British Riders Get Off to a Flying Start in 2025 on the International Circuit
Monday 13 January 2025
.jpg "British Riders Get Off to a Flying Start in 2025 on the International Circuit")
Tim Gredley claims a podium place in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup of Basel
Tim Gredley was in the money in Basel, Switzerland, on Imperial HBF, culminating in a podium place in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup of Basel.
The pair started their show with a double clear over a 1.60m track in the Longines Grand Prix of Basel to take fifth, more than four seconds behind the winner, Sweden’s World Number one Henrik von Eckermann on Iliana.
Forty competitors faced course-designers Gerard Lachat (SUI) and Gregory Bodo’s (FRA) 13-fence, 17-effort 1.60m track with eight jumping faultless rounds to qualify for the jump-off, including Tim and fellow Brit Ben Maher. But French speed king Julien Epaillard set a blistering target in typical style with Donatello D’Auge which could not be caught.
Twice runner-up (in Verona and London) and second out, Ben was determined not to be bridesmaid on this occasion and matched Epaillard stride-for-stride on Point Break. He took the only option left for him in the latter stages and turned inside to round one’s first two parts of the combination (now a double). However, with an angled approach to the double, he had to push for the oxer at part b and paid the price with a rub at the front rail. Nonetheless, he still only came within 0.06 seconds to drop down the order to an eventual fifth.
Having watched others forced into mistakes, Tim elected to play it safe and sacrificed speed for accuracy in the penultimate draw on the 12-year-old Imperial (Glasgow W VH Merelsnest x Original VDL) to finish five seconds in arrears, the steadiest of the clears claiming third spot.
“When I watched Julien go, I thought , if they gave me a 100 goes [at the jump-off], I wouldn’t be able to beat him,” joked Tim.
The result puts Tim 11th on the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Western European League on 40 points, 30 points behind the leader, France’s Kevin Staut. Robert Whitaker sits in second on 60 points and Ben is in fifth with 46 points after 10 legs.
Joe Stockdale banks a 3* Grand Prix second in Abu Dhabi with Ebanking
Joe Stockdale claimed second in the concluding 3* Al Shira’aa Grand Prix presented by Longines in Abu Dhabi, UAE, with Barbara Hester and Laura Stockdale’s Ebanking.
The pair began their show with a double clear in a big entry, 84-strong FBMA 3* 1.45m two-phase for fourth place, 0.93 seconds off the pace. The performance bode well for the Grand Prix and they made short work of the 13-fence 1.50m course to join the six-horse decider.
Drawn first, Joe set a competitive time with his opener on the Etoulon x VDL Sheraton 11-year-old stallion, but the final rail fell and marred their round, leaving the door open. However, they remained steadfastly ahead as challenges came and went, until the final draw of the United Arab Emirates’ Abdullah Mode Al Marri posted the only double clear with BBS McGregor – a former ride of Ireland’s Jack Ryan.
“It’s not a bad start to 2025 and his first Grand Prix of the year but gutted to have done it on time and the unluckiest last rail falling in the jump-off as first to go,” said Joe, who was more than seven seconds quicker.
Lily Attwood just missed out on a win in the Under 25 1.45m series, picking up three places. Lily claimed second and third in Saturday’s Al Shira’aa 1.45m two-phase against 29 riders, finishing 1.10 seconds off the pace with the Landor S x For Pleasure 15-year-old Karibou Horta and backed it up with third on the Harley VDL 11-year-old Johnnie Walker, half a second in arrears.
Twenty-four hours later, Lily and Karibou Horta again jumped into second the Presidential Court Under 25. Seven of the 28 starters jumped clear over the world ranking 1.45m track to access the jump-off, Lily finishing 0.41 seconds behind the winner, UAE’s Ali Hamad Al Kirbi on Dubai.
Katie Speller topped the Al Shira’aa Farms Seven-year-old Final with Z7 Pink Panther. Twelve of the original 26 returned for the jump-off, Katie and Team Z7’s home-bred Cuick Star Kervec x Obos Quality gelding winning with 0.79 seconds in hand.
Ellen Whitaker claims third in the Doha 4* Grand Prix
Ellen Whitaker jumped to a podium place in the top-billed 4* Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar, with Korlenski.
An original field of 30 came forward over a 1.55m course with 16 providing initial clear rounds to access a hotly-contended jump-off, including three Brits. Ellen gave it her best shot, but the speed in this jump-off was incredible, and she finished in third, the 10-year-old Cornet Obolensky daughter only 0.16 seconds behind the winner, Austria’s Gerfried Puck on Equitron Naxcel V. Scott Brash on Hello Valentino and Millie Allen with E-Maitresse VH TVH Z also returned clean rounds to take fifth and seventh respectively.
Millie slotted Quick Diamant HR into second in an early 41-strong 4* 1.40m two-phase, the Diamant De Semilly x Quidam De Revel finishing 0.57 seconds behind the winning time set by France’s Antoine Ermann riding Pegasus Dawsons Flex.
Grace Healey hit the top in the 2* 1.35m with immediate jump-off on the 11-year-old Quality Time daughter Jabadabadoo, outpacing 81 rivals with 0.56 seconds to spare. The pair also finished second in the initial 55-horse 1.30m two-phase.
Max Routledge records a win at the Winter Equestrian Festival in The USA
Max Routledge posted victory at the Winter Equestrian Festival Premiere – a week of competition before the mammoth 13-week WEF event got underway – to mark his first win at the vast USA venue.
Riding for Sue Evans, Max guided the Asca Z nine-year-old mare into the top spot of the Dodd Technologies 1.45m with more than two seconds to spare, also easing Janeiro into fourth in the seven-horse jump-off.
At WEF Week One, James Billington headed the 1.35m speed with Cinderella 770, the Chetlag x Clarimo 10-year-old outpacing their 60 rivals to win with 0.77 seconds to spare.
Blair Wilmer jumped to the top in the 66-strong PB Equine Clinic 1.35m, beating 24 rivals in the jump-off to win by 0.63 seconds on Arizona.
Amanda Derbyshire was also a winner, topping the 76-strong 1.30m speed with Q-Pleasure by 1.07 seconds.
Image credit: FEI / Martin Dokupil
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