Courtney 6 - Courts the Crowds at the Great Yorkshire Show

The sixth leg of 2010 International Stairway competition which spans over nine of the leading County Shows took place in the unique setting of the main arena at Great Yorkshire Show today. As always, visitors to this superb annual show were vast, with many of them flocking into watch the International Stairway competition from which both existing and potential British Team competitors are identified and assessed.

 

Dave Quigley with Charles Britton’s horse Ulot and Robert Bevis with Kate Mustill’s eye catching grey Courtney 6 were the only two competitors to achieve a clear in the first round, which meant that three other horse and rider combinations with the least faults and quickest time were able to come forward and join them for the jump off.

 

The three joining Bevis and Quigley were Vicky Tulloch and her own Soliegette having jumped clear but incurring one time fault, Ellen Whitaker with Dawn Makin and her father’s stallion Locarno 62 alongside Robert Whitaker with Rooney IV who both incurred four faults in the first round.

 

As the competition heated up, the spectators surrounding the arena showed their support with many getting up on their feet supporting their favourite riders as they entered the ring. Jumping in reverse order it was Ellen Whitaker and Locarno 62 who went first carrying forward their four faults from the first round. At a pace she hoped would force others into mistakes, should she produce a clear, her strategy paid off as she returned with a clear round in a time of 50.16 seconds which then set the standard for the rest of the competition.

 

 

Robert Bevis and the in-form Courtney 6 knew they had to produce a clear within the time allowed if they were to have the best chance of securing their share of the £7,500 prize fund. Approaching the wall, the first fence in the jump off, Robert kept his cool giving Courtney 6 every chance to produce the foot-perfect round that he did in a time of 56.32 seconds.

 

Robert had certainly put the pressure on as nothing short of a clear round within a faster time would remove Robert from the pole position he had secured for himself. 

 

Last to go, Dave Quigley and Ulot entered the arena it seemed the spectators felt the pressure on them for a clear as much as Quigley must have done, but an unfortunate rolling of a poll on the upright meant he finished on four faults, so although returning on a faster time than Bevis of 55.04 seconds he had moved down the line to finish in third place behind Ellen Whitaker.

 

As always, the International Stairway competition showcased Showjumping at it’s best and gave spectators a true feel for the level of performance needed by those already competing or hoping to compete at International Team level. Courtney 6 made his debut team experience earlier this year where he was a member of the second placed GBR team in Lisbon and is very much in-form having come second in the £10,000 Grand Prix at the Royal Festival of the Horse, Stoneleigh last weekend.

 

 

 

League Table Standing after Great Yorkshire
1^st         Helen Tredwell / Opportunity B    33 points
2^nd                 Geoff Luckett / Brickfield Boy      19 points
2^nd        Tina Fletcher / Hello Sailor          19 points
4^th         Robert Whitaker / Rooney IV      18 points
5^th         Philip Miller / Univeau                 17 points
6^th         Vicky Tulloch / Soliegett             16 points
7^th         Joe Whitaker / Kook Kaiser        14 points
8^th         Helen Tredwell / Naomi V            13 points
9^th         Rob Bevis / Courtney 6               12 points
9^th         Timothy Davies / Vatentijn O       12 points
           
The International Stairway series is aimed at identifying and assessing both potential and existing British Team competitors, taking in eight of the largest County Shows in the country. Funded jointly by the British Showjumping Business Partnership and the County Show venues hosting the classes, the series has a purse of £60,000 prize fund. In addition to the prize fund available there is also the bonus of £45,000 worth of Rider Ranking Points to the eight highest placed competitors on the overall league table that sits behind the series.

Suffolk County 2 – 3 June

Royal Norfolk 30 Jun – 1 July

Great Yorkshire Show 13 – 15 July

New Forest & Hants 27 – 29 July

Pembrokeshire 17 – 19 August

Royal County of Berkshire 18 – 19 September

 

In addition for 2010 a 'Wild Card' to compete in the International classes at the 2010 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) is available via a points league encompassing both the International Stairway and International Trial competitions.

The British Showjumping Business Partnership has been created with a view of bringing like-minded companies and individuals together. Focused on creating an environment which will allow investors to form new business relationships and obtain exposure within the sport it also assists the sport to meet its own performance pathway objectives. These are a few of the organisations that have been brought together by the Business Partnership scheme; Marsh, Next, Champion and Chester Racecourse.

 

Further information on how to join the Business Partnership and to assist with the delivery of medals for Great Britain can be on the British Showjumping website www.britishshowjumping.co.uk