Eleanor Archibald takes the Pony Foxhunter Masters with the talented LCS Peachy Beachy
Thursday 03 August 2023
.jpg "Eleanor Archibald takes the Pony Foxhunter Masters with the talented LCS Peachy Beachy")
Eleanor Archibald was crowned Pony Foxhunter Masters champion with LCS Peachy Beachy on the final day of the Pony Championships at the British Showjumping National Championships, Stoneleigh.
Thirty-two contended course-designer John Bedford and Peter Allen’s challenging 12-fence 1.20m track and only two came up with all the right answers to access the jump-off. A second clear could not be found, Eleanor making just one mistake to take the title on the Beach Ball x Clover Hill 8-year-old mare Peachy Beachy.
“There were only two clears but the bigger and more technical the track, the better for her – it keeps her busy and thinking. I was first to go but had to keep moving in case we faulted,” said Eleanor, who lowered the first element of the double in their only mistake of the class.
Bought from Ireland as a 5-year-old off a video following recommendation by a friend and primarily due to her breeding as the Archibald family breed a couple a year, Peachy was produced by Eleanor’s sister Madelaine before she took over the reins at the end of last year.
“She’s not the easiest and a bit buzzy, we don’t do much jumping at home and keep her ticking over nicely,” said Dumfries 14-year-old Eleanor.
Keira Finlay settled for second aboard the 15-year-old Mr Marley and made family dreams come true. Keira will join her uncle Danny Nicholson at the prestigious HOYS after Danny qualified for the NAF Five Star Bronze League Final at Northcote Stud last weekend with Oriana Van Het Wilderhof.
Second in the 1.15m Members Cup Final, Emily Flockett went one better in the Pony Restricted Rider 1.10m Championship on Silver Scott to land victory by more than half a second and win her very first rug.
Six of the 14 starters successfully negotiated the 12-fence track and returned for the jump-off, Emily claiming the win by 0.57 seconds on the level-headed Irish-bred 14-year-old, who happily competes without a martingale.
“He’s very straightforward and kind and only needs simple tack – the bit is a Universal but is only on the snaffle rein,” said Emily, 14, who was offered the ride 14 months ago by her mother Sally’s employer, ESM Equestrian. “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to ride him.”
Emily, who celebrates a December birthday, will be 15 near Christmas and therefore only has next year left on ponies. “I’ll be starting my GCSE year in September.”
Ella Kay had a feeling of déjà vu in the National 128cm Championship – she repeated her 2022 win with the only double clear on the 20-year-old mare Red Alert III and they added another win to their tally.
Only five from the original field of 32 conjured up clear rounds on course-designer Ben Townley’s 11-fence 1.10m track to go forward to the jump-off. But clears were scarce second time out, Ella the sole rider to provide a double clear for the win, underscoring her talent by also posting the fastest time.
“Just going for the clear is the hardest thing to do and trying to do as well as previous years – I won the Silver League 128cm Final two years ago – puts the pressure on but we love this show, and it’s a very lucky show for us,” said Ella.
Ella, 11, is looking to follow in the footsteps of her mother Charlotte Reed-Stephenson – a top pony rider herself – and uncle Jackson Reed-Stephenson, also a top pony rider and still a strong competitor on the international stage.
Ella has had a busy summer chasing HOYS qualifiers and competing at the Royal International Horse Show just the week before.
“The ponies will have a mini break now and just keep ticking over at home hacking. Red Alert is as buzzy as ever but she jumps better running on adrenalin, and loves whizzing in a jump-off – the more you ask her, the more she loves it; she comes alive.”
Emily Gulliver headed a hot jump-off to take the National 138cm Final with Tekila Du Bary. Thirteen of the 39 starters returned clean rounds over the 11-fence 1.15m course to take their place in the jump-off with Emily finding the shortest route on the French-bred 16-year-old mare to win by 0.65 seconds.
“The jump-off was competitive with some fast riders, especially Lucy [Capper] on Playboy but she [Tekila] is very fast and quite careful,” said Emily, 13, who has ridden the year-old for the past three years.
Fynn Baker made the journey from Tavistock, Devon, worthwhile, qualifying for the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Final on Thursday to make his HOYS debut and claiming victory in the Pony Discovery Championship with Vinura Bobby.
Only 10 from the original field of 76 jumped initial clears over the 12-fence 1.05m course, with Fynn maxing on his final draw to secure the win by 0.52 seconds.
“As we’d qualified for HOYS the day before, we decided wee weren’t going to go mad in the jump-off, just keep coming but not crazy but we did such a good round, it worked in our favour,” said Fynn, 15.
The handsome 8-year-old was originally bought by friends from a neighbour with Hattie Grose initially producing him.
“He’s very quiet at home but in the ring, he suddenly switches on and gets quite excitable, at home he’s an absolute dobbin – he has two main loves, eating and jumping. He’ll have a quiet couple of weeks and then we’ll start preparing for HOYS,” said Fynn.
The first of the horse classes got the senior championships underway, Catherine Housman outpacing several fast partnerships to claim the National 5-year-old Final on Louise Drinkwater’s Honky Cat (Elton Jon x Mr Blue).
Eighteen of the 53 starters conquered the 1.15m track to go forward to the jump-off but fifth drawn Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire-based Catherine – who works for dealer/producer Julian Mincher – had the win sewn up. Tight lines and a run into the double earned the title by 0.23 sec, Joe Trunkfield’s challenge on Sing Z having to settle for second place.
"I wasn’t sure I’d done enough but I knew I could trust him to run to the double, I don’t have to protect him,” said Catherine, who acquired the ride three months ago. “He’s bit of a character; nervous about life in general but in the ring, he’s so different, very brave. Outside of the ring, he can’t wear a rug, he couldn’t possibly have a rosette near him – it’s the things you don’t think about he’s worried about.”
Stabling doesn’t suit Honky Cat either.
“He lives out in the field 24/7 with the 2-year-olds – it’s why he’s a bit of an ugly duckling, not clipped and with a few bit marks on him! He’s actually very affectionate and loves to have a cuddle – just don’t move too quickly,” added Catherine, who will contend Friday’s Equissage Pulse British Novice Championship.
Image: Eleanor Archibald LCS Peachy Beachy Credit: 1st Class Images
1weon0iftwu19.jpg "Scott Brash makes a long-awaited Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix win in Shanghai")
1xtpsebafdw52.jpg "Sienna Hutchings and Mia Pearson Soar to Success in the STX-UK Pony British Novice Second Rounds")
