Helen Tredwell claims her second Blue Chip Grand Prix at the Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships – 15 years after she won the first
Monday 14 April 2025
Helen Tredwell lifted the Blue Chip Grand Prix – the highlight of the Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships Gala evening, now in its second year at Addington Equestrian Centre – with her home-bred Luikan, 15 years after winning it with favourite Opportunity B.
The Espayo Junior Challenge – where eight pony riders diversified their riding skills with a spelling test – got the Gala night off to a fun start, while Anthony Condon informed and inspired with a lecture demo on producing the showjumper. Then it was down to the major entertainment – the Blue Chip Grand Prix.
Course-designer Nigel Jess set a testing 13-fence 1.40m track for the 23 competitors forward in this class – two riders with an added incentive of chasing the PRB Horseboxes Bonus, an extra £2,000 offered to the top three of the Blue Chip Pro Challenge Trophy who went on to win the Blue Chip Grand Prix. Only Jess Hewitt made it into the jump-off with her Blue Chip Pro Challenge Trophy winner Arbitrage – and added an exciting element to the final stages of the 10-horse decider.
The lead changed several times as riders assessed and cut tighter lines with Helen’s penultimate round on Luikan setting the strongest test of all for Jess and Arbitrage. They gave it their all and had the spectators gasping as the back rail of the first element of the double bounced and returned to the cups, only to waver as gravity took over and it dropped to the floor. Jess beat the time by 0.75 seconds, but that lowered rail cost dear and she missed out on the Bonus.
I’d have been very lucky if it had stayed but I was unlucky, too. I can’t be annoyed, she tried her heart out,” said Jess.
The win belonged to Helen.
“This mare is special to me, she’s the last one my Dad [Alan] and I started together, I wish he was here now, he’d have loved this,” said Helen, on the Luidam x Elanville 12-year-old mare Luikan. “She was my second horse, but my Number 1 [Independence TN] was sold, so now she’s stepped up to Number 1.”
Ryan Page had to settle for second on BP Ko Jax 1.24 seconds in arrears with Phillip Miller in third on Don Royale.
“I watched Ryan turn inside the water tray and knew I had to go and get in a good rhythm, but I always try to do my own thing and know what my horse is capable of; and I know she was spooky on the side of the tradestands,” said Helen, who had also changed the bridle – “Following a trip abroad, I’d put her in a Waterford snaffle but she was strong and spooky the night before, so I changed back to the chain snaffle and powered her up.”
Out of a mare previously ridden by Helen, Cantara VH, described as a 1.20m ‘Diesel’ horse, Luikan has her own personality – “She’s bit autistic, but goofy and very kind and she loves her food,” added Helen.
Jess and Arbitrage emerged as the fastest in the 38-strong Blue Chip Pro Challenge Trophy as 38 competitors chased the win over a single-phase 1.35m course. No-one could catch the pair as Jess scooped up the win on the Vitaal G x Rufus Z 13-year-old mare – also reigning champion of the British Showjumping Evoke Under 25 title at London International Horse Show – by 0.31 seconds.
Jess was a force to be reckoned with, also claiming third aboard Kann Be Lucky, sandwiching Megan James into second on Balouish.
“The course didn’t really suit her, there weren’t any tight turns or a place to take out a stride, it was who could be smoothest around the corners and pick up what stride you could see, we were all pretty close,” said Jess. “I was a bit tighter to the last; she’s not that quick across the ground but I just dared her, she almost comes alive in a jump-off, I get the best out of her against the clock – I see the distance and think, ‘I could go on that’ and she believes me and picks up on it.”
Hollie Pearce claimed her first championship win with the Ublesco x Burggraaf 11-year-old James O Hara H with the Blue Chip Dynamic B and C title.
“He’s just missed out and been second so many times, this is his first national title,” said a delighted Hollie.
Forty-two competitors came forward over a 12-fence track and 15 found the key to join the jump-off, but winning was no fluke as riders dared more as the class progressed. Drawn near the end, Hollie still had to trust her instincts.
