Talent Seekers Final won by 7 year-old Linton de la Chapelle & Chantelle Duggan
Friday 09 October 2020
.jpg "Talent Seekers Final won by 7 year-old Linton de la Chapelle & Chantelle Duggan")
The Talent Seekers Final, for Grade B & C horses that qualified via one of the direct entry qualifiers, took place this evening at the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Show at Aintree Equestrian Centre. Incorporating the 7 year-old Horse Championship, it was a 1.40m Final which saw thirty-three combinations come forward to contest the title on offer.
From the starting field it was eleven clears that were achieved, three of which were 7 year-olds still relatively early on in their careers, to be eligible for the jump off. The course, designed by Mark McGowan, left a number of options for the riders to take some tight turns on offer before the final line which culminated with the British Showjumping vertical which they could push forward and try to cut out a stride to if they chose.
It was Chantelle Duggan from Knottingley in North Yorkshire with the 7 year-old gelding Linton de la Chapelle owned by Margaret Duggan that stole the win when, as the penultimate combination to come forward, they posted a very fast clear in a time of 41.13 seconds to relegate earlier leader Charlie Dawson and the 7 year-old Iloma into 2nd place. This saw Iwan Carpenter and Merllyns Chacco B take 3rd and Emma Crawford with Gina Gold take 4th.
Talking after the award ceremony Chantelle talked about Linton and his trademark bucking as he arrives in the arena and on his way round the course by saying “He’s just always gone like this, he’s just a handful and sometimes I just have to hold on and hope! We don’t actually jump him much at home and he just gets so excited with it all. He jumps big and if you hold on he bucks and it’s just like everything comes so easy to him. He’s got a bit better since we stepped up to this level and I have found he is better the more you ask of him. It’s like the more you press him the better he gets. He’s such a character I just love him” she said laughing. “We have had him since he was 4 year-old and he was a defiant youngster that’s for sure but as he’s grown up he’s come on side more. He had four months off last year as a result of my injury when I fractured my neck and then he’s had this summer off due to the lockdown so he’s very much still learning."
Working full time as a Claims Inspector for the NFU, Chantelle produces young horses around her career and talking about her hopes for him she said “I produce young horses and sell them as they progress but he [Linton de la Chapelle] isn’t for sale. He’s like my pet and I take him everywhere. I adore him. I will be keeping him and hopefully we can step up together to the 1.45m and international ranking classes. I believe he’s a grand prix horse and that’s my plans for us going forward."
The British Showjumping Indoor Championships runs between the 7 – 11 October at Aintree Equestrian Centre with a number of the major British Showjumping national titles being run across the event. Further information on the show can be found at www.aintreeequestriancentre.org and livestream from the event is available at www.britishequestriansport.tv powered by Clip My Horse TV.
RESULTS:
- Chantelle Duggan / Linton de la Chapelle (0/0 41.13)
- Charlie Dawon / Iloma (0/0 41.56)
- Iwan Carpenter / Merllyns Chacco B (0/0 42.52)
- Emma Crawford / Gina Gold (0/0 43.58)
- James Shore / Manzana de Rigo (0/0 45.39)
- Madison Jamison / At First d'Authuit (0/0 48.95)
Image courtesy of Majestic Photography
.JPG "Laura Renwick took her first major step ‘Back to the top’ with a spectacular win in the Al Shira’aa Grand Prix at Bolesworth International")
