Paige Smart wins the Retraining of Racehorses Club League Championship
Saturday 11 August 2018
.JPG "Paige Smart wins the Retraining of Racehorses Club League Championship")
It was an emotional Paige Smart who was awarded the winner’s sash and trophy after her and Jive Master II rode the only clear in the jump off of the Retraining of Racehorses Club League Championship at the British Showjumping National Championships 2018. With no clears in the initial round, the three combinations on four faults went through to the jump off, but a few unlucky poles for Clare Poole and Carol Rudkin gave the victory to Paige riding her 13 year old bay gelding.
Jive Master II, known as Paddy due to his Irish roots, was advertised for meat money when Paige spotted him and bought him, “I didn’t know what I was getting into!” she laughed. “I couldn’t ride when I got him; no one believes me when I say that! He had a tendon injury so I nursed him back to health. Paddy was very difficult and pretty quirky when I first started to ride him. I spent more time off him than on him but after a while we eventually clicked. He is a horse of a lifetime; he has taught me everything I know and made me the rider that I am today,” explained the Paige who is based in Bridgwater, Somerset.
There was a great atmosphere in the Porsche Centre Solihull Championship Arena 2 with competitors encouraging each other and cheering every rider on. Paige and Paddy were second in the same class here last year and their fellow competitors in the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) class immediately came to congratulate them as their hard work throughout the year had paid off.
“The RoR is like an extended community; we always help each other and love being together at shows. Because a lot of us compete in our own areas and regions around the country, we only have BSNC and the Aintree National RoR Championships where we can all get together, so we really enjoy it!”
It is not only competitors who are guaranteed a fabulous day out, the British Showjumping National Championships also offers a great family day of exciting competition, hospitality and afternoon tea offerings and a retail shopping village. Entry for spectators wishing to take advantage of this fantastic show is free and parking is only £5 per car. For more information please go to http://www.bsnationalchampionships.com/ or call 02476 858205.
Image Credit: 1st Class Images
Retraining of Racehorses:
Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is British horseracing’s official Charity for the welfare of horses who have retired from racing. RoR raises funds from within racing to provide and maintain facilities for the care, retraining and re-homing of former racehorses and to promote awareness of the suitability of the retrained racehorse for other equine careers. Working closely with the sport horse organisations and media, RoR promotes the adaptability of racehorses to other equestrian activities, and has a well-established programme of competition sponsorship. In addition, RoR holds educational events across the country to help owners look after and train their former racehorses. For more information, visit www.ror.org.uk.
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