Charles Britton Equestrian Construction Winter JA Classic Final
Monday 02 July 2018
Nicole Lockhead Anderson not only produced the fastest time but secured victory in the Charles Britton Equestrian Construction Winter JA Classic Final with the sole double clear on the impressive Gangnam Style II.
“He is amazing and it is so nice to win on one who has been with us since a baby six-year-old,” said Nicole, who made her journey from Scotland well worthwhile.
Only four from seventeen ponies reached the jump-off over course-designer Mark McGowan’s technical 12-fence track but a confident Nicole, aged 16, and her mother Claire Lockhead’s Irish-bred 9-year-old swept into an unbeatable lead. The talented Gangnam Style – current Scope Dunglenn JA and National Pony Silver League Champion at the National Championships 2017 – never looked like touching a fence.
“He’s pretty chilled and takes it all in his stride and he’s so careful, I can trust him to anything – we took a long run at the final planks and he just popped it,” said Nicole.
The talented pony has a unique record at this venue. “He loves it here – in 2016 and 2017 he won the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round to qualify for HOYS, and in 2015 he finished second in the same class, again qualifying for the HOYS final,” said Nicole, who also praised Scottish course-designer Mark McGowan’s courses. “Living in Scotland, I’ve been brought up on Marks courses and I love them – they are courses you can trust,” she said.
Last year’s winner Lily Freeman-Attwood was out to retain her title in the final draw of the four-pony decider but an ultra-tight turn in to a sizeable double was a turn too far for Valmy De Treille. But the plucky French-bred nine-year-old mare quickly returned to jump it on the second attempt and their fast time earned second place.
Alice Weightman’s opening round also finished on just one mistake for third place with the Dutch-bred 11-year-old Cindy VI and Tahnia Jordan Jones claimed fourth with the 12-year-old Jumper.
Charles Britton Equestrian Construction Winter JA Classic Final – Sunday 1st July 2018
1st Nicole Lockhead Anderson & Gangnam Style II - 0/0 - 44.44 seconds
2nd Lily Freeman Attwood & Valmy De Treille - 0/4 – 51.06 seconds
3rd Alice Weightman & Cindy VI - 0/4 – 51.69 seconds
4th Tahnia Jordan Jones - 0/E
NB: Qualifications will be updated pending official grading of results
Charles Britton Equestrian Construction:
Charles Britton Equestrian Construction are hugely experienced in the design and construction of all equestrian exercise & housing facilities: indoor and outdoor arenas, tracks, walkers, lunge pens, traditional stable yards, American barns, storage facilities, complexes and so on. The hands-on family operation dates back to 1979 and the team provide a complete, turn key and very personal service. They can handle all aspects of any equestrian build project, large or small, private or commercial, and everything is in house: from initial design and Local Authority planning applications all the way through to complete, on-site execution of every aspect of the build. For further information, please visit www.charlesbritton.com or call 01270 528797.
11dtw0hmsttk0.jpg "NAF Five Star Bronze and Silver League Qualifiers get underway at Speetley Equestrian Centre")
