IT was a weekend of mixed fortunes for Salisbury’s event riders as Gubby Leech successfully completed his first Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, but Kirsty Johnston was eliminated.

Leech scored 46.4 in his dressage Test, to sit 15th after the first phase, but dropped to 33rd after accruing 51.6 time, and 20 jump, penalties in Saturday’s cross country.

A further 12 showjumping faults resulted in a final score of 130, which was good enough for 31st place of the 71 entrants.

“I’m really pleased with the horse, he tried his little heart out. He got a bit tight in there, having three down in the showjumping was a bit disappointing,” said the 33-year-old.

“He was brilliant at cross country. I annoyingly had a glance off at the Trout Hatchery, at the D element, he just didn’t feel like he really locked on to the D, he jumped in well, and over the corner, but again, that’s experience at this level.

“Hopefully next time here he’ll realise we’ve got a fourth one to finish over, but other than that I’m thrilled - a good Burghley.”

Johnston, 27, rode Opposition Detective to a score of 52.9 in her dressage Test, but was eliminated on Saturday at the 24th fence of the cross country.

Australia’s Christopher Burton won the event, ahead of New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson and his compatriot Jonelle Price.

The multi-award winning Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (1-4 September) has been established as a major international equestrian and social event in the Autumn Sporting Calendar for over 50 years. For more information visit burghley-horse.co.uk