aimed for a top-ten finish but was pleased with her eventual placing.

“How can I be disappointed”, said Wilson. “He is such a special horse who has done so much for my career and he gave me a fantastic start to the competition with a great dressage test and to ride a horse that loves his cross-country over such a strong Burghley track, it was a joy”

In the dressage, the combination put in a spectacular performance for a score of 43.3.

The cross-country track, built by Capt. Mark Phillips, was a true 4 star test, very big and twisty with lots to jump.

With his love of going cross-country, Opposition Buzz is a crowd favourite and they clapped and cheered him the whole way round as he showed his usual enthusiasm, eating up the cross-country fences with a smile on his face. With a few time penalties the pair stayed in ninth position overnight.

At the customary second veterinary trot up, Opposition Buzz showed no ill effects from the previous day’s exertions and strutted his stuff before the Ground Jury to pass and go forward to the show jumping phase.

The show jumping track caused a lot of problems with hardly any riders jumping clear rounds, including Opposition Buzz, who uncharacteristically lowered a few poles to finally finish in 11th place.