Harriette Rushton claims victory in the UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B and C Championship Qualifier at Arena UK’s Winter Classic
Friday 17 January 2025
Harriette Rushton is Hickstead-bound as she stormed to victory in the UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B and C Championship Qualifier with Lizzy D’Alme CZ at Arena UK’s Winter Classic II.
“Lizzy is very quick and nimble and doesn’t waste a lot of time in the air,” said Harriette, who rides the eight-year-old Lavillon x Contact VD Heffinck mare for Foxisle Stud and Edwin and Tina Cumberland.
Course-designers Neil Foster and Declan Perry set a 12-fence 1.35m track for the 22 competitors forward, and nine returned initial clear rounds to chase after the three Royal International Horse Show finalist places on offer in the jump-off.
Louise Lovegrove (nee Saywell) was the only rider to tout two chances in the jump-off and set a competitive target with her opening round on Chef of Flanders Fields Z at their first show together. Two horses later, Billy Twomey wiped 0.60 seconds off her time to edge ahead on Quelle Dame Van’t Meerhof.
However, Harriette wasn’t daunted by two respected international riders filling the top two places. Aware she had also had two riders with fearsome speedy reputations behind her in the form of Mark Edwards and Joe Trunkfield – who produced the fastest time of the jump-off but incurred four faults – Harriette hit the turbo button.
As riders all followed a similar route, it was who dares wins and Harriette maintained a forward pace on Lizzy D’Alme CZ, angling a midway vertical to get a good line to the penultimate double to streak ahead by 1.05 seconds and deservedly take the top spot.
“The jump-off suited her as she can turn back very quickly. We won it on the turn back to the double, she didn’t waste any time at all,” said Harriette, who competed in the 2024 SEIB Winter Novice Final on Chacstar Z. “I’m very excited to be heading there again this year.”
Billy netted second place on the Belgian-bred nine-year-old Quelle Dame Van’t Meerhof and Louise remained in the third qualifying spot on the nine-year-old Chef of Flanders Fields Z (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Indoctro).
Arena UK Winter Classic II – 16 January 2025
UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter B&C Championship Qualifier
1st Harriette Rushton & Lizzy D’Alme CZ – 0/0 - 38.49
2nd Billy Twomey & Quelle Dame Van’t Meerhof – 0/0 - 39.54
3rd Louise Lovegrove & Chef of Flanders Fields Z – 0/0 - 40.14
NB Results pending final grading
Image: ATG Photography
