Tina is on a roll!

The fifth leg of the British Showjumping Business Partnership International Stairway series took place yesterday at the Royal Norfolk County Show. Course Designer Jon Doney built a challenging 1.60m course which proved tricky, and produced just five first round clears

 

Tina Fletcher from Farringdon, Oxfordshire produced one of two double clears in a jump off time of 50.37 seconds, securing her the first place prize fund. Tina rode Pauline Harris’ eleven year old chestnut gelding Hello Sailor, who she also partnered in the Linz Nations Cup where Great Britain took pole position.

 

Second place went to William Funnell from Dorking, Surrey riding the Billy Stud’s British Bred nine year old brown stallion Billy Congo. The pair jumped the second double clear of the competition in a jump off time of 52.86 seconds.

 

Phillip Miller from Luton, Bedfordshire took third place riding the ten year old grey gelding Caritiar Z who is jointly owned by Di and Pennie Cornish and Nigel Eccles. Phillip jumped a foot perfect first round but had an unlucky 4 faults in the second in a jump off time of 47.95 seconds.

 

“In line with the expectations of the International Stairway in respect of it being a showcase to identify future Championship horses, it was good to see two existing British Team horses jumping double clears with a number of other talented young horses hot on their heels” commented World Class Showjumping Performance Manager, Rob Hoekstra.

 

The International Stairway series is aimed at identifying and assessing both potential and existing British Team competitors, taking in eight of the largest County Shows in the country. Funded jointly by the British Showjumping Business Partnership and the County Show venues hosting the classes, the series has a purse of £60,000 prize fund. In addition to the prize fund available there is also the bonus of £45,000 worth of Rider Ranking Points to the eight highest placed competitors on the overall league table that sits behind the series.

Suffolk County 2 – 3 June

Royal Norfolk 30 Jun – 1 July

Great Yorkshire Show 13 – 15 July

New Forest & Hants 27 – 29 July

Pembrokeshire 17 – 19 August

Royal County of Berkshire 18 – 19 September

 

In addition for 2010 a 'Wild Card' to compete in the International classes at the 2010 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) is available via a points league encompassing both the International Stairway and International Trial competitions.

The British Showjumping Business Partnership has been created with a view of bringing like-minded companies and individuals together. Focused on creating an environment which will allow investors to form new business relationships and obtain exposure within the sport it also assists the sport to meet its own performance pathway objectives. These are a few of the organisations that have been brought together by the Business Partnership scheme; Marsh, Next, Champion and Chester Racecourse.

 

Further information on how to join the Business Partnership and to assist with the delivery of medals for Great Britain can be on the British Showjumping website www.britishshowjumping.co.uk