British Showjumping Spring Championships 2018
Monday 26 March 2018
Oliver Fletcher landed the Winter 1.35m title with the sole jump-off clear in the final draw with Caicos at British Showjumping’s Spring Championships held at Addington Manor.
It was no fluke, nine of the twenty-one starters posted first round clears over the 12-fence track designed by Nigel Jess and Bob Ellis, and it seemed a hot jump-off was on the cards. But as riders chased the handsome £1,500 first prize, fences fell with alarming regularity, and it was down to last-to-go Oliver – the youngest in the class at 15 years old – to produce a magical, penalty-free round to win. And he did it with style and flair.
“There is more pressure to jump clear than to go against the clock and chase a target, but pressure brings out the best in me, it makes me ride better,” said Oliver.
The Cajas 15-year-old Caicos – who previously evented with Paul Tapner before turning to showjumping – was ridden by Alfie Bradstock until Oliver took over last September.
“He has all the scope in the world, has the right mentality and wants to do the job,” said Oliver, who has found the key to this gelding – “I rode him for an hour this morning. In the ring, the first three jumps I need lots of leg, after that, no leg at all.”
Mark Edwards’ penultimate round on Montreuxs Tale returned four faults but it was sufficient for second place with Tracy Priest filling third place on Caristo VDL.
Tim Davies claimed the 7-year-old Championship from the front of the five-horse jump-off with Barrett Watson’s Lionel Van De Markieslanden.
The Falco-sired gelding was talent-spotted in Lummen, Belgium, when Tim went to try another horse.
“I was told he might have a bit of a jump and when I popped him over a tiny fence, I decided he definitely had a jump and bought him. I raved about him to Barrett – who though he looked like an Arab when he came home – and the first time I rode him, he napped for 30 minutes,” said Tim. “But I really like him and he’s getting better. He’s still silly and spooky sometimes, but he’s naturally quick and wants to jump.”
Only three of twenty-one starters came forward to contend the winter 6-year-old jump-off, and Harry Bateman was riding two of them. He claimed the win on first-drawn Zuniek Van De Tojopehoeve with the only double clear and finished third with Jennifer Thompson’s Jaloubet K Z, sandwiching Christina Foley into second on Hendrikje M.
“I’m over the moon, I only came for this class with two horses, it couldn’t have gone more to plan,” said Harry, who bought the Zirocco VDL mare as an unbroken three-year-old. “She’s so sweet a 6-year-old child could rider her, everything I do with her is a walk in the park.”
Alfie Bradstock maximised on his final draw to take the Winter Grade C title with Tracy Priest’s Fuzeta Beech.
“She’s very quick and jumps better with a bit of pace. The track suited her nicely, she likes to keep moving on – and I had my instructions from the boss – Tracy!” said Alfie.
The 9-year-old Fuzeta – by Why Me and out of a Calvaro Z x Its The Business mare – was bred by Derek Morton and Geoff Glazzard at Beech House Stud and joined Alfie last September. They will aim at HOYS talentseekers and Foxhunter this summer.
Sarah Williams – who runs her own business, Williams Equestrian, as a saddle fitter for Amerigo saddles – found the quickest route to claim victory in the Winter Amateur Final by 0.65 seconds on her home-bred Calvaro Star.
“I actually missed an inside turn but we kept moving. I’m not very brave but she’s bold and honest,” said Sarah on the Calvaro Z x Quick Star 11-year-old mare.
Jade Meekings put all her training with John and Laura Renwick to good use in the Winter Silver League Final, guiding Pauls Lass into 0.28 second victory.
“I learn a lot just watching Laura at home, I think a turn is too tight, but it never is,” said Jade, 20, who has been based in Essex with the Renwicks for three years.
The Irish-bred 12-year-old ‘Gracie’ joined Jade five years ago as her first horse.
“We started in British Novice and we’ve done more than I ever thought we would. I knew we could gallop to the last two fences, she never has problems taking out strides [down a distance],” said Jade.
Last-drawn Southerly Roberts secured the Winter Bronze League Final to register her first big win at a National Championships with Tinx.
“She goes fast but doesn’t cover the ground, I knew we had to go flat out from the beginning,” said Southerly, who finished second in the 2017 Bronze League Final at HOYS and has competed in the HOYS working hunter for three years – “She’s grade A now so we can’t do the working hunter at HOYS now because of the rules.”
The 13-year-old Carnaval Drum daughter was purchased from breeders Peter and Keith Doyle.
“I was breaking-in two-year-old racehorses for Peter’s wife Sally and Tinx – who had been sold – returned, it was perfect timing,” added Southerly, who has produced the mare from British Novice.
Alena Hughes, 11, made her first time competing in Children on Horses classes a winning one with Victoria Hughes’ Rainbow VI.
