British Young Horse Showjumping Championships 2017

Monday 21 August 2017

British Young Horse Showjumping Championships 2017

Quality, scope and rideability could be found at the British Young Horse Showjumping Championships at Addington Manor, with promising horses taking the titles and clear round bonus prizes.

Holly Smith’s early target in a strong 7-year-old Championship proved unbeatable, Grennanstown Sarco Luxhill landing the title and the top HOYS talentseekers ticket by a handsome three seconds.

Nine contended the jump-off but Holly had victory sewn up on the Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan x Olympic Lux gelding who returned to competition this summer.

“He had three months off after I broke my leg, he’s a big-jumping horse and it can be quite jarring so I left him until I knew I could grip with my legs,” said Holly.

Mark Williams netted the second HOYS talentseekers place on Greenacres Stud’s Greenacres Diadoro (Diarado x Vigaro Z).

Two riders shared the bonus for jumping clear every day and both were British-bred – Louise Saywell on Old Lodge’s Quintus daughter Sultanah OL – a half sister of Abdullah Al Sharbatley’s London 2012 ride Sultan sharing the same Voltaire mother Lianta – and William Funnell’s Billy Dorito (Billy Mexico x Vechta).

Pippa Goddard secured the top spot in both non-British-bred 5-year-old and 6-year-old finals with positive, ultra-speedy rounds.  She claimed the 5-year-old with the ultra-careful Colestus x Colorit mare Chilli.

“She was due a win, she was second in Hickstead, Spain and Valkenswaard future stars,” said owner Tom Williams, who bought Chilli as a 2-year-old.

The clear round bonus went to Nathan Bull (Milton Van Vrijhern), Charlotte Arnsold (Leestone Blue Voltet), Ben Raistrick (Heaven Can Wait E), Calire Gradley (Hillery) and Holly Smith (Manolito P).

Pippa topped the non British-bred 6-year-old from the front with Jess Elliott’s Toki II, a Cascall x Lortino mare bought out of Brightwells Sales at Addington as a 3-year-old.

“She’s a strong character but she loves Pippa,” said Jess, who initially produced her before handing over the reins.     

Clears failed to materialise in the 12-strong jump-off of the British-bred 5-year-old championship and an early ultra-quick four-fault round from Bex Mason landed the title on David Fudge’s home-bred Vancurtis.

“She’s a bit of a sassy madam, but she’s got the heart of a lion,” said Bex, who broke in the Vangelis S x William Curtis just 12 months ago.

Graham Babes landed the British-bred six-year-old with the consistent Glencoe with a well-executed, ultra-fast round in the 10-strong jump-off to take victory by 0.99 seconds.

The Chellthago Z x Numero Uno gelding was purchased as a yearling by Graham’s father George, but when the now-broken horse was viewed for sale, Graham himself stepped in and bought him.

“He’s sharp and a character, but in the long run this will stand him in good stead, he has star quality and easily took out a stride from one to two and to the last,” said Graham, who will contend the HOYS newcomers and grade C finals.

Mennell Watson and Helen van Heyningen’s home-bred Cobretti 9-year-old Whisper In The Wind added another win to their ever-growing tally, taking the first of the stallions and mares class in a sizzling hot 15-horse jump-off.  The pair – grand prix winners at Shrewsbury Flower Show a week before – snatched victory in a late draw to also to win the £1,000 first prize and claim the £500 top stallion prize by just 0.12 seconds.

Louise Saywell eased the Lord Z 8-year-old Lady Lou into second for the top mare prize.

The USA’s Julie Welles headed the second on the mares and stallions class on the 11-year-old mare Con Touch S for the mares prize in a 10-horse jump-off with Louise Saywell’s Pewit Nono in second.  William Funnell took fourth and the top stallion prize with his British-bred Vechta-sired Billy Congo.

Five horses jumped double clear in the British-bred 4-year-old final to share equal first place and pick up a share of the bonus prize of £167 each.  They were Phillip Miller on Klaris Yee-Hah, Megan James on Just Call Me May, Georgie Crumley on Sandro Surprise, Adam Cove with DJ’s Disaronno Roccia and Helen Rees aboard Bianca Du Rouet.

In the non British-bred 4-year-old final, seven posted double clears and again claimed a share of the bonus.  Proving penalty-free was Michael Fursedonn with Newtomic and Ilserov, Derek Morton on Aegis Water’s Isabeau W and No Fear Van Jonckhoeve, Ben Raistrick aboard Mr Idaho, Emily Seal’s I Am Legend and Joe Trunkfield with Imeraldretto I.

“The standard has been good all week, especially in the four-year-olds, they are more advanced and forward than last year’s competitors,” said chief course-designer Bob Ellis.

NB: Qualifications will be updated pending official grading of results.

 
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