Gemma Stevens gains the biggest win of her 25-year career by taking the Burghley Horse Trials, delivering a flawless showjumping round on Chilli Knight to finish on a dressage score of 29.6.
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The 41-year-old Olympian claimed the title on her 31st attempt at five-star level, and she was the only competitor to leave the score unchanged after the jumping phase.
Britain's Katie Magee finished second riding Treworra, while the United States' Caroline Pamukcu came third on HSH Blake.
Stevens described the victory as long-awaited and deeply personal. She said, "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." She also recalled a lifelong bond with her winner, "It's unbelievable, I've known him [Chilli Knight] since the day he was born and this honestly means the absolute world," and noted her past connection to the family by having ridden Chilli Knight's mother, King's Gem.
The triumph also served as a counterpoint to a recent disappointment. Stevens failed to complete the cross-country at the World Championships in Aachen with the British team last month, a result she acknowledged candidly. "Aachen was really tough, but that's sport. You've got to just bounce back and get on with it," she said.
Stevens and Chilli Knight had previously won the replacement five-star event at Bicton in 2021, after the Covid cancellation of Burghley, and this latest success represents a formal Burghley title where the event resumed its traditional standing.
The win consolidates Stevens' long-term partnership with Chilli Knight and provides immediate redemption after Aachen. For the rest of the top finishers, the Burghley podium confirms strong form against an international field.
