Chelsea Jones flies to victory in the NAF Five Star Bronze League qualifier at Speetley Equestrian Centre
Monday 24 April 2023
.jpg "Chelsea Jones flies to victory in the NAF Five Star Bronze League qualifier at Speetley Equestrian Centre")
Chelsea Jones took her first step to qualifying for HOYS in the first NAF Five Star Bronze League qualifier at Speetley Equestrian Centre, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, with Xavier V.
Thirty-two riders from a field of 52 posted initial clears over course-designer David Cole’s 1.05m course, these further reduced by half in round two for a jump-off of 16. It was all about the clock as eight riders produced treble clears chasing after the three semi-final qualifying places on offer.
Chelsea spotted the tightest lines to claim a 0.90 second win on the 16-year-old gelding she has competed for the last seven years.
“He was given to me. A friend had sent Xavier to use at a college I was attending, and college life didn’t suit him, so he was being sent home,” said Chelsea, who had developed a bond with the horse. “We arranged he would come home with me to see if we got on. At first, he was so stressed he wouldn’t jump when we got to a show, but we clicked straightaway. Now he’s so much more relaxed.
“He’s very particular and doesn’t take to everyone but I understand him, if he’s having a bad day, I leave him alone. On a good day, he wins a lot, but I didn’t know how it would go at Speetley as he suffers with sarcoids, particularly on his one hind leg and was recently off for six weeks. The Blue Chip Championships was our first show back and he jumped well with just the last fence down in the FMBs Systems Star Final. He was back and happy.”
The partnership jumped immaculately in the first two rounds.
“I knew as long as I kept him going on a forward stride he was in with a chance and he was really full on it,” said Chelsea, who is now focused on reaching the final at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). “The semi-final is at Northcote, our local show, and he loves it there, so I’ve got my fingers crossed he’ll have a good day.”
Julia Helm steered her home-bred Helms Rossio into second and Olivia Fox filled third place aboard Inisbri Crème De La Crème.
Speetley Equestrian Centre – Sunday, 23 April, 2023
NAF Five Star Summer Bronze League Qualifier
1st Chelsea Jones & Xavier V – 0/0/0 - 42.06 seconds
2nd Julia Helm & Helms Rossio – 0/0/0 - 42.96 seconds
3rd Olivia Fox & Inisbri Crème De La Crème – 0/0/0 - 43.23 seconds
For the full results, click here and for the list of qualified riders so far, click here.
NB: Results pending official grading.
Image: MLG Photography - https://www.mlgphotography.co.uk/
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