YOUTH EUROPEAN VIEWING TRIALS GRAND PRIX ROUND-UP
Tuesday 03 May 2011
The European Viewing Trials held at the David Broome Event Centre, Wales & West Showground near Chepstow enjoyed spectacular weather over the Bank Holiday weekend for the hundreds of competitors all hoping to catch the selectors’ eye.
With four age groups participating, all hoping for inclusion on this season’s Nations Cup competitions and eventual inclusion on their respective European Championship teams their performance was very much focused on consistency throughout the four days.
Monday the 2nd May saw the culmination of the four groups each competing in their own Grand Prix. It was here that some extraordinary talent shone through giving the selectors and assessors much hope for the future of British Showjumping and in particular the team competitions and Championships ahead.
The Children’s Grand Prix kicked off the morning with riders aged twelve to fourteen years old competing on horses. Contesting the 1.25m class only four of the twenty four starters jumped clear in the first round. It was Kerry Taggart with Miss Contradiction for Ireland who took pole position with Millie Allen on Rachel Steels’ eleven year old bay mare Trueleva being relegated to second place having beaten Kerry’s time but rolling an unfortunate pole to finish on four faults. Two seconds behind Mille accruing four faults also was Amy Inglis with her father’s seventeen year old bay mare Happy Ending, with James Whitaker taking fourth on his father Ian’s nine year old black mare Black Cat.
The Pony Grand Prix was next into the Carpetright Arena seeing riders aged sixteen years and under compete on ponies of a maximum 148cm. With thirty starters coming forward there were a number of combinations in the running along with some of the more established partnerships. It was Emily Roe with the Aroldo the former Gold Medal winning pony for her sister (Rebecca) in 2006 that took the top spot jumping a double clear. Emily came home two seconds faster than the on-form Jessica Mendoza with her mothers chestnut mare Tixylix who also jumped one of the five double clears produced in the competition. Third place went to Beth Adams with Some Like it Hot and it was Darby Ward who proved a prolific on 138cm ponies that took fourth place with Maradonna having stepped up onto 148cms.
Competition was fierce in the Junior Ranks (aged eighteen years and under on horses) with sixty riders coming forward for the 1.45m Grand Prix. Mark McGowan the International Course Designer who had built for the duration of the trials had asked some questions that only eight competitors managed to navigate clearly. It was Pippa Goddard, who celebrated her eighteenth birthday the day before, who produced the fastest double clear with Guy Williams’ sixteen year old chestnut stallion Sire Major de la Cour. Less than half a second behind Pippa was Spencer Roe with his mothers’ eight year old bay gelding Wonder Why who took second place, with former Children’s Individual and Team Medallist Graham Gillespie with his mother’s eleven year old bright bay stallion Tadmus slotting into third.
The twenty one year old and under, Young Riders culminated the Viewing Trials with their own Grand Prix which at 1.50m was not only a big track but also a technical one for them to tackle. Thirty competitors stepped forward to contest the title but only three combinations produced a double clear and it was Abbie Squires, the only girl amongst the three, with her mothers fourteen year old bay gelding Enrique who led the way by setting a pace the others two couldn’t match. Hot on her heels securing second place behind her was George Whitaker with Sally McSharry’s eleven year old chestnut mare Tubana. With Max Routledge and the impressive eleven year old bay stallion Typhoon S jumping a slower double clear taking third place.
As always, the atmosphere was electric throughout the weekend with competitors, organisers and officials alike all enjoying the showcase of youthful talent that Britain has coming through the ranks.
British Showjumping would like to extend their thanks to everyone who assisted in ensuring the event run smoothly - in particular, the Broome family without whom the event would not be the incredible success that it proves to be year on year.
The World Class Development Programme provided additional support of the classes in the form of Training Vouchers, presented to the first six prize winners, currently eligible for British Team selection, in both the Junior and Young Rider European Grand Prix classes to the total value of £2,000.00.
Wales & West Viewing Trials 2011
The World Class Development Programme provided additional support of the classes in the form of Training Vouchers, presented to the first six prize winners, currently eligible for British Team selection, in both the Junior and Young Rider European Grand Prix classes to the total value of £2,000.00.
Wales & West Viewing Trials 2011
Monday 2nd May
Children’s Tour Grand Prix
1st Kerry Taggart riding Miss Contradiction
2nd Millie Allen riding Trueleva
3rd Amy Inglis riding Happy ending
4th James Whitaker riding Black Cat
Pony Grand Prix
1st Emily Roe riding Aroldo
2nd Jessica Mendoza riding Tixylix
3rd Beth Adams riding Some Like It Hot
4th Maradonna riding Darby Ward
Junior Grand Prix
1st Pippa Goddard riding Sire Major de la Cour
2nd Spencer Roe riding Wonder Why
3rd Graham Gillespie riding Tadmus
4th Abigail Newbery riding Valentino VII
For full results please visit; http://www.theshowground.com
14kvaj7pl3106.jpg "Jonathan Egmore and Mollie Rose Smith are winners in the Equissage Pulse British Novice Second Rounds.")
1g50u2k8dpost.JPG "Lacey-Mae Russel seizes Victory in the STX-UK Pony British Novice Second Round at Felbridge Showground")
11dtw0hmsttk0.jpg "NAF Five Star Bronze and Silver League Qualifiers get underway at Speetley Equestrian Centre")
