The National Amateur and Veterans Championships Six-Day Extravaganza Drew to a Close in an Exciting Final Day of Competition
Monday 18 November 2024
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Six days of competitive spirit, camaraderie, encouraging and informative commentary superbly built courses, rugs, sashes, Fancy Dress and FUN with a capital F – the British Showjumping National Amateur and Veterans Championships, sponsored by Equiyd, at Aintree International Equestrian Centre was again a roaring success.
Abi Leadbetter makes a winning return to the National Amateur and Veterans Championships with her second National Amateur 1.10m Championship
Abi Leadbetter made a winning return to take her consecutive National Amateur 1.10m title with her heart horse Hearts Cruise on the final day.
“She’s so fast and so careful, she’s an incredible mare,” said Abi, who won the 2023 title in similar fashion.
Forty-two competitors faced course-designer Mark McGowan’s 11-fence, 14-effort track with fences falling everywhere, although the ‘Plank of Shattered Dreams’ claimed its fair share, with nine eventually reaching their initial goal and moving on to the jump-off.
“The first round was tough but it’s so nice to come here and jump technical tracks. Mark is an incredible course-builder and now builds all over the world, it’s fantastic they managed to hold on to him to build here,” said Abi.
Abi was drawn early and was determined to retain her championship title.
“I was drawn second and knew I had some fast ones behind me. The tight turn-backs suited her but the long run down to the second fence didn’t, she’s short-strided so I let her have a nice run to it before turning tight on the rollback and the double and I could take care to the last,” said Abi. “I couldn’t have done any more, I had to wait and see if I’d done enough.”
She had, winning by a handsome 1.50 seconds, although this Corrado G x Heartbreaker nine-year-old is a through-and-through winner, she can be quirky.
“She took half an hour to load to come here. We only have a 3.5t lorry and she usually travels on a certain side, but I’d loaded all the gear including a bale of haylage on that side and she wouldn’t load. I had to unload everything and start again before she’d load on the side she favours,” said Abi.
There wasn’t much time to celebrate as County Durham based Abi will be back to work early on Monday morning – “I work on a hunting yard and we have 11 out on a day’s hunting, I’m very grateful for the time off to allow me to compete.”
Grace Wallace finished second on Don Believer, only 0.01 second ahead of Lucy Rennie in third aboard India X.
Ffion Hier retains her 85cm title with a new ride
The consecutive wins continued as Ffion Hier was crowned the National Amateur 85cm Champion on Oakford Maisie May.
“She’s very quick, very careful, has a gorgeous nature and always tries her hardest,” said Bridgend based Ffion, who had won the 2023 title with NLS Diva Sophia Cool.
Twenty-three of the original 68 starters returned initial clears over the 11-fence course and competitors fiercely chased the clock, but for several, the expense of a pole on the floor put paid to their chances. Ffion maxed her final draw count and sped into the top spot with 0.26 seconds in hand.
“I haven’t had the best week, but we managed to qualify on the first day – we saved the best until last. I have to hold her up when jumping the first round, but in the jump-off, I took care to the double and then pushed on the distances,” said Ffion, who only took the ride on Kimberley Buckley’s 13-year-old Lauriston daughter four months ago as regular rider Shannon Snow is pregnant. “Shannon and I are friends and rivals and usually compete against each other.”
Unsurprisingly, this show is one of Ffion’s favourites – “I love the atmosphere at this show and the staff are incredible, but most of all I have to thank my sponsors, Jarrod O’Brien of Superior Farriery, who won the best shod award here, Genna Hallam Creative and Horsebox Exchange.”
Grace Burgin steered Wine Port Juliet into second with Southerly Roberts filling third place on Talorou.
Emilia Middleton makes her winning debut in the Amateur 1.05m Championship
Emilia Middleton made her Amateur and Veteran Championship debut a winning one, registering her first big championship win in the National Amateur 1.05m Championship on Ikke Van Der Rikse.
“I’ve been riding since I was three but lived in Spain for almost 14 years and moved to Gloucestershire for more opportunities to showjump,” said Emilia, 17, “The courses here were very good, technical enough and a good test.”
Forty-four riders came forward over the 11-fence 1.05/1.10m course and 14 of them answered every question to qualify for the jump-off. Clears became progressively faster, but Emilia executed a breath-taking inside turn, just one short stride off a midway vertical and angled the final oxer to register a 0.25 second victory.
“She’s such an easy, happy, friendly and willing mare who loves her job, she doesn’t get wound up or nervous and is very easy to manage,” said Emilia, who bought the I’m Special De Muze x Concorde 11-year-old in June. “This is such a great, fun show.”
Jodi Randall made a heroic effort in the jump-off to land second on Heralda and Jane Greenham picked up third with Levis K.
Gemma Butchers lands her biggest win on her Aintree Debut
Another Aintree debutante scored the biggest win of her career in the concluding National Amateur 95cm Championship, Gemma Butchers hitting top gear to claim her first ever rug on Creevagh Crum.
“It was the last class, but it was worth the wait. I love Mark McGowan’s courses and when I heard he was building, I wanted to be here – everything is on a true distance,” said Gemma.
Eighteen of the 49 starters beat the course-builder and accessed the jump-off, but an early drawn Gemma hit the turbo button and skimmed the wings to negotiate all the tight turns to post an unbeatable time and win by 1.31 seconds.
“She’s so brave in the ring but everywhere else she’s a complete wuss and super nervous,” said Banbury based Gemma, who bought the S Creevagh Ferro Ex Siebe eight-year-old from Julian Mincher 14 months ago.
“I bought her to replace my old Grade A Ranome Z who sadly passed away and she’s filled a big hole, although everyone thinks I’ve got a new horse as, because I jumped her in the FEI classes at Chepstow International, her name has been recently changed from Double M Orla to her passport name.”
Keira Finaly rode Eldorado Velvet into second place followed closely by Southerly Roberts in third aboard Carga Batman.
And so the National Amateur and Veterans Championships is over for another year, but they’ll be back with a bang in 12 months time and are aiming to make it bigger and better in 2025.
Images: Majestic Photography
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