Allana Clutterbuck beats hero John Whitaker to Grand Prix glory at Chepstow International
Tuesday 06 May 2025
Allana Clutterbuck scored big at Chepstow International as she claimed the feature 2* Grand Prix on Vykinbay from John Whitaker in a jump-off battle.
“I really wasn’t expecting this I said to my Mum [Sally] I’d be very happy to be in the top three as I knew I had John coming behind me,” said Allana. “I really didn’t think it would go like it did.”
Course-designer Colm Quinn set a testing world ranking 1.45m track for the 57 riders coming forward in the big Cortaflex Arena, and 11 mastered every question to qualify for the jump-off.
“It was difficult with one line in particular catching riders out; an oxer on five long strides to a short oxer to vertical double. I was very aware a lot were tapping out the back rail going into the double and asked my Mum’s advice: ‘Keep going on the five strides up to the front rail of the double and trust him.’ And it worked,” explained Allana.
Allana took advantage of Vykinbay’s big stride in the jump-off.
“He’s deceptive, he’s quick across the ground but never looks like he’s going fast,” said Allana, who held off John’s challenge on Equine America Unick Du Francport by 0.35 seconds to secure the win, with William Rekert in third on Fifty Shades of Grey.
The French-bred 16-year-old Vykinbay (Quartz Du Chanu x Diamant De Semilly) is owned jointly with Elevage Du Bary – “I owe such a big thank you to them” – and joined Allana at her Essex base seven years ago.
“He’s actually very chilled, at home, he’s like a riding school horse, although when he gets going, he’s fast, and he’s so spoilt. He’s Mum’s pet, I think she loves him more than me, and it’s only when he jumps his character comes out – he loves it so much, he squeals and bucks,” said Alanna, who is planning to compete at Wales and West mid-may Second Rounds show followed by Suffolk County Show at the end of the month for the Area Trial and International Stairway competitions.
However, a more pressing plan is on Allana’s mind: “I’m off to Spain! I only booked it a couple of days ago and it’s only for a few days, and I started packing 20 minutes after returning from Chepstow!”
Harriet Biddick claimed the first Cheval Liberte world ranking class of the week with the 11-year-old Diamond Blue (Plot Blue x Clover Brigade) with the quickest double clear.
“He’s currently my best one and I’m hoping he’s my next superstar. He’s 11 now but with Covid and me having two children – and a lot of juggling! – has prevented him from climbing up the grades quicker,” said Harriet.
Course-designer Colm Quinn set a testing track in the vast Cortaflex Arena with his 13-fence 1.45m course and, although 67 made a bid for glory and faults occurred everywhere, only five found the key to make their way into the jump-off. Clear rounds became progressively quicker second time out with penultimate-drawn Harriet Biddick stopping the clock with only 0.26 seconds to spare over her nearest rival, Francesca Young on Carrickview Libretto. Nonetheless, Phillip Miller gave her a run for her money in the final draw on Don Royale, the pair wiping more than two seconds off the leading time but with a costly rail down en route to drop to fourth behind the early leader, third-placed Danielle Farnsworth and Hunter Apple.
Harriet acquired the Irish-bred Diamond Blue as a three-year-old and has produced him up the ranks.
“He stepped up to three-star last year at Chard Equestrian and showed a lot of potential and he was awesome today. The course was big and wide, tall verticals and wide oxers with a tight time and he’s not the fastest horse; he covers the ground, but he puts so much effort into his jump, he lands steep and loses time in the air but we got into a good rhythm today,” added Harriet, who has county circuit plans for this year – “The area trials and International Stairway are our aims this summer and, as he’s a good grass jumper, I’ll jump the good classes at the Hickstead Derby meeting, but he’s not a Derby horse – it will seem strange but there will be no Hickstead Derby for me this year.”
A multiple winner at Chard 2* a week earlier, Sammie-Jo Coffin began her campaign at Chepstow in the same vein. Eighty-six competitors started in the 2* 1.40m two-phase, with Sammie-Jo claiming two of the top four places, edging ahead by 0.33 seconds to win on the 15-year-old Chaccomo Blue. Sammie-Jo also slipped Cornet of Follyfoot into fourth, sandwiching Paul Sims with Jankorado GB and Alexander Bragg’s Hegglelane Houston in second and third respectively.
Sammie also headed a Six-year-old 1.20m with the consistent Renkum Del Rey, the Baloubet Junior Z daughter – a double winner at Chard – beating 36 rivals by the narrow margin of 0.11 seconds.
James Whitaker’s late round on Just Call Me Henry snatched victory in the 2* 1.40m speed. Forty-three competitors bid for the money and the top spot here, James and the nine-year-old son of Argento – bred in England by Murray McLeish and Steve Fagg – outpacing them all to win with 1.40 seconds to spare. Scarlet Lilley slotted Muna VD Bisschop into second and Sammie-Jo finished third on Elsalvador Van’t Schaaphof Z.
