Triumphant Finish! Angel Tough and Nicole IV Win Final Events Through A Lens Talent Seeker Qualifier at Bogenraith Equestrian Centre
Monday 07 July 2025
.jpg "Triumphant Finish! Angel Tough and Nicole IV Win Final Events Through A Lens Talent Seeker Qualifier at Bogenraith Equestrian Centre")
The final Events Through A Lens Talent Seeker incorporating the Seven-Year-Old Championship Qualifier took place at Bogenraith Equestrian Centre, in Scotland, last week, where riders had the final opportunity to qualify for the Horse of the Year Show.
Fifty-six starters came forward over the 1.30m track designed by Shaun Sands with 20 successfully navigating their way round to advance to the jump-off, Angel Tough securing three of those places whilst Jordan Thompson claimed two places.
Eleven combinations went onto jump double clear, meaning the results and the tickets to the final would be decided by the clock. As the final two riders to go, having already jumped clear on their other rides, Angel and Jordan knew what they had to do and it would be a head-to-head battle for the win.
Angel piloted Emerson Tough’s seven-year-old Nicole IV around the shortened course with tight but smooth lines and galloped to the last to cross the finish in a time of 42.20 seconds, flying to the top of the leaderboard. Jordan chased the time hard with Fiona Horne’s Double De Muze T.L but crossed the timing beam just 0.29 seconds off the winning pace and would take home second place.
Alex Bishop slotted his own Thomascourt Emirates into third place in a time of 42.50 seconds, a mere 0.01 seconds slower than Jordan whilst Charlotte Ash picked up the final qualifying place with her own and Graeme Ash’s Cali Star, the pair finishing a further 1.14 seconds in arrears.
Bogenraith Equestrian Centre caught up with Angel after the class to find out all about her win:
“It feels amazing to win this class, especially on a horse we have had since a three year old. She is unbelievable,” said a delighted Angel. “She won the seven-year-old final at Northcote Stud last month, she qualified for HOYS last year and she qualified for Lanaken Young Horse Championships the year before, she just keeps winning. I can’t wait to take her to HOYS, I’m absolutely delighted.”
“The show centre is absolutely beautiful. We travelled eight hours from Manchester to attend, and the show couldn’t do anything better for us, there is everything we need and more,” added Angel.
Bogenraith Equestrian Centre – Friday, 4 July
Events Through a Lens Talent Seeker
1st – Angel Tough & Nicole IV - 0/0 42.20 seconds – Highest placed seven-year-old
2nd – Jordan Thompson & Double De Muze T.L – 0/0 42.49 seconds
3rd – Alex Bishop & Thomascourt Emirates – 0/0 42.50 seconds
4th – Charlotte Ash & Cali Star – 0/0 43.64 seconds
NB: Results pending official grading.
Image: Amid the Chaos Photography
 c. Majestic Photography.jpg "James Smith Dominates in the Penultimate Winter Grand Prix at Aintree Winter Classic Show")
