GB's Stevens claims biggest win of 25-year career

Britain’s Gemma Stevens won the Burghley Horse Trials for the first time on Sunday, the biggest victory of her career on her 31st attempt at five-star level.

The 41-year-old Olympian, riding Chilli Knight, cemented victory in executing a faultless showjumping round to finish on her dressage score of 29.6 – the only rider in the field to do so.

Compatriot Katie Magee finished second on Treworra, with USA’s Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake in third.

“It’s only taken me 25 years and finally I’ve managed to win a big B [Burghley or Badminton]. I couldn’t be more proud,” Stevens said.

Stevens, who first competed at the level in 2007, previously rode Chilli Knight’s mother, King’s Gem.

“It’s unbelievable, I’ve known him [Chilli Knight] since the day he was born and this honestly means the absolute world,” she said.

The win is redemption for Stevens after a disappointing World Championships in Aachen, Germany last month, when she failed to complete the cross-county event for the British team.

“Aachen was really tough, but that’s sport. You’ve got to just bounce back and get on with it,” she added.

Stevens and Chilli Knight previously won the replacement five-star event at Bicton in 2021, after Covid cancelled Burghley.