Jasmine Willis makes dreams come true with a winning double at the British Showjumping National Championships
Wednesday 02 August 2023
Jasmine Willis hit top form to claim a winning double with both Pony British Novice and Stepping Stones 138cm titles.
“To win once was a dream come true, but to win twice just made today the best day ever,” she said.
Jas was crowned Pony British Novice Champion with the speedy Rosegate Gisele in a strong jump-off. Ninety competitors faced a 12-fence 90cm track designed by Ben Townley with 26 achieving their initial goal of a clear round. A determined Jasmine, 14, negotiated the shortest route on the 12-year-old former Mounted Games pony to come home with a handsome 2.41 seconds to spare.
“She didn’t like Mounted Games so we switched her to showjumping and, although she hadn’t done any jumping before, she was scopey but green,” said Jas, who relied on her coach Gary Morgan’s advice with flatwork the main focus.
“There were a lot in the jump-off so I had to take tighter lines, angle fences and push for the last but she’s very responsive.”
Second last year, Jas went one better in the 43-strong Stepping Stones 138cm Final, commanding victory by a convincing 2.80 seconds. The 43 starters were whittled down to an 11-pony decider with Reifals Surprise, a 19-year-old palomino mare Jas has ridden for more than two years, flying to the top.
“We turned tight to the double to save time and took an inside line to the last. She’s got a lot of attitude and always thinks she knows best,” said Jas, who is a member of North Hereford Pony Club Mounted Games team, winners of the Prince Phillip Cup last year and will return to HOYS to defend their title.
Hollie Gerken raced to the top in the Silver League 138cm Final on Little Emerald.
The original 34 competitors were reduced to 21 over the 11-fence 1m course for a hot jump-off with Hollie flying into the top spot with 1.60 seconds in hand on the 7-year-old Emerald Van’t Ruytershof daughter.
“I really didn’t expect to win as she’s still young and there were quite a lot following us in the jump-off but she did everything I asked her, nothing fazes her and she has the biggest stride for a little pony.”
Hollie has ridden Little Emerald since April.
“She’s awesome and started doing a few HOYS qualifiers this summer,” said Hollie, 13, on the pony bred by Paul Kelly and owned together with his wife Kerry Grimster. “She’s sassy in a nice way and a lovely person. She takes after her sire, talented with lots of potential – it’s a shame I haven’t got another year with her.”
Nicole Cairns, 12, and Llandidan Sea Biscuit outpaced all their rivals to take the Silver League 128cm Championship. Twenty competitors came forward over an 11-fence track with 12 reaching the jump-off, Nicole easing ahead on the 14-year-old palomino Sea Biscuit to win with 0.88 seconds in hand.
“It’s a class I really wanted to win, when I landed clear over the last fence I thought he was in with a good chance. He tends to get excited in a jump-off and loves to turn tight; some of his best rounds have been in a jump-off,” said Nicole. “He can be cheeky and playful but once he’s in the ring, he knows and concentrates but he does need riding in a certain way and then he’ll help you out as much as he can.”
Biscuit was purchased as Nicole moved off her first pony.
“I hoped we’d eventually jump around 90cm eventually but last year we got to HOYS. He’s my dream pony and has done everything I ever wanted to do,” added Nicole, contended the Academy team competitions last year.
Isla Brown is enjoying a terrific show and scored her second win in 24 hours with Kilcranathan Princess, the newly-crowned Bronze League 128cm champion adding the Stepping Stones 128cm Final to their tally.
Twenty-six riders from the original 65 on the start-list gained access to the jump-off with Isla, 10, who came up through the Weston Harriers Pony Club, and her 15-year-old partner capturing the top spot by 0.40 seconds.
“’Summer’ did everything I asked,” said Isla, who loves speed and won the Pony Racing at Cheltenham last year with her pony Charlie Brown.
Somerset-based Isla and her two brothers Will and Tom all attended Urchinwood Manor to learn to ride with Sally Hall.
“It is lovely they’ve all had an interest to share and Isla has particularly benefitted from training through the British Showjumping Academy with Jayne Smart and Jamie Fry while the Gallop family were so helpful when Isla was struggling in the first three months of getting together with Summer,” said Isla’s father Andrew.
Image: Jasmine Willis & Rosegate Gisele Credit: 1st Class Images
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