Retrained Racehorse Captain Willoughby Wins £2,500 National Recognition Award
Tuesday 11 November 2014
Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) and British Showjumping are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2014 British Showjumping Retraining of Racehorses National Recognition Awards is Captain Willoughby, a 13 year-old bay gelding owned and ridden by 38 year-old Jo Fulcher from Sissinghurst, Kent.
During his racing career, Captain Willoughby contested three national hunt flat races and two hurdle races between March 2007 and February 2010. Bought by Jo as a 10 year-old, Captain Willoughby commenced his showjumping career in the September of 2011. With his trainer, he also acted as a nanny horse to the younger racehorses. He started out competing in British Novice classes and under of the guidance of Jo, he quickly progressed to contesting classes up to 1.05m at venues such as Arena UK, Bury Farm Equestrian Club and Wales & West.
Having finished sixth in 2012 and seventh in 2013 in the National Recognition Awards, Jo was determined to focus the combination’s efforts towards winning this year. Amassing 219 points between 1st October 2013 and 30th September 2014, the period that the RoR league runs, Jo was thrilled to learn that the combination had achieved what they set out to do.
Talking about her horse, Jo said “I am absolutely delighted that Captain Willoughby has won this year’s league, he’s such a lovely horse and he is definitely a yard favourite. My background is in showjumping and although he was green to start with, he has become more and more confident over the fences, which I attribute to regular gridwork sessions. With this year’s league title in mind, I really made the effort to get out both during the week and at weekends, but I have enjoyed jumping at my local shows and I’m also just enjoying my horse.”
The British Showjumping RoR National Recognition Awards provide a focus for ex-racehorses that have started Showjumping with the national governing body. There are a total of six cash awards that are given to the highest graded horses during the given twelve month period. A £2,500 award is given to the winning combination with the five additional winners each receiving £500 each. To ensure as many retrained horses are given the opportunity of being recognised and encouraged to compete within a new discipline, previous title holders are not eligible for future consideration.
1st Captain Willoughby – Owned and ridden by Jo Fulcher
2nd Sagassa – Owned by Peta Viner and ridden by Bumble (Marie Louise) Thomas
3rd Toulaman – Owned and ridden by Nancy Kirkpatrick
4th Petite Pistolet – Owned and ridden by John Garrett
5th Bunacurry - Owned and ridden by Claire Halliday
6th Wild Mushroom – Owned and ridden by Kay Simpson
For further information about British Showjumping and the Retraining of Racehorses Recognition Awards 2015, please contact the British Showjumping Membership Department on 02476 698824. To register your horse with Retraining of Racehorses please do so online by visiting www.ror.org.uk.
