Cushionbed British Showjumping SCOPE Festival of Showjumping 2010

 

Superb win for local rider Anya Brown from Stoke on Trent as she wins the Simon & Wendy Roe National Pony British Novice Championship. First to go in the jump off Anya riding 7 year old Brooklands Dun Dreamer had to set a fast pace if they stood a chance at claiming the championship, and finished 28.73 seconds, the combination held the lead and secured the win. Anya delighted with the result, Brooklands Dun Dreamer is home bred and a late starter to the sport due to an accident as a 4 year old.

 

Kerry Grimster won her second championship of the show on Saturday morning in the Thermohomes Europe Adventurer Championship. Having won the Equissage National Discovery earlier in the week Kerry once again partnered her 8 year old One Diamond, second to go in a thirteen horse jump of Kerry held onto the lead to the end.

 

Third championship of the day was won by Kirsty Hardstaff and Omane Des Faux who staked claim to the Halsall Electrical National Grade B Championship, a tricky first round only produced two clears, Kirsty was first go producing a tidy clear round in 39.66 seconds, enough to clinch the championship.

 

The Marsh National 6 year Old Championship was held outside in the Grand Arena, five combinations went through to the third round. With only two clear rounds before them a triumphant Anthony Condon and Molly Mallone V were the penultimate combination finishing in 48.09 seconds.

 

Tara Byrtt was ecstatic on Saturday afternoon when she won the Shaw Farm Stud National Tiny Tots Championship. In front of an animated crowd an energetic competition ensued, twenty three combinations went through to the jump off, the sixth to go Ffion Roberts and Lindens Frosty, set the pace with 27.02 seconds holding the lead all the way to the penultimate combination, Tara and Coco Can shaved a fraction of a second off the time to triumph. Tara has been riding Coco Can for three years and has saved the pony specifically for this show she was so determined to come away with this championship.

 

A win and a second for Southern Ireland’s Emma O’Dwyer in the Geoffrey Robinson Dunglenn 148cms Championship. A tricky first round produced only three clears, Emma a European Team Silver medallist was first to go on Jacknell Street but had one fence down, she came straight back out on her second ride Kalim De Montlieu and jumped clear in 39.10 seconds. Last to go James Whitaker had two fences down so victory was Emma’s.

 

Sixteen pairs set off at a cracking pace in front of an enthusiastic audience for the Bilton Ward Mighty & Midget Masters Relay, the class which was being filmed for Sky Television had the crowd on the edge of their seats as each partnership made its’ bid for victory. It took the final combination to show them how it should be done when the partnership of Beth Adams riding Perdro de Bronski and William Whitaker riding Fonix produced the perfect round in 47.44 seconds to win.

 

Bruce Menzies lifted the crown and the winners cheque for £7,000 in the Cushionbed National Championship. Three combinations jumped clear from the second round and went through to the jump off, having come second in the Gentlemen’s Championship on Wednesday evening first to go Bruce wasn’t hanging about, the big careful Sultan V finished clear in 34.60 seconds, the following two combinations failed to jump clear leaving a delighted Bruce to claim the victory. Sultan V, an 8 year old grey gelding, is owned and bred by Old Lodge who are based in Ashdown Forest. This is Bruce’s second year at the Festival and he was over the moon with his win, he has produced the horse from a 4 year old and won the Foxhunter and Grade C Championships at Horse of the Year show last year, and is aiming for a place on a Nations Cup team next year with him.