Friday at the Alexanders Horseboxes Scope Festival (UK) Supreme Championships 2016
Saturday 27 August 2016
.JPG "Friday at the Alexanders Horseboxes Scope Festival (UK) Supreme Championships 2016")
On the penultimate day of the week-long spectacular at Stafford, more titles were won, sashes and rugs worn and tears of joy shed. It could only be the Scope Festival.
Tight turns, angled fences and a fast pace put more than four sec between Mennell Watson on Whisper In The Wind and their nearest rivals. The eight-year-old Cobretti stallion relished the speed and matched Mennell’s fervour to land the big class of the day, the Halsall Electrical Big Tour Accumulator, jumping the final big, skinny plank vertical with ease.
George Whitaker brought Balibu into second with Emma Stoker on Bob Young’s Townhead Tallulah V in third.
For the second year running, Claire Shepherd took the Sport Horse Classic Blue Riband title. El Diablo was last year’s winner, this year Alan Nuttall’s Cicero seven-year-old Jordanta stepped up to the plate.
“She’s very consistent and the jump-off suited her, it came down to jumping not speed and showed her scope,” said Claire.
Alex Thompson took second on his HOYS talentseekers ride Cathalina with Sharon Quigley in third on Fiorella.
Jodie Hall-McAteer hit top form with new ride Coquin De Coquerie Z, winning the George Babes young rider B and C title.
Previously ridden by Tim Wilks, this seven-year-old Consul DL Vie Z x Fergar Mail stallion joined Jodie in June.
Tabitha Dean took second on Blown Away with Will Fletcher on Glory Rose in third in the six-way jump-off.
Winner of the Buckaroo Saddlery 1.05m adventurer the day before, Rachael Connor and B Valeree – bought through Alex and Sarah Brimelow of Alexanders Horseboxes – doubled up with the Tacklockers.com novice title.
However, Rachael was riding with an injured nose.
“My other horse [Katie, finished eighth] smacked me in the face jumping in the warm-up, I feel like I’ve broken my nose,” she said.
Holly Hammond took second on Landown Illusion and Kristy Colclough claimed third aboard Ashwood Antalena.
A flyer from Annabel Shields earned the Equiport Supreme 5-year-old championship with the Barcardi VDL x Matterhorn mare Gerona.
“She’s careful and quick, nothing fazes her,” said Annabel, who won by 0.55 sec.
Julie Welles took second on Vienna with Tim Page and the impressive Wild Balou Bill in third.
British-based Frenchman Dan Delsart headed the 3Reign 6 and 7-year-old on Diamants Aurora, a six-year-old with Diarado x Diamant De Semilly bloodlines owned by Lucy and Ingrid Woods.
“She is kind-natured and so easy to do and has come on so much, she only started jumping nine months ago,” said Dan.
Emma Stoker took second and third on Townhead Dieg Eau De Villee and Townhead Pembroke.
Lily Freeman-Attwood’s daring, electrifying round on evergreen 24-year-old My Bugsy Malone paid off handsomely with the Graham Heath Equestrian Primary Supreme 138cm title.
“I trust him completely and he did all he could to leave the rails up,” said Lily, who missed out on the Hickstead 138cm final as it clashed with the children-on-horses European championships in Millstreet. The pair are, however, through to the HOYS final.
Tahnia Jordan-Jones couldn’t quite catch this speedy, risk-taking pair, and took second and third on Thyme Flies and Oakhurst In The Spotlight.
Rachel Proudley [11 years] – who won the Tiny Tots title here two years ago – landed the Graham Heath 128cm Debut with Painted Lady.
“I knew I had to go fast and felt the pressure, but she helped me out, I was tight to the last but one fence,” said Rachel, who has one more year on 128cm ponies.
Charlie Atkinson took second with Bunbury Conquest and third went to Tom Francis-Jones on Major Jack.
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