Lauren Wilkins has the will to win at Hickstead
Wednesday 26 July 2023
Lauren Wilkins scored the biggest win of her career with the Oakley Coachbuilders British Showjumping Winter JC/JD Championship title.
The Longines Royal International Horse Show at the All-England Jumping Course at Hickstead got off to a flying start with this Championship, which saw a line-up of 25 of the country’s best young riders and ponies compete for top honours.
After a fierce fight for the fastest time, local rider Lauren Wilkins, 15, from Billinghurst, West Sussex, lifted the trophy, delivering a super-quick jump-off round with Eloclea Ro Del Colle San Marco.
“It’s just incredible,” said Lauren, who first teamed up with the now-9-year-old mare two years ago after sourcing her in Italy. Since then, they’ve been making a mark in 1.20m classes – and have stepped up to 1.30m, too.
“She’s going to be a really good pony,” added Lauren, who explained that the talented mare also likes to keep her on her toes. “She can be a little bit wired, but then sometimes she’s like a dobbin – you never know!”
When Lauren re-entered the ring for her jump-off round as one of just five to jump clear in round one, she felt her pony grow in strength and confidence.
“She was a bit cautious at the beginning [of the class], but she got the hang of it pretty well – and I think I rode it pretty well,” she said. “She covers the ground so well, it was across the ground that I was able to make up the time in the jump-off. I just needed to push on a bit between the fences.”
That speed between jumps allowed her to finish with 1.57 seconds in hand over her nearest rivals, young showjumping prodigy Tabitha Kyle with Coppenagh Khaleesi, and Imogen Rome and her driving-pony-turned-jumping-phenomenon Eden Ace, both of whom dead-heated on time.
Tickets for the Longines Royal International Horse Show (25-30 July) are available at the gate or can be bought online from www.hickstead.co.uk. The action will be livestreamed throughout on ClipMyHorse.TV and Hickstead.TV, with additional coverage on Sky Sports and FEI.TV on Friday and Sunday.
Image: Elli Birch/Boots and Hooves Photography
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