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Isabella Innes Ker celebrates turning 30 with top 30 finish at Defender Burghley
Ker might not have been the most experienced jockey competing at the prestigious Stamford venue but the youngster proved herself a star on the main stage.
By Lucy Wilde, Sportsbeat
Celebrating your 30th birthday is a big enough milestone on any ordinary day, but blowing out your candles while completing your maiden Defender Burghley Horse Trials must be one for the books.
To know exactly what that feels like, you need only ask Isabella Innes Ker, who first completed a scintillating cross-country test before rounding off a perfect week with a strong showjumping round to finish 28th overall.
The birthday girl, who is originally from the Scottish borders but is now based in Berkshire’s scenic Hungerford, could hardly contain her excitement at the success that may lie in her eventing future.
“The showjumping was brilliant,” she said, speaking after completing the third and final phase of the prestigious event in Lincolnshire.
“It was just brilliant. I sadly messed up fence two - he [Highway] didn’t deserve that. I should have just trusted the system but I just doubted myself slightly, but then I pulled my finger out and the rest of the round was great so I’m delighted with how it went today.”
Ker was the youngest-ever winner of Blenheim CC14* long but made her 5* debut with Highway in Pau last year before going on to finish inside the top 25 at the level in Luhmuhlen earlier this summer.
The Berkshire resident has evidently put in the hard miles in the run up to her maiden competition at the Stamford venue but rather than acknowledge her talent, was full of praise for her animal companion.
“He honestly felt fantastic, even after yesterday’s cross country,” she said. “He [Highway] felt really fresh in the trot up - he just rises to the occasion.
“Going into the arena with the crowd and everyone clapping he just thinks, ‘Right, this is my time, everyone look at me’. He finished amazing so we can only look forward to next year now.”
While Ker and her gelding will certainly have attracted some attention of their own, all eyes were firmly fixed on this year’s Olympic champion Ros Canter as she clinched her third 5* title and first Burghley win.
Defender Burghley Horse Trials (5-8 September 2024) has been a major international sporting and social event for over 50 years. It attracts the world's top equestrians and is attended by vast and enthusiastic crowds. For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk
