Ella Kay lands a spectacular hat-trick of titles at the Scope Junior Festival
Tuesday 27 August 2024
The on-form Ella Kay has seamlessly made the switch to bigger ponies after claiming three major national 2023 128cm titles – the British Showjumping National Championship, HOYS and the London International Horse Show with Red Alert III – and started her 2024 tally at the Scope Festival with a hat-trick of championships.
Ella, who celebrated her 13th birthday just before the show, left the best until last, heading the concluding Dunglenn 148cm Championship on Little Flexible to round off a three-day high of pony classes at the South View, Cheshire, venue.
“She can be quite strong and a little crazy in the warm-up – it took me a little time to get together with her – but she has a very big jump and gives me so much confidence,” said Ella. “She has the same headspace as Red Alert and will go off any stride, nothing feels too big and the bigger the fences, the better. We only started jumping the top JA tracks a few weeks ago but I feel I could come down to 1.50m on her.”
Five riders mastered course-designer Gillian Milner’s initial 1.25m track to battle it out in the jump-off and, with three double clears in round two, the clock played a major role. Ella maxed on her final draw to speed ahead on the 11-year-old Little Flexible (Le One x Cruising), capitalising on their growing partnership to win with 0.69 seconds to spare.
Katie Bradburne had to settle for second place with her 2024 European pony team gold medallist Westpoint Foreign Affair with with Ella Spencer guiding Gilton Des Islots into third with the steadiest of the clears.
“It was a nice track, not too technical, and although I’ve qualified for HOYS, I didn’t have too many expectations as we have very little jump-off experience at this height, but I did have the advantage going last and able to watch the other rounds,” said Ella.
Ella secured victory in the Wicks Group 1.15m Championship with the diminutive 144cm Magic Cornflakes. Sixteen competitors came forward over the 1.15m first round with seven answering every question to access the jump-off. It was all about the clock as five posted double clears, Ella skipping round the shortened track on the Belgian-bred Miraculix 16-year-old to score a 1.78 second win. Annabelle Dale slotted Carrickaduff Pet into second just ahead of Ella Spencer’s Rouet Rouge.
“He was the smallest in the class, but he has a big personality and you have to have a bond to get the best from him – he likes to be the main man in the yard and get all the attention,” who acquired Magic Cornflakes 12 months earlier. “We picked him up from Scope last year and he’s my speed pony. He’s 16 now and, although he’d jump the bigger tracks, 1.15/1.20m is his happy height and in a jump-off, he’s sees the fences and he goes for it.”
Ella’s other win came on the final day with the Graham Heath Equestrian 138cm Championship riding Icaris W. Nine of the original 14 competitors returned for the jump-off with Taylie Rae Owen claiming an early lead on Derrartha Johnny. But Ella found a shorter route with the 11-year-old Icaris to snatch victory by 1.31 seconds. Taylie Rae had to settle for second and Portia Taylor-Wilson final effort on Whitethorn Smokey slipped into third.
“I only got Icaris in January, and we got off to a good start, winning at our first show, Aintree small pony premier,” said Ella, who had already qualified for Hickstead before winning Arena UK’s final qualifier. “I’ve now got used to him against the clock and took it easy on the first day, so I was able to save him for the Graham Heath final on the last day. Once he’s focused going fast against the clock, he thinks he has to go fast every round!
“I knew Taylie was quick, although I didn’t see her round, but I planned my route. I angled the first two fences and took out a stride to the next, but he has such a long stride, I missed the next turn. However, we took out two strides to the last – the course suited him.”
Third in the top-billed Dunglenn title, Ella Spencer and the Balou Du Roet seven-year-old Rouet Rouge claimed their own championship sash in the Wicks Group 1.20m Championship, the pair touting the only double clear in the three-way decider. Ruby Birchenough was quicker on time but recorded four faults to slip Roll On Wave into second and Katy Meredith jumped Knockroe Little Clover into third.
The Scope 1.10m Adventurer Championship was decided in a tense head-to-head decider as both participants provided double clears. Lucy MacGregor hit the turbo button to emerge victorious with almost seven seconds in hand on Lemony Snicket To Corrie Dhu, a nine-year-old spotted mare she started in British Novice 15 months earlier. Kate Anderson guided Captain Glenister into second place.
