Sally Hopkinson and Cartouche II crowned National 1.30m Open Champions
Thursday 13 August 2015
 (2).JPG "Sally Hopkinson and Cartouche II crowned National 1.30m Open Champions")
The National 1.30m Open Championship came to a thrilling conclusion today as Sally Hopkinson from Womersley, North Yorkshire riding David Hopkinson Ltd’s 12 year-old bay gelding Cartouche II rode to victory in the Andrews Bowen Indoor Arena at the British Showjumping National Championships and Stoneleigh Horse Show.
A winner was finally declared after two exciting days of competition, including heavily contested preliminary rounds earlier in the week. Eleven out of thirty combinations were able to produce a clear round guaranteeing a very heated jump off.
The jump off presented some early challenges with many riders coming unstuck and racking up a number of penalties. The first nine combinations to tackle the jump off all had fences down leaving many to wonder if a clear round would be achieved.
The second to last competitor; Lance Whitehouse from Melton Mowbray riding Shadow Ladel a 9 year-old bay mare owned by Angela Pateman was the first to complete a flawless clear round with a time of 38.05.
The pressure was on the final rider, Sally Hopkinson, as the tension built ahead of her round. Sally was able to put aside all pressures and perform an expertly jump off to take the title with a time of 37.01.
Sally said Cartouche II “was slightly spooky going in but I think it was because it was his first indoor show”. Not only did Cartouche II settle his nerves in the Andrews Bowen Indoor Arena, he dominated the competition in the specially created indoor, “the arena is fantastic and the surface is spot on”
Sally and Cartouche II have been partners for three years and are thrilled with their win at the British Showjumping National Championships.
RESULTS
1st Sally Hopkinson and Cartouche II
2nd Lance Whitehouse and Shadow Ladel
3rd Anna Edwards and Chesterfield Z
4th Katie Fletcher and Benz V
5th Kellie Taylor and Creevagh Josh
6th Nikki Ward and PL Skyline
7th Luke Humphrey and Wendela N
8th Carron Nicol and Fantaland
Photo:credit 1st class images
The British Showjumping National Championships and Stoneleigh Horse Show 2015 is hosted at the National Agricultural and Exhibition Centre (NAEC), Stoneleigh, Warwickshire during the 11th-16th August. For further information, please visit www.bsnationalchampionships.co.uk
 c. Majestic Photography.jpg "James Smith Dominates in the Penultimate Winter Grand Prix at Aintree Winter Classic Show")