Japanese first-timer shines
Japan is seldom in a position to be represented at Defender Burghley — at this time of year championships take priority — but Ryuzo Kitajima has enjoyed plenty of support here throughout the week, no more so than from his Paris team-mate Kazuma Tomoto, a familiar face on the British eventing circuit.
Ryuzo sported a wide
grin as he galloped through the finish flags having completed his
first Defender Burghley cross-country with a clear round on Feroza
Nieuwmoed.
The 38-year-old rider,
who was on the Japanese team for the Paris Olympics with another
horse but was forced to withdraw before the showjumping, had long
dreamed of this moment.
“Every year I’ve
watched Burghley and hoped to be here myself, so I’m very happy,”
smiled Ryuzo, whose passage across country was smooth and slick. “My
aim was to come here and have a safe round. He can be quite spooky,
so I was a little worried about how he’d react to the crowds, but
everything went to plan.”
A slightly rueful Kazuma, who is soon to return to Japan after spending nine years in England – eight of which have been with William Fox-Pitt - will be leaving his three event horses, all owned by Riding Club Crane, in the country for a new Japanese jockey to pick up the reins. “I'll be sad to say goodbye to them,” he admitted, “but the horses should teach their new jockey a lot. I will take my showjumper back to Japan and focus on teaching. It will be very nice to see more of my family and eat great food, but I will miss the competing over here.”