Alena was drawn first in a head-to-head jump-off with Megan Li on Eclips Van Erpekom, and shrugged off any pressure to provide the only double clear.
“I was out to win,” said Alena, who acquired the Cato Z x Pouchka III 14-year-old Rainbow in January after London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Peter Charles sent him for Alena to try – “On the second day, we took him to a show and bonded instantly.”
The Children on Horses classes here were also European viewing trials – and the Championships are a big aim for Alena.
Championship results
Winter 1.35m Final
1st Oliver Fletcher & Caicos – 0/0 - 52.80 seconds
2nd Mark Edwards & Montreuxs Tale – 0/4 - 40.99 seconds
3rd Tracy Priest & Caristo VDL – 0/4 - 43.38 seconds
4th Alex Thompson & Cathalin V – 0/4 - 44.44 seconds
5th Dale Burnham & Quadrio Tame – 0/4 - 48.48 seconds
6th Mark Edwards & Quidde Du Buisson Z – 0/8 - 41.86 seconds
Winter 7-year-old Final
1st Tim Davies & Lionel Van De Markieslanden 0/0 - 36.60 seconds
2nd Andrew Saywell & Lacondra Van De Roshoeve – 0/4 - 36.10 seconds
3rd Jasime Head & Gandi – 0/4 - 37.71 seconds
4th Adam Ellery & Levis K – 0/8 - 37.35 seconds
5th Leigh Walker & Ali GT – 0/10 - 49.54 seconds
6th Tyrone Flanagan & Gyralda – 4 - 66.96 seconds
Winter 6-year-old Final
1st Harry Bateman & Zuniek Van De Tojopehoeve – 0/0 - 39.13 seconds
2nd Christina Foley & Hendrikje M – 0/4 - 41.83 seconds
3rd Harry Bateman & Jaloubet K Z – 0/4 - 43.19 seconds
4th Rebecca Mason & Vancurtis – 4
5th Jasmin Head & Harsha – 4
6th Millicent Cormack & Calcourt Qualvados – 4
Winter Grade C Final
1st Alfie Bradstock & Fuzeta Beech – 0/0 - 38.91 seconds
2nd Beth Vernon & Annbalou – 0/0 - 40.31 seconds
3rd Andrew Saywell & Lacondra Van De Roshoeve – 0/0 - 40.70 seconds
4th Tracy Priest & Diamants Aurora – 0/0 - 40.96 seconds
5th Alex Thompson & Classy Cat – 0/0 - 43.21 seconds
6th Gemma Ellison & Cynthia Flint – 0/4 - 41.39 seconds
Winter Amateur Final
1st Sarah Williams & Calvaro Star – 0/0 - 35.17 seconds
2nd Flossy Bellm & Southbound – 0/0 - 35.82 seconds
3rd Christina Foley & Caruno II – 0/0 - 36.71 seconds
4th Mark Thompson & Alex H – 0/4 - 36.16 seconds
5th Amanda Kent & Contrichta – 0/4 - 36.63 seconds
6th Nina Emery & Galaxy III 0/4 - 42.85 seconds
Winter Silver League Final
1st Jade Meekings & Pauls Lass – 0/0 - 35.56 seconds
2nd Amanda Kent & Contrichta 0/0 - 35.84 seconds
3rd Christina Foley & Caruno II – 0/0 - 36.28 seconds
4th Sarah Williams & Calvaro Star – 0/0 - 36.44 seconds
5th Nina Emery & Piana – 0/0 - 36.49 seconds
6th Conor Dunphy & Attache 0/0 - 38.90 seconds
Winter Bronze League Final
1st Southerly Roberts & Tinx – 0/0 - 33.59 seconds
2nd Alice Ellison & Britney IV – 0/0 - 36.97 seconds
3rd Joanne Burns-Firth & Miss Sixpence – 0/0 - 37.94 seconds
4th Anna de Vertueil & Victory II – 0/0 - 43.40 seconds
5th Abigail Groves & Cassius Z II – 0/2 - 48.20 seconds
6th Jessica Wyatt & Gloriagrey – 0/4 - 37.10 seconds
Children on Horses Final
1st Alena Hughes & Rainbow VI – 0/0 - 41.72 seconds
2nd Megan Li & Eclips Van Erpekom – 0/4 - 38.87 seconds
3rd Hannah Barker & Cartouche II – 4 - 66.39 seconds
4th Madison Heath & Venus III – 4 - 67.69 seconds
5th Madison Heath & Burgana – 8 - 65.85 seconds
6th Isabel Saywell & Upperclass II – 8 - 67.52 seconds
NB: Qualifications will be updated on the website pending official grading of results.
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