Steve Garrod secures victory in the Events Through A Lens Talent Seeker incorporating the 7-year-old Championship Qualifier at Field House Equestrian Centre
Monday 24 July 2023
Steve Garrod is on a roll and, only two weeks after qualifying for the HOYS Grade C, he claimed victory in the Events Through A Lens Talent Seeker incorporating the 7-year-old Championship Qualifier at Field House Equestrian Centre on Ufonzo to celebrate another HOYS ticket.
“It is the biggest we’ve ever jumped but after a 10-year partnership, we know each other so well,” said Steve.
Ninety-four competitors turned out for this popular qualifier and, with 31 jumping clear over course-designer Steve Williams’ 13-fence track, the clock was always going to play a major role. But Steve dared and won from the front, setting an unbeatable target on the Uvolinus x Onze Fons 14-year-old former eventer.
“I’m shocked, I didn’t expect this, but the jump-off course was twisty and it suited us. He has evented up to 4* and is practised at angling fences; we jumped every upright at tight angles,” said Steve, who won the HOYS Grade C qualifier at Ashby Show, Leicestershire, just two weeks earlier.
“We were a little off the last fence, it was three strides from a vertical to an oxer and they were massive, but I indicated we needed to go and gave him a little kick and he answered every call and made up the distance.”
Thomas Pritchard secured his place in the final with second place on the 9-year-old Cevann IV (Cevin Z x Kannan and a delighted Lorraine Allan guided the Stairway x Cartano 13-year-old Somethin Else into third. Harry Wainwright and Lady O (Carrera VDL x Veron) came home on four faults second time out but it was good enough to take the final qualifying place as top 7-year-old.
Field House EC – Sunday, 23 July 2023
Events Through A Lens Talent Seeker incorporating the 7-year-old Championship Qualifier
1st Steve Garrod & Ufonzo – 0/0 - 36.30 seconds
2nd Thomas Pritchard & Cevann IV – 0/0 - 36.71 seconds
3rd Lorraine Allan & Somethin Else – 0/0 - 37.10 seconds
NB: Qualifications pending official grading of results.
Image: Top Shots Photography
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