Junior round up from Scope Festival
Saturday 27 August 2022
Henry Squibb dominated the Children on Horses championship with three of the top four places at a sunny 2022 Scope Festival at South View Arena in Cheshire.
Henry fired a warning shot with victory in the Children’s warm-up class at his very first show with Alothain De Blondel and maintained his 100% winning record with a championship win, “I only sat on him for the first time last week when training with John Renwick,” said Henry.
Five competitors qualified for the jump-off with Henry outjumping everyone else and claiming three of the rides. He left the best until last as he maxed on his final draw with the Newton De Kreisker x Heartbreaker 12-year-old Alothain to beat his own time on Diatencona PS, 0.63 seconds separating the top two. Henry also picked up fourth with his other ride, Major Delacour.
“They all jumped super but especially Alothain. John Renwick suggested I sit on him [Alothain] as he thought he’d suit me. He’s quite strong but he goes a bit like a pony – very much like my pony Casino Royale – and it all went well,” said Henry, who now plans to take him to compete in the tour at Vilamoura, Portugal, now he’s left school.
Mia Newman was crowned new Dunglenn 148cm champion with Ohwow without the need of a jump-off. Unfortunately just nine competitors came forward to face course-designer Gillian Milner’s 11-fence 1.30m track and they found it tough. A clear round proved elusive with Mia and the 16-year-old dun gelding Ohwow claiming the title as the sole partnership to complete the course on four faults – their only error coming frustratingly at the very first fence.
Tabitha Kyle finished second on eight faults with Nightgirl Van Het Sonnishof Z and Kieran Taylor took third on Magic Cornflakes. Tabitha turned on the heat in the opening round of the Scope 1.10m Adventurer Championship with a sizzling target aboard the seven-year-old mare Running In Heels. It couldn’t be beaten, Tabitha heading the three-way decider with the sole clear and underscored her win with the fastest time by an impressive five seconds.
Tabitha was out for another title in the Wicks Group 1.20m Jubilee Championship but was pitted against Sophie Wicks with two rides in another three-pony jump-off. Sophie was equally determined to win the class but four faults on first ride Korado II left the door open. Tabitha typically set a super-quick time with a smooth round on Oakley III, but a late-falling pole from the final vertical dropped, marring her round. Sophie has only competed the 10-year-old Mojito Van’t Oordeel (Flamenco De Semilly X Lys De Darmen) for one month and this was just their fourth show together. She sensibly opted for accuracy in the final draw and duly provided a foot-perfect clean round to take the win.
Ellie Koscinska and the consistent Ganty Wills Girl were on a winning streak and posted their fifth win on the bounce with the Scope 1.15m Championship. Crowned Silver League 148cm champion and Restricted Rider 1.10m champion at the British Showjumping National Championships, Ellie and the Irish-bred 11-year-old mare risked tight turns and a gallop to the final vertical in the seven-pony decider to land the 1.15m title by 1.20 seconds.
Imogen Rome outpaced all rivals to lift the Scope Bright Star Championship on Chivaz. Almost half the twenty-three starters gained access to the jump-off as eleven riders provided initial clears but only three posted clean sheets second time out. Imogen found the quickest route on the 24-year-old gelding she has ridden since April, flying into the top spot by 1.50 seconds.
Three weeks after claiming the National 128cm Silver League title with Hardwickview Yen Man, Taylie Rae Owen was again in the winner’s enclosure, not once but twice. The consistent 15-year-old Yen Man was again in the frame, taking the Graham Heath Equestrian construction 128cm championship in fine style for Taylie Rae. Eight competitors battled it out in the jump-off but only two double clears were realised, Taylie Rae claiming a commanding with more than five seconds in hand.
Taylie Rae also claimed the Cats & Pipes 138cm Debut Championship with Hatterall Inka. Eleven of the twenty-three starters contended the jump-off, Taylie Rae and the 14-year-old mare she has ridden for two years to claim victory with 1.77 seconds in hand.
Bella Wild hit form to take the Scope 138cm Championship on Shaman Sundance. The original 21 competitors were reduced to nine for the jump-off, Bella alongside Katie Bradburne claiming two rides each. It was Bella who came up trumps, speeding into the top spot on the 16-year-old Appaloosa gelding for win with 0.87 seconds to spare.
Ella Kay pulled out all the stops to land the Scope 128cm title on the 19-year-old mare Red Alert III, commanding victory by more than four sec in hand in the six-pony decider.
A cool-headed Ella Spencer lifted the Graham Heath Equestrian Construction 138cm title with the 13-year-old stallion Top Silvio Hastak. Eight tackled the jump-off with late-drawn Ella taking tight, smooth yet deceptively fast lines and superbly angling a midway oxer to edge into victory by 0.20 seconds.
Scarlett McDonald executed every inside option and tight turn to secure victory in the Cats & Pipes 128cm Debut Championship on Clooncraha Lady. It was no mean feat as seventeen of the original twenty-six competitors accessed the jump-off but Scarlett used her late draw to advantage, trusting the consistent 18-year-old mare to angle fences and speed to the last to win by 1.11 seconds.
Lacie Williams and the aptly-named Boreton Rocketeer powered into the top spot of the Tiny Tots 128cm championship. With twenty competitors in the jump-off, it was all about the clock but Lacie found the shortest route on the 13-year-old Rocketeer to win by 1.37 seconds.
Sarah Sandiford has only competed Caecolly Quickett for two months but they have quickly built a rapport and claimed the Scope Novice Masters Championship. The thirty-three starters were reduced to sixteen for a hotly contended jump-off with Sarah and the 15-year-old 138cm pony finding the shortest route to win by 0.27 seconds.
Kate Anderson scooped the Scope 1m Progressive title with Lady Valentine X. Seven of the initial 13 riders came through to the jump-off with Kate flying into the top spot by 2.32 seconds on the 13-year-old skewbald mare.
Photo of Mia Newman, Class 32 Winner (c) landscapesandhorses.co.uk
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