Abbe Burchmore-Eames wins the Welcome to Yorkshire Winter Grade C Qualifier

Patchetts Equestrian Centre in Watford Hertfordshire held the Development Classic Show this weekend which played host the Welcome to Yorkshire Winter Grade C Qualifier.

 

With seventy two starters course designer Keith Bristow built a fair but challenging course which saw thirty combinations jump clear and make it though to the jump off. Fighting it out for the top two qualifying places, competition was fierce with less than a second between the top five competitors. Early on in the jump off ninteen year old Abbe Burchmore-Eames from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire lay down the gauntlet riding Jack Eames’ 11 year old light bay mare Terusa II. Jumping clear in a time of 31.55 seconds Abbe had the remaining competitors chasing after her.

 

Having been drawn near the end of the jump off Geoff Luckett who had travelled down from Banbury in Oxfordshire had the chance to watch some of the competitors ahead of him and the experience to use to his advantage. Riding Patricia Squibb’s eight year old bay gelding Quilano Z Geoff pulled out all the stops and although the combination jumped a foot perfect clear they were 0.16 seconds off the winning time taking second place and the all important second qualifying ticket for the Welcome to Yorkshire Winter Grade C Championship.