Out In Force to Support with Showjumping
Saturday 15 August 2015
The Forces Equine Final kicked off the show in the Andrews Bowen Indoor Arena this morning on one of our busiest and most exciting days yet. This final was compiled of 4 separate height sections - the FE Rising Stars of the Future League Final at 80cm, the Open Stars League Final at 90cm, the FE Champions League Final at 1.05m and the FE Elite League Final at 1.10/1.15m.
The classes are open to members of Forces Equine and British Showjumping members. Forces Equine is an organisation for the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Forces, Police and Emergency Services riders and their families. Forces Equine aim to support and encourage equestrian sport amongst service men and women throughout the UK.
Opening up the Championship was the Forces Equine Rising Stars of the Future League Final. This competition was set at a height of 80cm and was a single phase speed round. The standard of riding was extremely high with all riders completing a polished and collected round. It was Millie Hockenhull riding Kandia Van De Brouwshoeve who were declared the winners when the finished with a clear round and a time of 31.93.
Millie said she “was really please with the round this is my second time riding Kandia Van De Brouwshoeve”. Millie’s father is in the navy.
The next class was the Forces Equine Open Stars League Final which saw the jumps increased to a height of 90cm. The first rider on course was Andrew Reynolds riding Super Grover and he set the pace with a time of 34.70. It seemed like no one was able to catch Andrew until the last rider entered the arena. Kathryn Bares riding Athlone Armani stole first place as she finished with a time of 32.10.
The win was made even more impressive by the fact that Kathryn has only jumped him twice since April due to injury. Kathryn said of her jump off “It was much better than the first one. I realised he was too long so I had to pick him up more and get more contact”.
The jumps continue to increase as we moved on to the Forces Equine Champions League Final which is set at a height of 1.05m. The first rider was Helen Du Heaume riding Alvescot Peppi and finished with a clear round and a time of 31.64. The impressive round presented a challenge to the riders that followed and no one could catch the early leader and she was crowned the winner.
Helen has been in the Police Force for 13 years and is part of the mounted branch, Helen joked “as you can see he’s absolutely not a Police horse”.
The last section to take place was also the highest of the series with the Forces Equine Elite League Final which had jumps reaching a height of 1.10m/1.15m. The course provided a challenge to the riders as they tackled the course with determination. In the end it was the final rider of the division, Louise Norris riding Rick O’Shay, who claimed the title
Louise was thrilled with her win saying “I’m absolutely chuffed because I have only owned him for 2 months now” Louise who has been in the military for 7 years is dedicated to her horses even with her demanding career “I shipped him over when posted abroad, I can’t live without the horses”.
The atmosphere in the ring and attitude of all competitors was one of comradery and excitement which translated to the audience and was a fabulous way to start the day.
RESULTS
Forces Equine Rising Stars League Final
1st Millie Hockenhull and Kandia Vande Brouwshoeve
2nd Kara Benham and Done & Dusted
3rd Kathryn Barnes and Athlone Armani
4th Lizzie Crawford and Scarlet
5th Debra Renwick and Jimmy Jazz
6th Lucy Jackson and Cosmo II
All British Showjumping National Championships and Stoneleigh Horse Show 2015 is hosted at the National Agricultural and Exhibition Centre (NAEC), Stoneleigh, Warwickshire during the 11th-16th August. For further information, please visit www.bsnationalchampionships.co.uk
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