Harry Charles is the new Voltaire Design Under 25 British Champion
Thursday 15 December 2022
.jpeg "Harry Charles is the new Voltaire Design Under 25 British Champion")
Twenty-four talented combinations contested today’s Voltaire Design Under 25 British Championship Final, but it was 23-year-old Harry Charles from Alton, Hampshire who came out on top. Harry was riding Chavira, an 11 year-old bay mare owned by Ecurie Zet.
The track proved challenging for many of the riders, as problems came all around the course. Just six combinations were able to find the key to jumping clear in the first round, including siblings Harry, Sienna and Scarlett Charles, along with Robert Murphy, Leonie Aitkenhead and Emma Crawford.
Current FEI World No. 1 Under 25 rider and last year’s leading rider of the show, Harry Charles set the standard in the six horse jump off. He was third to jump but produced the first clear round, in 32.68 seconds, which was to prove unbeatable. Harry used Chavira’s nimbleness to his advantage and utilised the shortcuts around the course. Their round gave them the perfect start and ensured that they put pressure on the remaining competitors.
Leonie Aitkenhead, aged 24, from Lincolnshire also went clear in the jump off, riding Heart Third, a 10-year-old bay mare owned by Beverley Aitkenhead. The pair jumped faultlessly to finish in second place with a time of 33.64 seconds.
Twenty-two year old Emma Crawford from Fife jumped the final double clear of the class. Piloting the 10-year-old bay gelding, Dukes of Hazzard, owned by Lynn Crawford, Emma set a fantastic time of 33.79 seconds, only to be pipped into third place by Leonie who jumped second to last.
Following his win, a delighted Harry Charles said: “I’ve tried to win this class for seven years, so it is nice to have finally achieved it. I thought Robert would be the one to watch, and I know his riding inside out. He’s a very fast rider on a very fast horse so when he had one down, I thought I could take it a bit easier.
“Chavira is a really new horse to me. I only started riding her in October, so this is only our fourth show. She has very little experience against the clock, but I just wanted to take care of her, not ask her too many questions and hoped it would be enough. I’m proud of her today for winning this and I think you’ll see a lot more of her in 2023”.
The London International Horse Show
Voltaire Design Under 25 British Championship
1st Harry Charles & Chavira– 0/0 – 32.68 seconds
2nd Leonie Aitkenhead & Heart Third – 0/0 – 33.64 seconds
3rd Emma Crawford & Dukes of Hazzard – 0/0 – 33.79 seconds
Full results from the class can be found here
Image: Peter Nixon
Voltaire Design:
Voltaire Design produce chic saddles for all, they are the perfect fit for international riders through to the grassroots competitor and the leisure rider - Voltaire Design saddles provide style, comfort and security for all.
Voltaire Design are proud sponsors of the Voltaire Design Under 25 British Championship and the Voltaire Design 148cm Mini Stakes at this year’s London International Horse Show, you can find Voltaire Design on Stand K100.
Voltaire Design has fast emerged as one of the most in demand saddle makers in the United Kingdom and globally. They partner with an array of leading riders including the former Voltaire Design Under 25 British Champion - Jodie Hall McAteer, Olympic team gold medalist Oliver Townend, recently crowned FEI Rising Star Alice Casburn and this week’s LeMieux Puissance contender Mark Edwards.
View Voltaire Design’s full product range at www.voltairedesign.com/uk
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