Claire Leitch claims the NAF Five Star Winter Silver League Championship
Saturday 08 August 2020
The NAF Five Star Winter Silver League Championship title proved to be hard fought for when thirteen combinations remained in contention after the first round of competition. At the end of a thrilling jump off in which five double clears were produced, it was Claire Leitch from Lasswade, Midlothian who managed to hang onto the lead with Warhol Wulfselection Z, a 14 year-old bay gelding owned by Marjory McNaughton.
Held as part of the NAF Five Star British Showjumping Championships at Bolesworth, competitors were given a 1.20m track to tackle in the Winter Silver League Championship. Claire and Warhol Wulfselection Z were drawn as the fourth combination to go in the jump off and knowing that they had to put down a quick clear to put the pressure on the remaining competitors, they jumped with great accuracy and speed whilst making all the turns. This saw them leave all the fences standing in a time of 37.43 seconds.
Fifteen year-old Madeline Coakley was Claire’s nearest rival after producing a double clear in 38.40 seconds on board Ma Fleur, an 8 year-old bay mare owned by Simon Coakley. Finishing in third place was Grace Wallace on Eau Claire V, an 11 year-old bay mare owned by Victoria Wallace. They secured their double clear in 38.42 seconds.
Talking after the Championship, a very pleased Claire commented “I’ve been riding Wolfie [Warhol Wulfselection Z] for a number of years and he is a superstar who always tries his best.
“I knew that we were going to have to produce a fast jump off round as we were drawn early, so it was all or nothing. Wolfie is great at turning and covering the ground and I am delighted with this win. It was nail biting watching the rest go and we actually postponed going on holiday by a day to come here which was absolutely worthwhile.”
The NAF Five Star British Showjumping Championships take place between the 3 – 11 August 2020 and further information on the show can be found here https://bit.ly/3a4cy2Q and results from all classes here https://bit.ly/2Xzma0M.
Image Courtesy of 1st Class Images.
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