KILKENNY-based Nicky Roncoroni has been named among the judges of this year’s Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse (BYEH) Final. She will judge the jumping phase alongside Dutch Olympic event rider Andrew Heffernan, while Christina Klingspor and Angela Tucker will score the dressage. Vet John Killingbeck will judge suitability and type, and Australian Olympian Clayton Fredericks will assess the “potential to gallop” of the top-10 finalists in the four-year-old and five-year-old sections.

Five-star British event rider Roncoroni has herself produced several horses through the series, who have gone on to enjoy success at the highest level. Among them are Sixmilewater, who completed Burghley last year with Austin O’Connnor; Trig Point, who finished third in the BYEH Final and went on to be 12th at Pau; and Stonedge, who also completed Pau with Roncoroni before joining the string of Susie Berry.

“The invitation was wholly unexpected,” said Roncoroni. “I am genuinely honoured to have the opportunity to judge at such an iconic championship, alongside an exceptional panel of industry luminaries. Having ridden many horses through the BYEH series, who have gone on to achieve international success, I hope to combine my experience as a current competitor and producer with a modern perspective on the sport, carefully navigating the fine line between the thoughtful development of future elite event horses and a commitment to excellence on the day.

“It’s been more difficult to justify going to Burghley since Brexit,” she added. “But the last time I went was in 2019 with Rock ABC, who placed second in the Four-Year-Old Final for owner Paul Douglas.”

Burghley’s Event Director Martyn Johnson said: “We are delighted that such a knowledgeable and experienced panel of international judges are able to join us at Burghley this autumn. The Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse classes have enjoyed a real renaissance in recent years; we modernised the format, have greatly increased prize money, and have looked further afield for judges for the Finals.

“There is no doubt that these Finals are showcases and training grounds for the future superstars of the sport of eventing.”

19 qualifiers will take place before the finals, which have a prize fund of £8,000 and will be held in conjunction with the Defender Burghley five-star event from September 3rd-6th.

Two of these qualifiers will take place in Ireland, first at Millstreet on May 20th and later at Tattersalls on July 26th.