Thrilling Weekend Kickstarts the STX-UK Pony British Novice Championship Second Round
Tuesday 16 April 2024
.jpg "Thrilling Weekend Kickstarts the STX-UK Pony British Novice Championship Second Round")
This weekend marked the start of British Showjumping Summer Championship Second Round Competitions, with the STX-UK Pony British Novice Second Round Competitions.
On Saturday, April 13th, Golden Valley Equestrian commenced proceedings with 25 ponies and riders vying for qualification for the prestigious STX-UK Pony British Novice final at the British Showjumping National Championships in August.
18 combinations successfully piloted their ponies around Course Designer Naomi McAleese’s 11 fence course to advance to the second round, with a final 13 competitors advancing to the jump off. Competition was fierce, with a mere second separating the top three. But it was Charlie Blackburn Jones who emerged victorious aboard Helen Blackburn’s Absolutely Bond, with a margin of 0.30 seconds over second-placed Jack Waddington and Halo Joy, owned by Kate Waddington.
Winners Charlie Blackburn and Absolutely Bond, known as VJ at home, became a team last year, talking fondly of his pony Charlie said: “I am very proud of VJ because I backed him myself. We got him about a year ago, and when we first got him, he kept jumping out of the field. So, we put him in a field with the big horses, and he seemed to like it and settled in. He neighs to them a lot, so whenever we go to a show he’s always neighing!"
Reflecting on the victory, Charlie shared, "When I was going into the class, I felt excited to have made it to the jump off but also nervous because it was the biggest I had ever jumped. I just went in there and rode like I normally would, making sure to keep him going forward. When I found out I had won, I was so excited I couldn’t even talk.”
Sunday, April 14th, saw Dorset Showground host the second STX-UK Pony British Novice Second Round of the weekend. Course Designer Clive Phillips tested competitors with a challenging second rounf, with only five of the starting field reaching the final jump off. Sienna Hutchings clinched victory with Crystal Hutchings’ Rowdown Prince George, crossing the finish line in 37.36 seconds. Another tight contest, as the pair narrowly bested tough competition in Raphaela Dawson and Wanted Van Duyversputten by 0.31 seconds.
Over the weekend an impressive 13 ponies put their best foot forward and finished all three rounds with a clean sheet securing their spot in the final, alongside those placed in the top 10 at each competition. View all qualifiers at https://www.britishshowjumping.co.uk/shows_qualifying_dates_venues.cfm?type=J&class=BNOVJF
NB: Results pending official grading.
Image Credit: Tazmine Brown Photography (Pictured: Sienna Hutchings and Rowdown Prince George)
The STX-UK Pony British Novice Championship is kindly sponsored by STX-UK, official importer for Stephex Horsetrucks in the UK. The Championship final will take place at the British Showjumping National Championships in August. A full list of Second Round competitions can be found at https://www.britishshowjumping.co.uk/shows_summer_venues.cfm
zl6m77knk8c5.jpg "Robert Jefferies Jumps to Victory in his Inaugural Equissage Pulse Senior British Novice Second Round at Dean Valley")
