Anya Dewey Clarke was on top form as she picked up another qualification to the Agria Royal International Horse Show at Onley Grounds Small Pony Premier.
Monday 26 February 2024
Anya Dewey Clarke proved the best in Saturday’s Winter 128cm Second Round with Kilcreene Snapdragon at Onley Grounds Equestrian Complex Small Pony Premier Show. Twenty-seven competitors faced the 11-fence course designed by Mark McGowan which started at 1.05m but only four managed to conjure up the clear needed to go forward to round two.
The pressure was off as this class offered four qualifying places for the final the Agria Royal International Horse Show (RIHS). Portia Taylor Wilson riding Ni Kkan and Annabelle Dunseath aboard Cwmdistaw Hermione decided to withdraw and save their ponies for another day, finishing joint third.
In round two, first to go Zachary Bradshaw, piloting Carrowvilla Izzy, set off with determination but unfortunately tapped out a rail of the first fence to finish second. Anya kept her cool and successfully piloted the 11-year-old gelding, a ride she only took on in November 2023, to another foot perfect clear round for first place.
In Sunday’s equivalent class, Freddie Hodges took victory with the sole treble clear of the class with Natalie Hodges’ 15-year-old Durley Hall Medici.
Twenty-three stepped up to compete for three qualification places to the prestigious final held at Hickstead, with three jumping the double-clear needed to advance to the final jump-off, all picking up their ticket to the Agria RIHS as a result.
Ava Nicholl set off at a blistering pace with Hillviews Princess Anne but knocked a pole at fence two so would have to wait to see where she would place. Freddie Hodges set off equally as quickly and managed to steer his long-term partner to a sensational treble clear which would ultimately win the class. Although Anya managed to best Freddie’s time by 0.31 seconds, the tiny 10-year-old couldn’t quite match her day one victory, tapping out a pole to finish second, Ava slotting into third.
Saturday’s Winter 138cm Second Round saw thirty-four riders whittled down to seven after round 1, with only two jumping a further clear to contend the final jump-off. Poppy Dorise on Go Fast D’Argan and Lacie Williams riding Jessie Mae Harmony decided to share the spoils of first place, withdrawing from the jump-off.
Phoebe Crossman riding Acajou De Caux slotted into third with the fastest four-fault round in the first jump-off, with Christina Cotton aboard Harefield Diego taking fourth place, also just rolling a pole for four faults in the first jump-off.
Sunday’s Winter 138cm Second Round was also won with a sole treble clear, Raphaela Dawson steering Karen Dawson’s Noahs Lady to a well-executed victory.
Thirty-one combinations initially contented the 1.15m class with 11 jumping clear to advance to round two. Only two managed to unlock the key to the final jump-off which would result in a head-to-head between Raphaela Dawson and Emily Gulliver. Raphaela utilised her long-term partnership with the 17-year-old mare to steer her successfully around the final jump-off, taking top spot.
Emily Gulliver, having already secured her ticket to the Agria RIHS, opted to withdraw Ben Gulliver’s nine-year-old mare from the final jump-off to finish second. Emmie Horner produced the quickest four-fault round in round two, finishing third with Sadie Horner’s nine-year-old Flirt D’Helerin.
Nancy Haffendon topped day one’s British Showjumping 128/138cm Handicap Special with the 20-year-old 138cm gelding Courtenay Rustler, over five seconds in hand over second place Hugo Oakes and 128cm gelding Ardlea Star.
Alfie Bailey provided the only double clear in Sunday’s equivalent class to take a commanding win with the 17-year-old 138cm mare Little Maggie May. Rosemary Wilkinson finished second, accruing just four faults in the jump-off aboard 17-year-old 128cm gelding Gwyllan The Minstrel.
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