James Smith wins Winter Classic Grand Prix at Aintree
Wednesday 21 October 2020
The Winter Classic Show at Aintree Equestrian Centre (14 – 18 October) saw James Smith and the big jumping grey Simply Splendid notch up a Grand Prix win from a starting field of forty-five starters on final day.
James, from Kirkcudbrightshire in Scotland, and the 11 year-old gelding owned by Graham Gillespie, were one of only six combinations to achieve a double clear and it was their time of 34.57 seconds that sealed the win. Will Whitaker with Eribelle N came close second having stopped the clock just a fraction of a second slower in 35.45 whilst Keith Shore took 3rd on the consistent Mystic Hurricane with their steadier clear in 39.39 seconds.
The SEIB Winter Novice direct qualifier had run earlier in the morning with Allan Birch from Lancashire taking the win with Willbrook Double Diamond. The 8 year-old bay gelding owned by Lucy Greenwood put in a superb performance to take pole position ahead of Charlotte Horne and Celine Z II. Always a popular class, it had attracted almost eighty starters for the first round with fifteen coming forward for the jump-off, five of which then went on to post another clear.
Another direct qualifier contested at the show, the Winter B&C, was won by Abbie Bevan with Fabiola Fairy having posted a jump off clear in 36.30 seconds ahead of Mark Edwards & Celine Z II who stopped the clock in 36.54 seconds. The only two combinations to achieve a double clear in the class from a field of just over fifty starters their qualifying places were certainly well earnt.
The opening day had also seen the Winter Grade C qualifier take place. Again, it was a strong field that came forward and it was Nicole Lockhead-Anderson that headed the line up on Akham Hero Z. Their incredibly fast jump off clear in 30.52 seconds saw them claim the lead by almost three seconds with the closest to them being Adam Ellery who took 2nd with his time of 33.22 aboard F Kwanah IS.
For full results from the show visit https://horsemonkey.com/live_feed/69422
