Paul Sims retains his 1.40m title at the Scope Festival
Wednesday 23 August 2023
Paul Sims set the bar high to take the top-billed 1.40m Championship and retain his 2022 title at the Scope Festival for Seniors at South View Equestrian Centre with Dream Roller.
Paul was drawn first of six in the jump-off, considered disadvantageous by some, but he pulled off a fast yet smooth round to set an unbeatable target. Keeping an even rhythm with deceptively quick lines, Paul was the only rider to break the 40 second barrier to comfortably stay ahead despite the challenges.
“It was a feeling of déjà vu, I was first to go last year as well,” said Paul, who also won the 2022 title on Dream Roller. “He doesn’t look particularly quick but he has such a big stride I can use it to my advantage and he’s so established at this level, he makes it feel easy.”
A former eventer turned showjumper, the Diamond Roller x Cavalier Royale 12-year-old proved his versatility this year with good placings in Chepstow’s two world ranking classes and ninth in the Hickstead Derby.
“He’s brave so I thought I’d give the Hickstead Derby a go and he jumped it well. He’s always competitive in a jump-off, he wants to win as much as I do and no turn is too tight, he’s ready, willing and capable of doing what I want him to do,” added Paul, who lives in Nantwich just 20 minutes from this venue. “We had such a busy week last week with the youngsters at Bolesworth, it was lovely to pop here and win this for the second time.”
Second out Mennell Watson, already winner of the 1.30m title, would be a danger in any jump-off on Whisper In The Wind, but when the stallion tipped the first fence, his challenge was over. Penultimate drawn Abbie Bevan opted for accuracy on Klaudius to slot into second place with the only other double clear, some 17 seconds in arrears.
Mennell had to settle for third place but lifted the Scope 1.30m title with long-term campaigner Whisper In The Wind. Seven competitors came forward to the jump-off with Mennell claiming two of the rides, but he hit the ‘win’ button with tight lines on the game Cobretti x Mr Majestic 15-year-old. The pair proved convincing winners with an unbeatable target from first draw to score a 2.59 second win.
Mother and daughter duo Emma-Jo Slater and Kiera Higgins took home multiple championship wins during a successful three days with Emma-Jo scoring a hat-trick.
Emma-Jo must surely have set out as favourite with Freule TN and Kim Barzilay’s super-speedy and mega-consistent mare duly obliged with a victory double in the Scope 1.05m and 1.15m Championships.
Sixteen of the original 27 1.05m competitors returned for the jump-off with Emma-Jo taking two through. With 10 providing double clears, it was all about the clock but Emma-Jo clinched the title from second draw, executing every available tight turn option to the quick on the Baloubet Du Rouet x Clinton 13-year-old to win with an impressive two seconds to spare.
Similar results were achieved in the following 1.15m. Using her opening draw to dominate the jump-off, Emma-Jo angled across fences and risked a gallop to the final vertical to top the 11-strong jump-off by 1.42 seconds.
The partnership recently won the Senior Riders Championship at the British Showjumping National Championships and Freule also became a Mum this summer.
“It was her first foal by embryo transfer, a filly by Pandito Van’t Merelsnest and, as it took two years and several attempts with different stallions via ET, we’ll use the same stallion again,” said owner Kim. “She’s too valuable to us to risk her having babies – she’s too posh to push!”
Emma-Jo’s third win came in the Scope Pathfinders Championship – open to newcomer horses and over an 11-fence 1.10m track – with Judy Ross’ home-bred Rosgan Gizmo in a nine-horse decider.
The Heartbreaker x Cabdula Du Tillard 9-year-old started her formative years with Kerri Hourihan in 2019 but, after only a few shows, missed 18 months due to the Covid lockdowns. Emma-Jo took over the ride three months ago and impressively cemented their partnership to claim their first win with more than four seconds to spare.
They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Kiera landed the Scope 95cm Championship on Robert Crisp’s April Love with a devastatingly fast round reminiscent of her Mum’s jump-off prowess.
“It’s my first championship win! I’m really part of the Kimba Team now and one day I might beat Mummy,” said Kiera, 14, who rides for Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire-based Kim Barzilay alongside Emma-Jo.
Nineteen of the 46 starters qualified for the jump-off with Kiera trusting the Unbelievable Darco x Victor Hugo 14-year-old mare April Love to run on a light contact, slicing the turns to take an immediate lead of three seconds. Helena Reveley’s later challenge on King Muse Z came within 1.44 seconds to slot into second place, leaving Kiera the clear winner.
“The turn to the double looked a bit tight so I asked Kim if I should go inside. She said, ‘Yes, go for it and keep your fingers crossed,’ and it came off,” said Kiera.
Ryan Page claimed the Blue Riband 1.20m title on the scopey BP Ko Jax – bought out of Gorsebridge Go for Gold Sale in November 2018 by David Mitson of Science Supplements. Drawn second, Ryan guided the big-striding Elvis Ter Putte x Iroko 8-year-old into the top spot with 0.71 seconds in hand in the five-horse jump-off. Katie Rose chased hard with Pro Limit Van Stal Timmers but had to settle for second place.
Adam Taylor bettered his 33 rivals to take the Scope 1m Novice title on Basingwerk Imagine. Sixteen riders accessed the jump-off with Adam and the Findoctro x Dick Z 6-year-old he has competed for the last 10 weeks producing the winning round from mid-draw to win by 0.33 seconds. Anya Brown had to settle for second on Morris Oxford.
Emily Morris claimed the first championship on offer in the Graham Heath Equestrian 85cm Novice Debut Championship on Ezee YSH.
Fifteen of the original 26 starters jumped clear over the 11-fence track to qualify for the jump-off. Emily and the 5-year-old Escape Z daughter set an early target from fifth draw to win with 0.67 seconds in hand over Danielle Hughes in second aboard Touch of Jack.
Full results can be found here
Image: Phil Hillier/Landscape and Horses
