William Fox-Pitt insisted he had no complaints despite missing out at this year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials with a fourth-place finish.
A strong dressage competition first up had left Fox-Pitt in second before a hefty time penalty, albeit on a clear round, in Saturday’s cross country course dropped him down to sixth.
With Kiwi Andrew Nicholson in pole position to claim a record third-straight Burghley title going into Sunday’s showjumping finale, it was always going to be a tough ask for Fox-Pitt to take the win.
The four-time Olympian did the maximum he could however, jumping clear for the second time over the weekend to leave him on 60.3 points and earn him the position of the highest placed Brit.
But Nicholson, despite picking up a time penalty, held his nerve to go clear himself with Avebury and win with 48.1 points ahead of compatriot Jonathan Paget onboard Clifton Promise.
It means Fox-Pitt’s wait for a first Burghley win since 2011 continues but the recent World Equestrian Games individual bronze and team silver medallist insists there was still plenty of positives to take out of his horse’s performance.
“You can’t assume you are going to win, I’m just very happy with how he went,” he said.
“In this sport, it’s a personal thing and I think it’s very much you and your horse and your performance.
“It’s not quite good enough to win but that’s fine. I’m delighted with him and he will have learnt a lot.
“To come and jump a clear round and be on form is good for next year.”
Last night’s highest placed Brit Izzy Taylor picked up eight faults in her showjumping round to drop from fifth to seventh.
Gemma Tattersall moved up into fifth with a clear round on Artic Soul, although Oliver Townend was another to lose ground as four dropped fences saw him finish eighth.
© Sportsbeat 2014