Anya Brown Jumps Donna Z I to Top Spot in the Nupafeed Senior Discovery Second Round at Dean Valley
Tuesday 29 April 2025
Dean Valley Equestrian Centre played host to the second Nupafeed Senior Discovery Second Round competition this past weekend, with riders bidding to clinch their spot in the Championship Final at the British Showjumping National Championships this year.
Gillian Milner’s first round track proved tricky for some of the 38 starters, but 17 combinations made light work of it to advance to the second round, where the competition stepped up another level. Ten rode their way into the final jump-off with four combinations posting triple clears.
It was Anya Brown, riding Cara Wild’s Donna Z I, who executed the jump-off to perfection and crossed the line in the fastest time, stopping the clock at 44.57 seconds. Gemma Mckay piloted her own Rose Du Capitaine into second place, 3.53 seconds off the winning times whilst Sinead Cox would take home third place with Valerie Cox’s Nashville VH Eusselshof Z, crossing the finish further 4.56 seconds in arrears.
“Lady was just amazing, absolutely brilliant, especially as she has never jumped at Forest Edge before, and Gillian Millner’s tracks can be quite testing,” said a delighted Cara.
“We bought her four years ago for my daughter, Bella, who backed her herself and then Anya took on the ride whilst Bella was on ponies. Bella is on holiday for a few weeks and was so upset to be missing some of the qualifiers but there is no one else we would have sat on the mare, other than Anya.
“Anya hasn’t ridden Lady since the Blue Chip Championships last year when they won, but she said it was like putting on an old pair of trainers. They went HC on Saturday just to get their eye in as Donna hasn't been in the ring since February and then on Sunday, they just made it look so easy, Anya rode her absolutely class. Lady just turns and burns, she eats up the ground but never looks like she is doing too much.
“She is quirky but genuinely loves to jump and is always looking for the fence. Although she can be spooky, not at the fences, but at things like the flowerpots so Anya did such a good job to keep her focused. Bella was on facetime with us during the prize giving which was lovely and Anya’s family were all there to support her as well.
“The plan is for Bella to take Lady to the final and they have also qualified for the SEIB Winter Novice Final at the Royal International Horse Show, at Hickstead. Bella pinches herself every day that she is lucky to have a mare of her calibre. We’re just a family, we’re not a business and we think she is amazing. She is such a nice, kind mare, we love her to bits, and she will stay with us forever.”
In the Senior British Novice Second Round at Dean Valley, Ceri Chapman steered her own 11-year-old Bonmahon Blue Lee into top spot in a swift 40 seconds. Sinead Cox picked up a second top three placing with Valerie Cox’s Nashville VH Eusselshof Z in second place, 4.16 seconds off the winning time. Evie Fletcher came home in third place with Amy Fletcher’s Cassarco, 1.35 seconds in arrears.
The Senior British Novice Second Round action also continued at Prestige Equestrian Centre. Megan Olivia Thomas (pictured right) and her hombred mare, TM Quickfizz, outpaced their rivals to take top spot, crossing the finish in 42.36 seconds, at their first Second Round competition. Emma Jo Slater and Kim Barzilay’s Kimba Showtime finished in second place, 1.45 seconds behind the winning pair, whilst Karen Bosworth and Oddball, slotted into third place, 3.67 seconds further off the pace.
Dean Valley Equestrian Centre – Sunday 27 April, 2025
Nupafeed Supplements Senior Discovery Championship Second Round
1st - Anya Brown & Donna Z I – 0/0/0 44.57
2nd - Gemma Mckay & Rose Du Capitaine – 0/0/0 48.10
3rd - Sinead Cox & Nashville VH Eusselshof Z – 0/0/0 52.66
NB: Results pending official grading.
Image (top): KT Equine Photography
Image (right): Jasmine Punter Photography
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