Lola Thulborn is crowned the Winter JA Classic champion for a double birthday celebration at the Winter Pony Finals

Monday 12 May 2025

Lola Thulborn celebrated her 16th birthday 2 weeks ago and made it a double celebration with the Winter JA Classic Championship title on Tempo 2 Stroke at the Winter Pony Finals at South View Equestrian Centre in Cheshire.

“He’s a very special pony and only started jumping 1.30m level less than a year ago and he’s gone from strength to strength, always trying his hardest to please,” said Cambridgeshire-based Lola, on the nine-year-old bought three years ago.

 Course-designer Gillian Milner set an 11-fence track starting at a height of 1.30m, and three riders found the key to go forward into the jump-off.  The pressure was on.

Nya Harriman got the ball rolling with Cindy VI and produced a class round, until the final oxer fell to mar their efforts, leaving the door open.  However, despite a valiant attempt from Nellie Lock on Catho Van Langvelden Z, two rails were left on the floor.  A clear was yet to found, leaving last to go Lola Thulborn a dilemma – to risk going for a clear or take a cut and try and beat the time. 

Lola opted for accuracy and pulled it out of the bag, Tempo 2 Stroke proving foot-perfect all the way to land the title, 0.89 seconds behind Nya’s time, but with that all-important, vital zero score.

The win comes on top of the pair winning the Major Pony Tour at Chard International the previous week, and Lola has big aims for the rest of the year.

“I’ve had him for three years and he’d done very little in Ireland before he came over.  My trainer Tom Vance found him for me and his help on this journey has been invaluable – we jumped at HOYS in the Blue Chip Pony Newcomer and Pony Foxhunter Finals last year, and I’d like to go back to HOYS, qualify for the London International Horse Show and aim for the European Championships this year,” said Lola, who also aims to, “Have fun and enjoy,” her cheeky pony with the big personality who is a yard favourite.

  Durham-based Amelia Stratton-Charlton secured the Winter 1.10m Pony Championship, recording her biggest win and first championship title with Ballyboran despite hitting the first fence.  Last to go from a jump-off of five, Amelia knew she only had to jump clear to win the class, but tactics changed when the Irish-bred 16-year-old Ballyboran clipped the back rail of the first fence.  Amelia, 15, then risked every tight turn to claim their first championship win together in their six-month partnership with more than four seconds to spare.  Charlie Baker finished second on Romans Eclipse and Taylie-Rae Owen filled third place aboard Moon Man.

“He loves his job, he’s quick and turns well.  He tells me when he’s up for it, I couldn’t have asked for better, he’s taught me a lot and is loads of fun – he’s cheeky and definitely the favourite on the yard,” said Amelia, who acquired Ballyboran at the end of September and relies on Vicky Wood for training advice.    

 Lola Price, 15, used her penultimate draw to net the Winter 1m Pony Championship with Covau.  Eleven contenders from an original field of 24 posted initial clears to qualify for the jump-off with Hollie Gerken providing a smooth but deceptively fast round on NFS Doris Day from mid-draw that looked unbeatable.  But Lola was quicker, flying into victory on the Dutch-bred seven-year-old Covau – bought as a four-year-old from Holland – to shave 0.34 seconds off Hollie’s time, securing the win.  Hollie had to settle for second with early leader Caitlin Cairns taking third on Silver Scott.

“We bought Covau off video after friend Harriet Cooper spotted him.  He was in a dressage yard and a bit too fizzy for dressage, and the video Harriet sent was the first time he’d ever jumped,” said Lola, who nevertheless spotted potential.  “He was a blank canvas but with good breeding; very strong, spooky and nervous – he kept leaping forward when I tried to get on him, so we took everything slow and sure, producing him slowly.

“He’s started to mature now and going from strength to strength, still strong and sharp but we have a good bond.  He’s just won the Discovery Second Round to qualify for the National Championships and I’d like to aim for HOYS newcomer second rounds now, as well as getting his newcomer double clears for next year as this will be my last year in ponies.”

 Two double clears were produced, Sophie Lund verbally encouraging her partner Sparkling Starlight all the way to land their second championship win by an incredible 3.39 seconds, pushing Mollie Joscelyne’s opening effort on Sligo De Mormal into second spot.

“It’s just nerves that makes me do it.  When the jump-off starts, I talk to her all the way round and it helps me stop feeling nervous – and she listens,” said Harrogate, Yorkshire-based Sophie, 14. “She’s the best, one in a million and so kind and genuine, we make a good team.

Winners of the Bronze League title Final the National Championships last August, Sophie, who joined forces with the 15-year-old mare 18 months earlier, is aiming to retain her Bronze League title this year.

“She was a dressage pony and I brought her into showjumping, and I’d love to win the Bronze League again in this, my final 138cm year,” she added.

 Betsy Snell saved the best until last, flying round on Hazelrock Nova to register her first championship win and win her first rug in the British Showjumping 128/138cm Handicap Special Final.