“He jumped great, he’s very fast without trying to be fast,” said James, on Henry.
Mark Edwards again hit form in his Welsh homeland with four wins to his credit. Mark scored a poignant double victory in the 2* Medium 1.35m and 2* Medium Tour 1.40m Final with Flying Tinker II – owner Marlene Edwards, who enjoyed many successes with this consistent horse and was a great supporter of the sport with late husband Roy, passed away just a few days earlier.
As the name suggests, the Tinkers Tale 14-year-old was in flying form on day one to outpace 56 rivals and take the 2* 1.35m single-phase, pushing Sammie-Jo and Elsalvador by 1.37 seconds. Their form continued in the 2* Medium Tour Final over a 1.40m track as the 51 starters were reduced to eight for the jump-off, Rachel Proudley trailing behind by 1.46 seconds for second on Happy Du Thot with Henry Squibb in third aboard Kimba Kasino.
“He [Flying Tinker] is just stepping back up now and he’s such a little trier, he makes it easy and this was a nice send off for Marlene,” said Mark.
Mark also posted a double win on the final day. The home-bred eight-year-old Tinkers Touch (Tornesch x Tinkas Boy) topped the 1* Platinum Tour 1.40m Final with 2.37 seconds to spare for Mark in an eight-horse decider to deny Jess Hewitt and Curraghgraigue Obos Flight a win. Mark was again in the top spot in the 2* Medium 1.35m single-phase, the 10-year-old Montreuxs Tale daughter Royale Tale claiming a 0.39 second advantage as Jess again had to settle for second, this time with Kann Be Lucky.
Rachel Proudley jumped to the top in the Silver 1* 1.25m Final as 10 from the 37 entrants fought for the top spot in the jump-off. Rachel and the 11-year-old Easy Boy De Laubry Z (Elvis Ter Putte x Ogano Sitte) claimed an impressive win by almost five seconds, pushing Keith Shore’s Silktown Celebration into second.
Elizabeth East put pedal to the metal to claim victory in the 2* Small Tour Final with Kennedy 55. The 39 starters dropped to 12 for the jump-off with Elizabeth hitting the turbo button the 10-year-old gelding to record their first international win by 0.82 seconds. Charlotte Ash slipped Air Sandulay into second and Amy Inglis claimed third on HK Zirocca.
Long-time leader Nicole Pavitt galloped to the top in the 82-strong 2* 1.35m speed with the nine-year-old stallion Genial Du Dalot (Andiamo Semilly x Ivory Star) and grimly held onto the top spot by 0.58 seconds despite the strong challenges. William Rekert came the closest on Madagascar Dwerse Hagen – a former ride of Nicole’s.
Jake Elliott guided Orryana to the top of the 14-horse jump-off to take the Six-year-old 1.30m Final, the Comthargo VDL daughter claiming a 1.74 second advantage over Megan Broadway’s second-placed Mr Co-k Van Katteheye Z. For those a year younger, Chloe Reynolds outpaced eight five-year-old rivals to win the Five-year-old 1.10m Final on Conbella Blue PS (Conthargos x Chacco-Blue) by only 0.11 seconds. Chloe was also a winner in the 1* Platinum 1.35m single-phase on the 16-year-old Miss Bubbles (Balou Du Rouet x Papillon Rouge Normandie) with three seconds to spare.
Jess Hewitt notched up a hat-trick of wins over the four days. Hot Bluebird galloped to the top in the 2* 1.30m speed for Jess, the Plot Blue x Heartbreaker 13-year-old winning by 1.44 seconds. Jess scored a double in the 1* Platinum classes on Curragraigue Obos Flight, the Obos Quality 004 x Errigal Flight 13-year-old – a multiple winner for Matt Sampson – beating all 27 challengers in the 1.35m two-phase by 0.34 seconds. Thirty-six riders contended the 1* 1.35m speed but again, they were no match for Jess, and she supercharged the eager chestnut to win by half a second.
The wins kept coming for the Hewitt family as Jess’ sister Natasha headed the Bronze 1* 1.05m speed by more than five seconds on the 12-year-old Conlatage PS (Conthargos x Chacco-Blue) and Jess’ partner Sonny Broberg guided the 10-year-old Kama VDL to the top of the 1* Silver 1.15m Accumulator by 2.42 seconds.
Jocasta Symons beat her 15 fellow jump-off rivals to take the 1* Gold 1.30m Final with Expert, the Otangelo x Mermus R 16-year-old winning by 0.99 seconds.
Lola Shotton was a double winner riding the 10-year-old mare Emmoru (Primitive Faerie Tale x Burggraaf), heading the Bronze 1* 1.05 Accumulator with almost four seconds to spare and went on to take the Bronze Tour Final by storm. Twenty-three from a start list of 55 posted initial clears to make for a hot jump-off, Lola setting Emmoru alight to come home with 1.81 seconds in hand. Emily Ward and Silvermines Gwood Lady finished in second place.
Image: Showgroundphotography.com
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