Miles O'Donnell and Tabitha Rose Callow round out a weekend of Second Round Qualifiers
Tuesday 30 April 2024
Senior Newcomers Second Round at Stainsby Grange
Miles O’Donnell landed the Senior Newcomers Second Round at Stainsby Grange with his own Jackpot DS.
The field of 70 competitors came forward over the 1.25m track with 29 supplying initial clears and an eventual seven returning for the final jump-off. Four combinations flew round the course to secure their triple clear, the results coming down to the clock and it was Miles who found the shortest route, crossing the finish in a time of 45.25 seconds.
Miles’ partner Emma Crawford slotted into third place with King Louie II, 1.57 seconds in arrears, the couple separated by Jordan Thompson and Muzica TL, 0.71 seconds off the pace.
This win marks Miles’ first time securing a finalist place at the Prestigious Horse of the Year Show as well the first time Jackpot DS has contended a qualifier: “It was a bit of a shock really,” said Miles of their achievement. “He is very green, so we only put him in the class for a bit of experience and he just seemed to get better and better as the rounds went on.
“We bought him straight out of a field about a year ago and he had only been to a couple of shows in his life as an eight-year-old. He has gained most of his experience in the last six months with us and has stepped up to this level really fast. He’s been absolutely fantastic – it was definitely a worthwhile trip,” exclaimed Miles as his girlfriend Emma Crawford also qualified for HOYS in the Redpost Equestrian Foxhunter Final.
Stainsby Grange Equestrian Centre – Saturday, 27 April, 2024
Senior Newcomers Second Round
1st – Miles O’Donnell & Jackpot DS - 0/0/0 – 45.25
2nd – Jordan Thompson & Muzica TL – 0/0/0 – 45.96
3rd – Emma Crawford & King Louie III - 0/0/0 – 46.82
NB: Results pending official grading
Image: Kevin Owens - DigitalWorks
Pony Discovery Second Round at Forest Edge
Tabitha Rose Callow hit top form to take victory in the Pony Discovery Second Round competition at Forst Edge Equestrian Centre on the weekend.
Thirteen starters stepped up to take on the challenge, with two jumping double clear to advance to the final jump-off. Undeterred by the pressure, Tabitha kept her cool and piloted Faye Callows’ 10-year-old mare to a foot-perfect treble clear. Gemma Waller chased hard with Belville Clover, but an unlucky rail hit the floor to relegate the combination into second place.
Forest Edge Equestrian Centre – Sunday, 28 April, 2024
Pony Discovery Second Round
1st – Tabitha Rose Callow & Vera 11 - 0/0/0 – 31.16
2nd – Gemma Waller & Belville Clover - 0/0/4 – 34.83
3rd – Nancy Haffendon & Little Woods - 0/0/Ret
NB: Results pending official grading