Ella Spencer Secures her HOYS Ticket in the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round at Chard Equestrian
Wednesday 02 July 2025
Chard Equestrian played host to the penultimate Summer Pony Premier of 2025, which featured the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round competition which saw talented young riders vying to secure their qualification to the final.
The initial round saw 27 of the starting 79 riders clear their paths to the second round, where the top 17 went on to face the final jump-off. Here, riders gave it their all and raced against the clock in a bid to cross the finish line in the fastest time.
Using the advantage of a later draw, it was Ella Spencer, riding Emma Spencer’s Rouet Rouge, who determinedly completed the shortened course in an unbeatable time of 36.63 seconds, despite the eight-year-old gelding almost taking a dislike to the third-from-last fence.
Ella Kay, riding Maddie Maher’s Madoghill Goronwy slotted into second place, finishing exactly one second behind the winning pair whilst Lacie Williams took home third with Sarah Stoke’s Dancing Danny, just 0.37 seconds in arrears.
“I knew with so many combinations that I would have to go three rounds, and it would be a fast jump off,” said Ella. “Luckily, he’s very fast and careful and I was able to use his big stride to my advantage. He jumped amazing and exceeded all our expectations. He’s so brave and will jump anything so I’m really looking forward to taking him to HOYS.”
Chard Equestrian - Saturday, 28 June 2025
Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round
1st – Ella Spencer & Rouet Rouge – 0/0/0 36.63 seconds
2nd – Ella Kay & Madoghill Goronwy – 0/0/0 37.63 seconds
3rd – Lacie Williams & Dancing Danny – 0/0/0 38.00 seconds
NB: Results pending official grading.
Image: ESP Photographic
.jpg "Great Britain’s Team Audevard finish in seventh place with unlucky four fault rounds at the CSIO3* Longines EEF Series Nations Cup of Budapest")