Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships 2015
Monday 13 April 2015
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Record entries, beautiful spring weather, a flower-bedecked championship arena, rugs, sashes, jackets and equine prizes made for a special, five day extravaganza in the 24th year of these championships, where dreams were won and lost in the Hartpury Arena.
With a final gallop down the arena to the last fence, Nigel Coupe secured the Blue Chip Grand Prix aboard Sue Simmons’ Irish-bred former working hunter 12 year-old bay gelding Golvers Hill.
William Funnell, an early leader on Reiko Taedd's 11 year-old chestnut gelding Roi IV, made a last-bid challenge with his British team horse 14 year-old brown stallion Billy Congo owned by Billy Stud, but had to settle for second and third behind the Lancashire winner.
“I wasn’t sure I was 100% quick enough, but I’d watched Will [on his early ride] and going early on Jubilee (placed an eventual fourth) gave me a valuable insight,” said Nigel. “The atmosphere was superb, the crowd are great here, and to beat a top rider like Will is brilliant.”
Seventy riders battled it out in the Blue Chip Pro Challenge, with Matthew Sampson’s final flying gallop grabbing the top spot on board his own Amadeouse De Hurtebise. The 9 year-old bay gelding Amadeouse was bought in Belgium and progressed on the Vejer de la Frontera tour, Spain, from 1.30m to 1.45m.
“He’s inexperienced but he’s a character and a lovely person, he always has his ears forward,” said Matthew.
Angie Thompson seized the Blue Chip Joint RLF Power and Blue Chip Karma Performance titles with her own and Tom Rimes’ Babette.
“She’s quick, careful and doesn’t waste any time,” said Angie, who acquired the 9 year-old chestnut mare by Matterhorn from Julian Mincher in November and almost immediately qualified for the Seib Winter Novice Championship and the Winter Grade C Final.
Second to Angie by just 0.01 sec with Dolanda, Julian Mincher notched up his own double of wins with two 7 year-olds, both who are on the Equine Pathway.
Dolanda, owned by Sid and Jackie Jones of Brook Farm Equestrian, took the Blue Chip Dynamic B and C title, and Sam and Darren Middleton’s Heartbreaker stallion Dartbreaker clinched the Halsall Electrical 1.25m.
“Dartbreaker’s benefited enormously from the Equine Pathway, John Ledingham has me leg yielding for 30 minutes, and it’s made such a difference,” said Julian, who has recently moved to a new base in Hampshire, the 100 acre Grazinglands.
The Dutch-bred, Ultimo daughter Dolanda, winner of the 2014 Blue Chip Power Championship, is quick, careful and consistent.
“She’s a winner, out of four classes here, she’s had a first, two seconds and a third,” said Julian.
Emma-Jo Slater secured the Joshua Jones UK Discovery title aboard Kim Barzilay’s Zip Phin sired 6 year-old mare Nina Phin.
“She was spooky and refused to go near the trade stands at first,” said Emma-Jo, who persevered to overcome the mare’s fears.
“She has a big heart and a big stride, I knew she could win if I could gain her confidence.”
Blue Chip debutante Heather Broad claimed the HorseQuest Novice title on her own Caretina II BFZ, a 6 year-old bay mare bought two years ago from Sam and Darren Middleton via trainer Julian Mincher.
“The win’s down to Julian, I lack confidence and he keeps it altogether,” said Heather, a customer relations manager for Berkeley Homes in London.
Georgia Cabb claimed the WOW Saddles Star on Quinara S. The 10 year-old bay mare, by the Quidam De Revel stallion Quinar and owned by Dean Johnstone, joined North Wales based Georgia, 16, four months ago.
“I didn’t think I’d win, the jump-off was fast, but she’s honest and like a pony to ride,” said Georgia, who will now target the Silver League Championship at Horse of the Year Show.
Already a winner of two classes, the first two-phase and a qualifying class, Michaela Huntington made it three with the Haygain Hay Steamers Diamond Championship on Andrea Pearman’s 16 year-old piebald stallion Drumhowan Cavalier.
“I love these championships, I haven’t missed a year since I was 12,” said Michaela, “and this class was made for him.”
PONIES
For the third consecutive year, Emily Ward headed the Blue Chip Pro Sparkle JC/JA, this time taking the title on Richard Lunn’s 11 year-old grey gelding Ballybaloo, previously ridden by his son Jared.
“He’s quick across the ground, galloping round instead of taking tight inside turns paid off, ” said Emily, who won on Wizard VIII two years ago and with Dafina K last year.
She meets Ballybaloo at shows. This was only their third show together, and they have already formed a bond, qualifying for the Winter JC Final at the Royal International Horse Show at their first outing.