The Yorkshire-based Leggott brothers scored a championship win apiece.
Henry Leggott bettered all his rivals to be crowned Scope 138cm champion on Blossom’s Letterkeen Bettyn. The original 16 starters were halved to eight for the jump-off, but clears were scarce second time out, just three achieving double clears. Henry commandingly found the shortest route on the Irish-bred 16-year-old mare Bettyn, flying into the top spot by almost six seconds. Emmie Horner steered Cucaracha Circee into second with Honey Bowes filling third place on Thunderbird V.
Not to be outdone, younger sibling Alexander Leggott rode the Belgian-bred eight-year-old mare Blossom’s Ukkepuk Van Uuyversputten to victory in the four-pony decider of the Graham Heath Equestrian 128cm Championship. A second round clear proved elusive, but the clock played its part, Alexander flying into an unbeatable lead by 3.74 seconds. Kobi Hunter Watt finished second aboard Derraveragh Two Tone ahead of third-placed Kate Willis and Buachaill Baire.
Kobi went one better in the Scope 128cm, scooping the title with Hill Garth Bailey Cream. Five from a field of 13 accessed the jump-off with Kobi supplying the quickest of the two double clears recorded, easing the 17-year-old palomino Bailey Cream into a 1.46 second victory. Charlie Simcock had to settle for second place on Peppino Il Grande while Georgia Hogan registered the fastest round, but four faults dropped Darth Moll to third.
Reeva Mason seized victory in the Cats & Pipes 138cm Debut Championship aboard Sandys Mel. Twenty-two hopefuls initially set out over the 85cm course with exactly half finding the key to qualify for the jump-off. Reeva was the quickest, flying past her 10 rivals to take the 138cm Debut title on the year-old Sandys Mel to win with 0.67 seconds. Amelie Bradshaw gave it her best shot on Little Turbo for second with Tiggi Lock slotting Little Miss Chief into third.
Mia Cheetham claimed the Cats & Pipes 128cm crown with Arrogan Emily T R. Twenty-six competitors from a start list of 40 jumped first round clears to ensure a place in the hotly contended jump-off. Mia brushed off any pressure to fire the eager 19-year-old Emily into the top spot, winning by just 0.28 seconds. Jonty Hughes jumped Gigman Yazoo into second place and Ivy Thomas Cook secured third on Alexies Little Gem.
Tilly-Rose Simpson emerged triumphant in a hotly contended, vocally supported jump-off to take the Tiny Tots 2024 title with the 17-year-old Gemstone Sienna. Thirty-three tots tackled the 80cm course and, such was the quality, 21 gained initial clears to go forward into the jump-off. Tilly-Rose was on form with two in the final decider, edging ahead by only 0.07 seconds to record the win on Sienna and finish third with Tullibards Highly Unlikely, sandwiching Hector Condon into second on Prince of Ashwood.
India Thornhill seized a big win with the Scope Pony Progressive 1m Championship on Garrangrena Gracie Fields, a 13-year-old mare she has brought through from British Novice and Discovery the past three years. Nine from a possible list of 13 posted first round clears to make their way into the jump-off, India supplying the fastest of the three double clears to command the title by 5.32 seconds. Cate Kerr secured second on Miss Mayfield with Charlie Simcock filling third spot aboard Inchalah De Beau Mont.
Hugo Oakes outpaced every challenger to triumph in the Pony Bright Star 1m Championship aboard Coldmoore Just William. The 25 starters were reduced to 11 for the timed jump-off, Hugo hitting every shortcut on the year-old to speed into victory with 1.26 seconds to spare. Imogen Breakell eased Edenside Rosie Blue into second with Ruby O’Brien clinching third spot riding Wilma Dan.
Kimberley Gowing galloped to victory to claim the Scope Novice Masters title with Tra Bhain Cisco. Thirty hopefuls bid for this title and a race against the clock was promised as 17 provided initial clears to move into the jump-off. Kimberley kept a cool head and lasered into the shortest route to guide the Irish-bred six-year-old dun gelding to an impressive three second win. Lexie Corcoran eased Clounanna Archie Boy into second and Josephine Pritchard claimed third on Maxine.
Image: Phil Hillier / Landscape and Horses Photography
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