Cushionbed British Showjumping SCOPE Festival of Show Jumping

 

Josh Baudins from Portinfer St Oven, Jersey, claimed the Independent Asset Management Pony Progressive Novice Championship on Friday morning at the Cushionbed British Showjumping Scope Festival of Show Jumping. Sixteen year old Josh, riding his 7 year old coloured pony Texas John, was fifth to go in a nine pony jump off and flew round in a winning time of 34.31 seconds, almost two seconds clear of his closest rival. This is Josh’s last year on ponies and he was delighted with this great result.

 

Another great performance for Jessica Hewitt and her super pony Pandini, they staked claim to their second Championship of the week, winning the National 128cms Primary Championship. There were only two clears from a thirteen pony jump off, Jessica finished her round in 20.33 seconds, a good 10 seconds ahead of her nearest rival. This is Jessica’s best ever performance at Scope, ‘the course was a little more tricky than Wednesday when I won the SJA Services National Primary 128cms Championship,’ commented Jessica from Elmsall.

 

Great success for pony rider Kerstin Deakin from Newcastle when she won the Jane Pownall 138cms National Championship with the families gelding ‘The Agent’. Eleven combinations went through to the jump off, Kerstin was first to go and certainly couldn’t afford to hang about and set a cracking pace with 29.95 seconds which was more than enough to win her Championship.

 

It’s been the best week ever for Tim Wilks as he lifted the crown on another Championship on Friday afternoon. Sixteen year old Tim is from Henley on Thames, and has been on winning form all week taking the SJA Services National Under 16 Championship riding 8 year old mare Billy Pop who is owned and bred by Billy Stud. Sixteen combinations were in the jump off and being third go Tim couldn’t afford to hang about, setting the pace with 27.99 seconds, but nobody came close. Tim has only had the ride on this mare for six months and it is the first time the partnership have jumped indoors.

 

No hanging about for Kerry Grimster in the Equissage National Discovery Championship. Kerry from Maidenhead was first to go in the jump off and had to get on with the job at hand. Riding the 8 year old Irish bred Sport Horse One Diamond, Kerry set an unbeatable time of 34.24 seconds.

 

A great night for James Ward from Kirkudbright, taking the Sports Horse Classic Blue Riband Championship. Eleven combinations went through to the jump off and an enthralling competition ensued, the excitement carried down to the final two. Michael Potter the penultimate combination may have thought he had done enough and went into the lead with a great round in 38.34 seconds but James and Winday II put up a great fight to secure the championship in a winning time of 38.34 seconds. James bought the seven year old mare in Belgium six months ago and has since qualified her for the Foxhunter and 7 year old classes at Horse of the Year Show.

 

Sam Hutton from Upham, Southampton was on a winning spree on the penultimate evening of the show, his first win came with the High Offley Stud National 1.30m Championship. In a thrilling jump off, Paul Barker was first to go and lead all the way until his hopes were dashed, Sam riding For A Smile were last a to go and jumped an incredible round shaving a fraction of a second of the time to claim the title. For A Smile, a ten year old grey mare by Carnival Drum has been with Sam for two years, ‘It was a fast jump off but there was no beating the mare, she came down the final line and just locked on to the last fence,’ commented Sam.

 

Sam’s second conquest came in the consistently popular Cats and Pipes Pairs Challenge. As customary there was capacity crowd in the Championship arena who didn’t disappoint, providing enthusiastic support, while seventeen pairs performed enthusiastically! Second to go Sam Hutton riding Wake Up and his partners Gemma Hallett riding Top Limit lead all the way to secure victory.