Hannah Barker riding Ballybur Oh Jessie win the National 128cm Championship Final
Friday 14 August 2015
After another spectacular day of finals in the Andrews Bowen Indoor Arena, the crowd were entertained with some incredibly close competition and fierce displays of showjumping talent in the National 128cm Championship Final yesterday, Friday 14th August.
The course designed by Steve Williams proved testing for the young riders with only three double clears out of twenty-one competitors. Emelia Mitchell (12) from Saffron, Walden, Essex with Jane Gibson’s 18 year-old grey gelding Wyndham Tom Thumb set the bar in the first round, with a reputable time of 63.54 seconds and a clear round. The following combinations pushed on for the lead, resulting in eleven clear rounds heading through to the jump off.
The jump off course proved even tougher, with many combinations just falling short of the all clear. The atmosphere was tense in the arena and spectators willed on their favourite competitors. In the end it was 10 year-old Hannah Barker from Thornton Le Beans, North Yorkshire riding her father Ian’s 17 year-old chestnut mare Ballybur Oh Jessie, who stormed to the top of the rankings and secured the Championship title with an incredible time of 32.84 seconds.
Hannah and Ballybur Oh Jessie have been together for three years and in that time they have had a hard time when it comes to HOYS, Hannah is hoping that this year will be a successful one, she said “last year she jumped her first HOYS qualifier and then qualified but then she was out for a bit and missed HOYS, after that she came back in time for these HOYS qualifiers and she qualified HOYS at Sparsholt’.
The National 128cm Championship class is an incredible testament to the sport and its encouragement of young riders. This class is bursting with young talent and exciting potential. It seems clear that the likes of Hannah Barker and her gifted pony will be leading the way for the stars of the future.
RESULTS
1st Hannah Barker and Ballybur Oh Jessie
2nd Holly Truelove and Toya Whispering Sand
3rd Ms Francesca Young and Pussy Cat Doll
4th Rachael Proudley and Painted Lady IV
5th Rachael Proudley and Bathleyhills Sea Mist
6th Emelia Mitchell and Time to Party
7th Ria Scott and Bunbury Conquest
8th Alice Weightman and Stockholme Penelope
Photo: Credit 1st Class Images
The British Showjumping National Championships and Stoneleigh Horse Show 2015 is hosted at the National Agricultural and Exhibition Centre (NAEC), Stoneleigh, Warwickshire during the 11th-16th August. For further information, please visit www.bsnationalchampionships.co.uk
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