From rugby to riding with no regrets for Pinkney
Defender Burghley first-timer Jack Pinkney once had ambitions to forge a sporting career in rugby union before turning to equestrian almost by chance.
And that switch showed further sign of reaping dividends after he guided Claragh Olala to a clear cross-country jumping round with 16.8 time penalties on a day that he will never forget.
"Rugby was my main goal," said Hampshire-based Jack. "I played for Stroud and at county level as a centre, then wing and every now and again as flanker because it was thought I was quite good at tackling.
"But then I decided on kind of mucking out and learning to ride, and the best way was to go to a team-chasing yard. Chris Bevan, shout out to her, was the one who started it all off."
Jack has certainly made an impression with the 12-year-old Claragh Olala, claiming top-15 finishes in four-stars at Millstreet and Scone Palace last year, and then taking 11th place at Bramham earlier this summer.
And the Irish Sport Horse now has a cross-country completion at Burghley to its name, leaving Jack enthused by what could lie ahead.
"If I said it was easy today it would be a complete lie!" he added. "He looked after me and I looked after him. The crowd was just overwhelming, and where else can you experience something like that?
"I never thought we are here at the end of the course, we are home. I have done that in the past and had a learning curve at the end.
"I think the whole way I just thought just jump the next fence, and then the next fence. I knew we were down on the clock. We want to be competitive, but getting him home is the end goal.
"He jumped double clear at Bramham, and it felt quite similar today where it felt like he was holding himself back. I am hoping he is doing it for a reason in that he knows we have got to go jumping tomorrow."