Fourteen competitors contended the jump-off, six 128cm ponies and eight 138cm ponies making up the numbers, with Alfie Bailey in the 128cm section and Betsy from the 138m section claiming two rides apiece.  Alfie set a formidable target from the opening draw with Priestwood Special Edition, and it seemed he would win another title when he still held the lead as last to go Betsy entered the ring.

Betsy had jumped a nice clear on first ride Danny P, but she proved a force to be reckoned with in the final draw, taking every tight turn at maximum pace to wipe 1.15 seconds off the leading time to secure victory.

“The jump-off track really suited her, she loves to gallop and turn; not many ponies can do both, but she can,” said Betsy, 10, who had worked out her plan with her Mum.  “My ponies are complete opposites, Danny is slower but ‘Pebbles’ [aka Nova] loves to fly.  It’s like pressing a button but I have to keep her in my hand and support her and keep her happy.”

Elmstone Hardwick, Cheltenham-based Betsy seems to switch riding both ponies with effortless panache.

“With Danny, I need to kick and push on, but Pebbles is different.  She’s keen and excitable and when she jumps she just can’t help herself, she can get hyper and especially excited in the lap of honour.  She can be quite nervous, I must be calm, gentle and quiet, and even though she’s not the best on a hack, we have so much fun jumping,” she added.     

 Martha Jones hit top speed to win the British Showjumping 11-year-old and Under Championship with the super-quick Laithehill Demetrius.  Forty-six competitors came forward in this handicapped 128/138cm class over a 10-fence track with 16 posting initial clears to join the jump-off – 13 128cm ponies pitted against three from the 138cm section.  Nonetheless, the fastest round of all came from one of the smallest of the 128cm ponies, Martha and Demetrius (aka Barry) flying round to win by 1.50 seconds.

“It didn’t go quite to plan, I was going so fast, I missed one turn,” said Martha, who was fresh from her success at Pony of the Year Show (POYS), winning the Mini Grand Prix and Leading Rider award with this consistent roan pony.

Caernarfon, North Wales based Martha, who only began riding at Anglesey Riding Centre during the Covid years to get outdoor exercise, joined forces with Barry 12 months ago following the purchase from Paul Barker.

“He’s a very kind pony and a machine in the ring and I can trust him to do the turns in the jump-off,” said Martha, who relies on trainers Gillian Milner and Catrin Roberts for advice – “Without Gillian, I wouldn’t be where I am today, she tells me everything, although she does tell me to slow down!”

 It was tight at the top in the 10-year-old and Under Style and Performance and only one point separated the top two places, Michael Kelly taking the top spot with Conor Barnes in second place.

Seven from the 11 on the start list produced first round clears and returned for round two, with judges Richard Seals and Liz Jackson finding the decision to separate the two difficult.  After deliberating, four boys filled the top four places.

Both Michael with the eye-catching Washbrook Snap Dragon and Conor aboard The Silver Horse rode immaculate, foot-perfect rounds, Michael edging ahead on 284 points to Conor’s 283.  Oliver Browning finished third with One In A Million VI ahead of Hector Condon and Little Caeser – four friends in and out of the ring.

“Overall, the standard was very high, and it was tough on the judges, there is definitely some superstars for the future,” said Richard.

Liz was equally complimentary: “The top three were set apart from the rest, they gained confidence during each round, kept control and maintained a good rhythm.”

Michael, 7, has ridden Eleanor Franchetti’s Snap Dragon for 12 months, starting at 70cm and working up to 90cm.

“She’s so kind and goes on long strides and short strides, she helps me out and she’s rideable, not strong but goes forward,” said Michael, after winning his second rug – “I was on the Berkshire and Oxfordshire Academy team two weeks ago with Jessica and Lottie Noys and we won our first rug.”

Conor, 8, has also ridden his pony ‘Rocker’ – aka The Silver Horse – for a year with the pair enjoying days hunting, joining Mum Caroline and Dad Steve on the hunting field.

“I like hunting, it gives me a better seat, but I love my showjumping and Rocker goes on the stride I want and looks after me,” said Conor.

 Jack Martin seized the British Showjumping Children on Horses 16-year-old and Under Championship from the front on Hilton S.  Six competitors jumped clear over an 11-fence 1.20m track to access the jump-off, an on-form Jack claiming two of the rides.  Nonetheless, he had victory sewn up from first draw with the six-year-old Hilton S, winning with 0.70 seconds to spare.  Jack also posted a double clear on his final ride Kimba Classic for fourth, sandwiching India Vilarrubi on Vagalenco GF and Charley Elvin’s Magic Carpet II into second and third.

Jack bought the Stetter x Diamond Roller as an unbroken three-year-old from Ireland off video with inheritance money from his Great Grandfather. 

“His name was Hilton Stansfield, so we called the horse Hilton S and it was the best video I’ve ever watched,” said Jack, 15, who has qualified for the SEIB Winter Novice Final at Royal International Horse Show.  “He’s a lovely horse, a little grumpy in the stable – he likes to lick and kiss you, but as soon as you turn your back, he tries to play bite – but in the ring, he does his job.” 

Image: Suzanne Jones

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