TOP CLASS YOUNG BRITISH BRED POTENTIAL SHOWJUMPERS AT THE 2014 BEF FUTURITY
Monday 06 October 2014
The 2014 Baileys Horse Feeds/British Breeding/British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity series has seen some outstanding British bred young potential showjumping horses and ponies. Seven hundred young horses from foals to three year olds have been evaluated for their potential in one of the main disciplines (dressage, eventing, showjumping and endurance).
The top scoring potential showjumper of the 2014 Futurity, across the age groups was showjumping gelding foal, Jorvik Star, owned and bred by Kate and Tim Betteridge from York. Jorvik Star attained an elite premium of 9.20. An elite premium indicates that the horse has the potential and outlook to perform at international level.
The Futurity evaluators Lucinda Sims, Jennie Loriston Clarke and Bridget Parker said, “Jorvik Star has super proportions and an active walk as well as a balanced and powerful canter”.
Kate and Tim bred Jorvik Star from Kate’s grade B showjumping mare, C Vera Z, Kate said, “This is the first foal we have bred and I am just thrilled, we went to the Huby and Sutton Show as a practise for the Futurity and C Vera Z took the Champion Sports Horse Mare and Reserve Supreme In Hand Champion titles”.
Kate has owned C Vera Z for seven years having bought her from Samantha Jimmison and she has competed to 1.40m level in British Showjumping classes with Kate and Laura Stevenson. Kate added, “I had a baby last year, so it seemed the ideal time for C Vera Z to have a foal, I am also thrilled for the mare and the foal’s sire, Balou Star is a lovely stallion. Hopefully Jorvik Star will go on to compete and it would be great if he could get on to the equine pathway via the equine bridge if all goes well”. C Vera Z is back in foal to Balou Star for 2015.
Samantha Jimmison will help Kate produce and break in Jorvik Star. Kate continued, “Having bought the mare seven years ago from Samantha, I have bought a couple more horses from her and we have become good friends. We went to Richmond together and Samantha led the mare whilst I led the foal”.
Jane Townshend from the Classictop Stud in East Sussex gained the second highest premium awarded to a potential showjumper with her filly foal, Classictop Party Girl. Bred and owned by Jane, Classictop Party Girl took an elite premium of 9.18.
Party Girl is out of Jane’s mare, Birthday Girl. Jane said, “Party Girl is a cracking foal. She has three full brothers and sisters who have achieved either elite of higher first Futurity premiums”.
Jane continued, “Birthday Girl is an incredible mare, she was previously with Lucy Sheldrake. Party Girl will be retained and sent off to be produced for competition. Her sire, Lauriston is a prolific stallion, he is an older horse that consistently produces the goods”.
Two three year olds scored elite premiums of 9.16 in the showjumping section at the 2014 BEF Futurity. Millfield Gizelle took 9.16 at the Southview Futurity for Sue Jagger and Brian Thompson of the Millfield Stud in North Yorkshire.
The filly, Millfield Gizelle is by the stallion Cicero van Paemel and out of a mare, Ulinda H, who is by Salamon. Sue Jagger said, “Ulinda H jumped in 1.20 and 1.30 classes before going breeding. We are very pleased with Gizelle, she had never left the yard before and performed beautifully. We went to the Futurity with qualification for equine bridge selection in our minds for her”.
Also scoring an elite premium of 9.16 was three year old filly, Silvesters Delight, owned and bred by Sarah Clowes from Luton.
Sarah bred Silvesters Delight from her mare, Carrowbawn Kook Katja, she said, “We were hoping for an elite at Solihull. Silvesters Delight jumped brilliantly at the Futurity and I am thrilled with her”. Silvesters Delight has already been broken in and she will be turned away for the winter before going out next year and starting her ridden competition career. Sarah continued, “Silvesters Delight was the highest scoring showjumping yearling when we took her to the Futurity in 2012, it is great that she is so consistent”. Silvesters Delight is by the stallion, Silvester.
Highest scoring yearling in the 2014 BEF Futurity showjumping section was Zoe Feeney’s filly, Just Soda No Ice. She scored an elite premium of 9.04 and is by, Stallone Quainton and out of the thoroughbred, Night Shift mare, Ryans Daughter.
