As the epicentre of equestrian sports in Australia, the Hawkesbury boasts many remarkable riders, but Christopher Burton’s performance at the Paris Olympics might have just earned him the title of the greatest.

When the world watched Christopher Burton complete a flawless cross-country round on the second day of eventing at the Paris Olympics, it became evident that it would take an extraordinary effort to surpass him. And it did. Sitting in bronze position heading into the final test, the show jumping, Burton faced a formidable opponent: Germany’s Michael Jung, a man who has won three individual gold medals in eventing and now a fourth. Burton needed to jump double clear and hope for Jung to have two rails down. In the end, Jung only took one rail and claimed the gold. Burton secured the silver.