Around 2000 people turned out to see many of the UK’s top Showjumpers battle it out for the Burgham classic grand prix last weekend.

Thirteen of the 28 entries were from showjumping’s first family – the Whitakers. Three of them, Ellen, Louise and Michael made it into the final five, though it was Ellen who took first prize of £4,000

The grand prix was the final class in a weekend of thrills and spills on the two showjumping arenas and in the dressage ring at Burgham, just north of Morpeth.

One of the sport’s great personalities and Olympian, Geoff Billington, took over 300 people on a walk of the grand prix course before the horses took to the field, there were laughs all round the arena!

Dry and mostly sunny weather, an amazing venue, good prize money and fantastic organisation were just some of the points made by other top riders like Tim Stockdale, John Whitaker and Keith Shore who have all committed to return to Burgham next year.

It also proved a successful weekend for local riders like Melissa Gair, Pippa and Millie Allen and Vicky Tulloch, all more than happy to be competing against the best showjumpers on their own doorstep.