Another horse bred by Jane Townshend was the highest scoring showjumping two year old. Gelding, Classictop Conviction scored a Higher First premium of 8.96 for his owner, Rachel Froud from Maidstone.
Rachel said, “I bought Classictop Conviction over a year ago and have had a brilliant time with him so far”. The pair attended the Plumpton Futurity last year and received a higher first premium then too. Classictop Conviction has been out competing at County shows this season and won the two year old Hunter Breeding class at the Edenbridge and Oxted Show and took the reserve championship. He also won the two year old Sports Horse Breeding class at Kent county Show.
Classictop Conviction is by the stallion, Renkum Offender and out of Jane Townshend’s mare, Raritat.
Rachel bought Classictop Conviction to compete when he is older, she added, “It is great that we have done all these other things with him. I didn’t want to just leave him in the field until he is broken in. I have never been to the Futurity or showing before and have learnt so much from it. Jane Townshed that bred him has been really helpful with giving us advice for the Futurity and showing”.
Rachel plans to break Classictop Conviction in herself and he will go back to the Futurity as a three year old next year. Rachel continued, “It will be great to get him going with the loose jumping and see how he goes and to get the feedback from the Futurity evaluators”.
Other horses that scored elite premiums in the showjumping section at the 2014 BEF Futurity were;
Colt foal, Wisbeach Elite (Cevin Z x Carnaval Drum) with an elite premium of 9.14 for owner and breeder, Joan Hood. Wisbeach Elite’s dam, Carnaval Joy is a half-sister to 2009 Burghley winner Carousel Quest, ridden by Oliver Townend.
Filly foal, Just A Gem (Erdento x Otis) scored an elite premium of 9.11 for owners and breeders, sisters Pamela Kerr and Janice McDonald from Larbert, Scotland.
Caroline Williamson’s filly foal, Overton Golden Girl (Legrande x Sandro), was awarded a score of 9.11, as was Charlotte King’s showjumping colt foal, Jiabeau Van Bouverie (Diabeau Van De Heffinck x Don Juan De La Bouverie).
Colt foal, Hazelwood Utah’s Romeo (Utah van Erpekom x Oklund) scored an elite premium of 9.10 for owner and breeder Lisa Hill.
James Campbell’s, Barahona Stud took an elite premium in the showjumping section of 9.04 with their colt foal, Barahona Galakrond (Condor x Ramexico).
Colt foal, Balou for Pleasure (Balou Du Rouet Oldenburg x Broadstone Landmark) scored an elite premium of 9.03 for owners and breeders, Lisa Maynard and Chris Jackson from Mayjak Sports Horses.
Two potential showjumping youngsters scored elite premiums of 9.00. Three year old AES licensed stallion, Quinlan Z (Quinar x Contender), scored an elite premium of 9.00 for the Millfield Stud and filly foal, Greenacres Warrantia (Warrant x Claudio’s Son) also scored 9.00 for Ella Taylor of the Greenacres Stud.
The Futurity is a continually evolving process, 2013 saw the introduction of the Futurity equine bridge which is now being run as an extension of the Futurity evaluations. The Futurity equine bridge provides top Futurity graduates with the direction and support they will need as 4 year olds so that they begin their early years under saddle in a way that allows for sustained physical and mental development. In order to be eligible for the Futurity Equine Bridge all horses must obtain a Futurity score of 8.5 or above in their three year old year.
Head of Equine Development at the BEF, Jan Rogers said, “The Futurity is now in its ninth year and over this time we have seen it develop to provide real support to British breeders to help achieve their aims. Through their carefully planned breeding decisions, year on year we are seeing an improvement in the horses presented at the Futurity for evaluation”.
With entries limited to 60 at each evaluation venue, places are keenly sought after. Entries are categorised by discipline with age groups for foals, yearlings, two and three year olds and each horse is evaluated in hand and loose in a safe indoor environment as well as undergoing a vet’s assessment.
The BEF Futurity Evaluations are held at 11 venues over 14 days throughout the UK and young horses go home with a BEF Premium (grade), a stylish rosette and a detailed, informative score sheet. An attractive certificate to keep and frame follows on after the event. All results are published on the fully searchable British Breeding website. www.britishbreeding.org.
Image: Jorvick Star. Photographer: Kevin Sparrow
