OLYMPIC gold medallist Oliver Townend has made a flying start in his quest for a third Defender Burghley Horse Trials title.
The Ellesmere-based former world number one posted an impressive dressage score of 24.2 penalties with Swallow Springs.
That was enough to give Townend, who was part of Great Britain’s gold medal-winning eventing team at the Tokyo Olympics, an overnight lead from reigning European champion Ros Canter and Pencos Crown Jewel on 26.9.
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Townend, who won Burghley in 2009 and 2017, returns to the dressage arena aboard his Tokyo ride Ballaghmor Class on Friday.
Emily King and Valmy Biats, meanwhile, lead a congested chasing pack behind Canter, which includes former world champion Zara Tindall, who lies seventh on Class Affair.
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