Blue Chip - Congratulations to East Midlands riders, Holly Gillott and Kelly Taylor!

Monday 08 April 2013

 

Dreams were realised at the Blue Chip championships, now in its 22nd year, as glorious laps of honour were taken by delighted winners.

Tracy Priest lifted the Blue Chip grand prix with Calle, a German-bred 13-year-old and consistent winner in last year’s area trials on the county circuit. “I thought I’d left room, but the rest made mistakes chasing me” she said. The win equally delighted show sponsor, Blue Chip’s Claire Blaskey, as Tracy uses Blue Chip products.

Sammie-Jo Coffin’s daring inside turn to the double and a risky gallop to the last snatched the Blue Chip Pro A and B on Willem De Lux. “I trust him and he loved it in there” said Cornwall-based Sammie-Jo, who is aiming the Lupicor sired 10-year-old at the county circuit and International shows this year.  

Holly Gillott (pictured) swept into Blue Chip Dynamic B and C victory with her current HOYS seven-year-old champion Dougie Douglas. “He’s my ‘horse of a lifetime’” said Holly, who had a four month break after HOYS as recurring problems with her leg, broken two years ago, resulted in another operation. “I’ve been doing plenty of strengthening work with a personal trainer” said Holly, a Hickstead Band C finalist with the eight-year-old Dougie.

‘A’ level student Tabitha Sleap commandeered the Blue Chip Karma performance with her Irish nine-year-old Zeitgeist M2S. “We’ve had a quiet winter as I’ve been studying” said Tabitha, 18, who aims to take a gap year before moving to University and study biochemistry.

In a strike for British breeding, Emma-Jo Slater headed the Blue Chip Joint RLF Power championship with Kim Barzilay’s Lizziemary.  The seven-year-old bred by Mike Dawson is the daughter of Cabri D’Elle and Amanda Lear – both International winners with Scott Smith. “She loves to jump, we’re hoping she’s another Tinka’s Serenade” said Emma-Jo, referring to Billy Twomey’s 2012 Olympic ride whom she originally produced.

Chloe Winchester headed the Halsall Electrical 1.25m on Ed Howard’s nine-year-old Zandokan H. “It’s my biggest win, I never thought I’d catch Emily!” said Chloe, 18, who finished 0.22sec in front of Emily Ward’s Witch – “Doing the lap of honour was the best feeling.”

Claire Shepherd’s early round on Angela Nuttall’s El Diablo Grande earned the Joshua Jones UK discovery championship in a hot, 26-horse jump-off. “He’s consistent and fast, an exciting prospect for the five-year-olds this year” said Claire, who acquired the Conterno Grande son a year ago unbroken.

Anna de Verteuil took the Horsequest Novice championship with Sonna Monfared’s Amadeus, a Dutch eight-year-old she has ridden since November. “His first show was five months ago, but he’s so big – 17.2hh – he needed time to grow into himself.” said Anna, “but he can turn like a pony.”

Ian Wynne and Ann Wolley Dod’s Don Douglas have been HOYS, British Open and Aintree amateur 1.20m champions in recent years, but the Blue Chips had always eluded them – until now.  They claimed the Tri-Zone Airlite Star with neat, economic turns to beat 35 jump-off rivals. “I didn’t get the best shot to the first fence, but then I was on a roll” said Ian.

Emily Ward secured the Blue Chip Pro Sparkle JC/JA with the final draw riding Wizard VIII. “She’s usually overshadowed by King Mac because he wins so much, but she’s very talented in her own right” said Emily, 13, who was also busy riding horses at this show. In a hard-fought jump-off, she took third in the Blue Chip Pro A and B challenge on Witch.

A delighted Lucy Farrington recorded her best win with the Horsequest sapphire title on TGF Puzzle.  She started riding the homebred six-year-old, bred by her father David and uncle Trevor at TGF Stud, Coventry, on November.

Charlie O’Conor recorded her biggest win here 12 months ago with the pony novice championship on Aughnacliff Boy.  This year, they returned to land the Horsequest sapphire. “He’s so quick I went for speed rather than tight turns” said Kent-based Charlie, 14, who trains with Chris Moyce.

Kellie Taylor’s long-time lead in a 12-pony jump-off clinched the Animo pony discovery with Taffechan Dylan, a Welsh section D bought a year ago. “He’s my favourite, he’s got so much character” said Kellie, 14, “When he’s fresh he squeals and bucks.” 

Olivia Skinner won the Animo pony novice with a cool-calculated round in the 10-pony jump-off on Pene Grimster’s Colours Of Romeo. “She so consistent, she qualified for the discovery and sapphire too, all on the first attempt” said Windsor-based Olivia.

Further information and results can be found by visiting www.bluechipchamps.co.uk

 

 

Recent East Midlands News
	Senior Teams 2024 19/04/2024
	Northants/Cambs academy survey results 19/03/2024
	Geoff is coming to Leicester! 19/03/2024
	Notts/Lincs Academy Easter Training 19/03/2024
	Nottinghamshire Area Show! 18/03/2024