Bella Wild Shines Bright in the STX-UK Pony British Novice Second Round at Weston Lawns
Tuesday 07 May 2024
This bank holiday weekend saw the fifth STX-UK Pony British Novice Second Round competition, held at Weston Lawns, where ponies and riders contended to qualify for the final at the British Showjumping National Championships.
46 hopeful combinations tackled Andrew Millin’s first round course, which proved a real test. 15 pairs advanced to the second round, where nine combinations completed the initial double clear needed to take on the final jump off course. With everything to jump for, six ponies finished with a clean sheet. Among them Bella Wild, who used tight turns to her advantage and pipped the competition to take the win in 31.56 seconds, ahead of second place Chloe Burrage and Dakota Star.
For Bella and Stacey Hancock’s Valentine Quebradita, the weekend proved doubly successful as they secured two qualification spots, taking third place in the Pony Discovery Second Round the following day. Bella, who only took over the ride in January, shared her thoughts: “The pony did really well; I’ve been riding her for a couple of months, and we’ve only done four shows together but she’s got better and better every show."
Continuing, Bella expressed: "I wasn’t expecting to win; I was just hoping to have a nice round. I got drawn last in the jump-off, so I thought I may as well go for it. I did a couple of turns tighter than anyone else did and just kept the nice canter, and she seemed to make up the ground."
Bella also reflected on the longstanding relationship with the pony's owner: “We’ve known her owner Stacey and her family for years, and she’s always been really kind to us."
An up to date list of ponies qualified for the STX-UK Pony British Novice Final can be found at:
https://www.britishshowjumping.co.uk/shows_qualifying_dates_venues.cfm?type=J&class=BNOVJF
A huge thank you to STX-UK, for their sponsorship and support of this series. When compromise is not an option, STX-UK’s safe, stylish, and functional trucks are your first and last choice within the UK, and across the globe.
Weston Lawns – Sunday, 5 May 2024
STX-UK Pony British Novice Second Round
1st – Bella Wild & Valentine Quebradita - 0/0/0 31.56
2nd – Chloe Nicole Burrage & Dakota Star - 0/0/0 32.03
3rd – Lola Olivia Self & Covau - 0/0/0 36.08
NB: Results pending official grading.
Image: Simon Coates Photography
