Brilliant Bolesworth

Showjumping legend John Whitaker won Sunday’s Bolesworth Classic Grand Prix riding Keeley Durham’s Argento.

 

Whitaker picked up £6,000 in prize money and the magnificent Bolesworth Classic Grand Prix trophy.   Geoff Luckett, riding R Little Lefanie was second and Edward Doyle and Samgemjee were third.

 

Over the four days of the Bolesworth Showjumping Classic almost a thousand competitors jumped 2,065 first rounds. Entries were up 25 per cent on last year and 2011 confirmed Bolesworth as one of the UK’s leading showjumping events.

 

Matthew Wright, winner of the Bolesworth Express Eventing qualifier, said: “Bolesworth is a perfect place for Express Eventing. I love coming here. They treat us really well and the facilities for horses and riders are some of the best in the country. This is a show I will come back to."

His view was echoed by Oliver Townend, who said: “Bolesworth is a world-class venue and this year the atmosphere was better than ever. Equestrian people love Bolesworth and I can only see this event getter bigger and better.”

The leading rider at Bolesworth was Louise Whitaker while Keith Shore left the event with a Caribbean Island Properties holiday in Barbados for being the leading rider over both the Bolesworth and Mullingar shows.

Organiser Nina Barbour said: “This year’s show was the result of a lot of hard work by a small army of people here at Bolesworth and we were thrilled that the ground conditions were so good for competitors. There have been so many positive comments about the competitions this year and the Big Night Out was a fabulous affair. I know the show is building towards what we want it to be.”

 

 

Bolesworth enjoyed its biggest crowd to date with visitors enjoying the Jive Pony display team, Fine Food Marquee, trade stands, fun fair and WOW balls on the lake.

The entertainment highlight was a rocking night with the X Factor’s Ruth Lorenzo which raised thousands of pounds for the Alder Hey Imagine Appeal. Ruth Lorenzo said: "It was fabulous. The crowd were fantastic and Bolesworth is a beautiful place."