'This is the ultimate five-star test'

Mark Phillips on Burghley's highs, lows, challenges and champions

- Pippa Roome

HOW good it felt to move on from the pressure and controversies of the Olympics to savour the quality of Burghley, the five-star that started when it stood in for Harewood in 1961 because of foot-and-mouth.

My Burghley memories start in 1964 at the Pony Club championships when a Beaufort team including Jane Holderness-Roddam and I were beaten into second and then I rode Rock On to fourth in 1968. I then designed the cross-country for most of the next 30 years.

With Martyn Johnson in charge, Tim Henson chair of the Director's Advisory Group and unprecedented investment and co-operation from the Burghley Estate, the event moves forward in leaps and bounds, with the help of Defender sponsorship.

The team must navigate the challenges of the internet, social media and declining spectators at outdoor events.

Happily, this year Burghley maintained their numbers and improved spectator experiences so hopefully the future is assured, but this is an ever-changing minefield.

THE WORLD'S BEST DESIGNER

THE presence of three Olympic horses in Ros Canter's Lordships Graffalo, Austin O'Connor's Colorado Blue and Susie Berry's Wellfields Lincoln contributed to making this year special.