JOE CLAYTON WINS THIRD YOUNG RIDER QUALIFYING COMPETITION AT ADDINGTON EQUESTRIAN CENTRE
Tuesday 02 February 2010
The third of the qualifying competitions for the World Class Development Programme Championship was held on 30th January at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre.
The competition, which is open to riders aged 23 years or under, attracted forty two entries at this Pro/Am Premier Show and with an up to height course, built by Bob Ellis, it produced eight clear rounds through to the jump off.
The honours for the class went to World Class Development rider, Joe Clayton riding Saveur with Abbie Squires riding Enrique in second place and another Development Programme rider, William Whitaker, a previous winner of the Young Rider Championship in third place, riding Rockim.
Junior European Gold Medallist, Carian Scudamore is still leading the points table with 74 points, followed by Abbie Squires on 52 points, with Chris Smith in third place on 50 points, however, with the next qualifying competition taking place at South View Equestrian Centre on 5th February, this could all change.
As part of its sponsorship, the World Class Development Programme is funding the first place prize money of £300 at the qualifying competitions, as well as Training Vouchers, which are awarded to the first six prize-winning riders, currently eligible for British Team selection. The other three riders who received Training Vouchers were Daniel Moseley (4th), Samuel Hutton (5th) and Emily Davies (6th).
Clare Whitaker, Chairman of British Showjumping’s Performance Development Committee commented, “The concept of the WCD U23 Championship is an excellent one, giving an opportunity for riders in the Junior and Young Rider age groups to jump well built, up-to-height courses that test their riding ability and their capability to perform under pressure. The qualifying classes form part of the Viewing Competitions that count towards the selection process for this year’s World Class Development Programme Start Selection Trials”.
Clare continued: “With the Pathfinder and Championship classes taking place at The British Open Showjumping Championships, it gives the twenty-two qualified riders an opportunity to compete and experience the atmosphere of a CSI 4* International Show”.
Together with the further four qualifying competitions being held at various venues during February and March, the top twenty-two horse and rider combinations, based on points from that horse and rider combination’s best four results, will come forward to jump in the World Class Development Programme Championship and, it’s supporting competition, the World Class Development Programme Pathfinder. These will be held at The British Open Show Jumping Championships in Birmingham’s LG Arena (7-10th April 2010).
The World Class Development Programme is Lottery and Exchequer funded through UK Sport, and seeks to identify and develop talented athletes who have shown the potential to reach the world stage. The Programme underpins World Class Performance and, together with the Equine Pathway, they comprise the Equestrian World Class Programme, incorporating the three Olympic sports of dressage, eventing, show jumping and the Paralympic sport of para-equestrian dressage.
The Programmes work closely with the three British Equestrian Federation Olympic Member Bodies; British Dressage, British Eventing and British Showjumping, whose own training and competition programmes work hand in hand with the programmes run within World Class.
Special rules relating to the qualifying classes can be found under ‘Competitions and Classes’ in the Show Area on the British Showjumping website.
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