Laura Whitfield secures top spot in the Horseware Bronze League Semi-Final at Bishop Burton College
Tuesday 08 August 2017
Following a nail biting jump off, Laura Whitfield secured the top spot in the Northern Horseware Bronze League Semi-Final at Bishop Burton College on Sunday, and in doing so, she gave herself the chance to compete for the Championship title at this year’s Horse of the Year Show in October.
A strong field of fifty-seven determined combinations were all vying for one of the seven qualifications places up for grabs for the Horseware Bronze League Final. The first two rounds asked some technical questions of both horse and rider leaving sixteen talented combinations to go forward to contest for their place in the top seven against the clock in the jump off.
After a thrilling three rounds of showjumping, Laura Whitfield from Haltwhistle, Northumberland, sat clear of the competition with her 7 year-old bay mare, Apricor Sunshine. This partnership proved their consistency as they rode to a treble clear in an unbeatable time of 38.66 seconds ensuring their first place finish.
Taking home second place was Joanne Fennell from Birmingham on board her 11 year-old bay mare Bantasia. This combination left all the fences standing to post a treble clear in 39.67 seconds.
Finding herself with a third place finish for the second year running was Angela Mills from Haswell, County Durham riding her own 12 year-old bay gelding Quids In II. This pair held their nerve to post a treble clear in a time of 40.02 seconds.
Bishop Burton College – Sunday 6th August 2017
Horseware Bronze League Qualifier
1st Laura Whitfield & Apricor Sunshine – 0/0/0 – 38.66 seconds
2nd Joanne Fennell & Bantasia – 0/0/0 – 39.67 seconds
3rd Angela Mills & Quids In II – 0/0/0 – 40.02 seconds
4th Michelle Macdonald & Killagriff Lyncruise Lou – 0/0/0 – 40.31 seconds
5th Vanessa Townsend & Wonder II – 0/0/0 – 40.43 seconds
6th Rachel Proudley & Vayrann – 0/0/0 – 40.47 seconds
7th Annabel Windsor & MC Clover – 0/0/0 – 41.46 seconds
NB: Qualifications will be updated pending official grading of results.
Image Credit - 1st Class Images
The Horse of the Year Show 2017 will take place from the 5th – 8th October 2017 at Birmingham’s NEC.
Horseware was founded in 1985 in Dundalk, Ireland, by Tom and Carol MacGuinness. After months of research and hand stitching the prototype of the now iconic Rambo Original was born, setting the standard for modern rug design. Today, Horseware is the global leader in equestrian products, with a growing range of innovative, practical and design-led products for horses, riders and pets. All of Horseware’s products are designed and developed in Dundalk, Ireland. Their Rambo turnouts are still manufactured in Dundalk where they employ 125 people. 250 people are employed Horseware’s two factories in China, 80 in Cambodia and 36 in the USA. Horseware believes that ‘because we create, we innovate’ and through innovation aim to make a tangible difference to the lives of you, your horses, and your pets. For further information, please visit www.horseware.com.
