Billy Pastime headed a trio of chestnuts in the Burghley Dubarry Young Event Horse four-year-old qualifier at the Festival of British Eventing – presented by BETA.
The young chestnut by William Funnell’s nine-year-old Hickstead hero Billy Congo – members of the winning Nations Cup team at Hickstead, stood top of the line of a strong top ten. Billy Pastime, bred at the Billy Stud in Surrey, and ridden by Helen Wilson was one of three ‘Billy’ rides through to the final section at Gatcombe. “The top three were all good jumpers but boy did he jump,” commented jumping judge Bridget Parker who awarded him 39 out of 40 in this section. Billy Pastime, the only qualifier at his venue, will now go to The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials for the national final.

2012 Olympic Course Designer Sue Benson judged the final section – type and suitability. “It was a really strong class and they were ten of the nicest four-year-olds I have seen for a long time – I’d happily have taken any one of them home,” said Sue who was impressed by the paces and type of second placed Keep Cruising.

Ridden by Alan Nolan, Keep Cruising is by the Cruising son, Bahrain Criuse. The combination gained high marks across the three sections, also impressing judge Ros Jones with his conformation and dressage judge, National Hunt trainer, Henrietta Knight. .

Sue awarded the top marks in her section to Mollington a good moving chestnut by the British-based KWPN stallion Monte Carlo and ridden by Matthew Heath. The combination took a final third place.
Results
1, Billy Pastime (Billy Congo) – Helen Wilson 90;
2, Keep Cruising (Bahrain Cruise) – Alan Nolan 89;
3, Mollington (Monte Carlo) – Matthew Heath 88
4, Chevallan Cult Heroine (Cult Hero) – Louise Lyons 87
5, Funky Gibbon (Lux Z) – Sam Griffiths 86
6, Billy Black Cat (Billy Congo) – (H Wilson)