Jersey based 15 year-old Sophie Bennett scored her biggest win with the HorseQuest UK Coral Championship on Killy Colour Code, an Irish-bred 9 year-old skewbald gelding bought from Fiona Wingrove four years ago.
“He’s taught me everything, I knew nothing when I got him,” said Sophie, who attends Millfield School in Somerset.
Megan Taylor was on flying form to capture both the Animo Novice and Discovery titles on her mother Debbie’s 8 year-old bay gelding Mr Bojangles III.
“He’s quick, easy and with a lovely temperament,” said Megan, 14, who spotted this eight-year-old jumping at South View. Mr Bojangles had a busy Pony of the Year Show before travelling here.
“We thought he’d be tired so I only rode him twice at home to conserve his energy,” said Megan.
Stylish yet nippy turns handed the HorseQuest UK Sapphire Championship to Lauren Roach, 13, and Paul Kelly and Kerry Grimster’s 8 year-old grey mare Westcoast Express.
“We had a great Pony of the Year Show with a first and second, so we decided not to compete in the Sparkle here and concentrate on the Sapphire,” said Kerry, “and it’s paid off.”
Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships 2015 Results:
HORSEQUEST UK NOVICE CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Heather Broad & Caretina II BFZ 0/0 34.47
2 Caroline Barnes & Ready To Rock 0/0 34.56
3 Abigail Corlett & Blue River 0/0 35.45
BLUE CHIP JOINT RLF POWER CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Angie Thompson & Babette 0/0 31.32
2 Adrian Whiteway & Cojack 0/0 31.60
3 Jessica Baugh & Castlemitchell Princess 0/0 31.65
JOSHUA JONES UK DISCOVERY CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Emma-Jo Slater & Nina Phin 0/0 36.27
2 Yasmin Davis & Zanbowa Z 0/0 37.56
3 Emma-Jo Slater & Cosmic Mojo 0/0 38.31
WOW SADDLES STAR CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Georgia Cabb & Quinara S 0/0 30.97
2 Shannon Wilson & Casallasca 0/0 31.89
3 Emily Morris & Ultimatum II 0/0 33.53
BLUE CHIP KARMA PERFORMANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Angie Thompson & Babette 0/0 53.52
2 Julian Mincher & Dolanda 0/0 53.53
3 Lance Whitehouse & Lady Rouge 0/0 36.86
BLUE CHIP PRO CHALLENGE TROPHY
1 Matthew Sampson & Amadeouse De Hurtebise 0/0 26.95
2 Julian Mincher & Dolanda 0/0 27.23
3 Beth Vernon & Omane De Faux 0/0 27.36
BLUE CHIP DYNAMIC B&C CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Julian Mincher & Dolanda 0/0 36.62
2 Mark Edwards & Unbelievable Eddie 0/0 36.85
3 Danielle Dickson & Uno VII 0/0 37.74
HALSALL ELECTRICAL 1.25m CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Julian Mincher & Dartbreaker 0/0 39.26
2 Tracy Priest & Caristo VDL 0/0 39.33
3 Mark Edwards & Mammas Tinker 0/0 39.68
BLUE CHIP GRAND PRIX
1 Nigel Coupe & Golvers Hill 0/0 35.52
2 William Funnell & Billy Congo 0/0 36.29
3 William Funnell & Roi 0/0 36.42
HAYGAIN HAY STEAMERS DIAMOND FINAL
1 Michaela Huntington & Drumhowan Cavalier 0/0 33.71
2 Katie Benbow & Ruby St Loise 0/0 36.92
3 Frankie Carr & Pipsqueek T 0/0 33.71
BLUE CHIP PRO SPARKLE JC/JA CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Emily Ward & Ballybaloo 0/0 33.02
2 Orla Morrin & Sweet Whispers 0/0 33.68
3 Amanda Clark & Pablo IX 0/0 33.80
ANIMO PONY NOVICE CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Megan Taylor & Mr Bojangles III 0/0 22.47
2 Samuel Wisbey & Kiltilane Mike 0/0 22.91
3 Lauren Roach & Northcandra Aramis 0/0 23.13
ANIMO PONY DISCOVERY CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Megan Taylor & Mr Bojangles III 0/0 22.39
2 Millie Dickinson & Ron Burgundy 0/0 24.46
3 Katie Benbow & Candy Twist 0/0 24.58
HORSEQUEST UK PONY SAPPHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Lauren Roach & Westcoast Express 0/0 29.84
2 Tabitha Dean & Atlantic Hope II 0/0 30.78
3 Daisy McKinlay & Spot The Go Jo 0/0 31.05
HORSEQUEST UK PONY CORAL CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Sophie Bennett & Killy Colour Code 0/0 29.56
2 Georgia Taylor-Jones & Mac Spirit 0/0 31.86
3 Sophie Lewns & Rutland Red Alert 0/0 38.41
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