“I watched the first three, but they had four faults and slowed down, so I still didn’t really know what I was chasing and had to trust I’d done enough, I wasn’t going to take a pull, just kick everywhere,” she explained, after hitting the turbo button and winning by 1.86 seconds.
“He’s such a winner, wants to please and has such a big heart and I can trust him to be careful. Last year, I jumped the Grand Prix as he hadn’t qualified for any Finals, but this year he’d qualified so I thought I’d do it as a bit of fun for both of us and he wouldn’t have another chance – this win has made him Grade A.”
Hollie, who also rides for John and Laura Renwick, will not target international classes and a couple of world ranking competitions.
“He’s so easy, doesn’t do anything wrong, never gets sharp and although he’s big, he’s so agile and brave,” she added.
Molly Heaps guided Out of the Blue II into second with Rachel Vicary’s Brockagh Lady D’or in third.
Emma Sargeant flew round on Carl and Nikki Freeman’s home-bred Joe Malone to snatch victory in a very competitive Blue Chip Calming Performance Championship.
“I did think ‘How on earth am I going to beat that?’ but Joe may be a big horse, but he’s very nimble, quite strong but agile and the jump-off was better for him, I didn’t have to hold him back and could let him run,” said Emma, who finished fifth in last year’s HOYS Newcomers Final.
“Nikki was pregnant with her second child Ronnie and asked me to ride him and we qualified for HOYS. Nikki rode him herself during the winter but has now handed the reins back to me.”
Twenty-two from on original start list of 58 achieved first round clears and the lead changed several times in the hot jump-off.
“I went on six strides to the last fence [Blue Chip oxer] as he has such a huge stride and he’d jump a house,” explained Emma, on the reason she considers won the class by 1.16 seconds.
By Fruselli and out of a Pierrot mare, Joe Malone had a somewhat traumatic birth, Nikki, who owns him with her father Carl, explained: His Mum died during the birth, my Dad had to literally pull him out and he was hand reared.”
Tom Pritchard finished second on Orovito with Rachel Vicary claiming third on Brockagh Lady D’or.
Tom was on fine form to double up in both the Blue Chip Power and Joshua Jones UK Discovery Championships.
The Blue Chip Joint Care Power title fell to Tom and the highly-rated Orovito, a beautifully bred Chacgrano x Comme Il Faut six-year-old owned jointly by Julian Mincher and long-term owner Suzanne Fowler. The pair headed the 20-strong jump-off with 0.39 seconds in hand.
“He’s the full package; breeding, rideability, careful, the best I’ve ever had and future Grand Prix horse. The plan is to keep him and produce him to his seven-year-old year, but my business is selling horses and we’ve already had some good offers,” said Julian, who has another winning incentive – “Tom wins and I get another Gucci jumper, it’s one of the reasons I make him win!”
Tom’s second victory may mean Tom gets a Gucci jumper. The 91-strong field in the Joshua Jones UK Discovery Championship was reduced to 43 for the jump-off, but Tom set a sizzling target from the front that proved unbeatable to take the title with Orah, winning by an incredible 2.35 seconds.
The nine-year-old Vagabond De La Pomme x MoujikDe Sohan mare previously evented with owner Maaike van Wijk but proved too careful for cross-country and came to Julian on sales livery.
“She’s changed completely since. She was quite aggressive, but we found out she had ulcers and treated them. Now she’s progressed quickly in showjumping and just started jumping at 1.30m level and she has the nicest temperament and a dream to ride on the flat,” said Julian.
“She’s really consistent and one of my favourites. This was her first championship and she coped with all the distractions, she has a good demeanour and the bigger the jumps, the better she looks,” added Tom.
Emma Sargeant was out for a second title but was pipped at the post by Lucy Gilbertson, who was crowned Cheval Liberte 1.25m champion on Hip Girl.
The 49 starters were reduced to 11 for a thrilling jump-off with several hard luck, hit the last fence stories abound, but Lucy didn’t miss a beat, steering the Hip Hop x Carthago mare into the top spot by 0.60 seconds.
“She’s super, very quick and I can trust her, she’ll do her own thing. I didn’t watch anyone else, I just went as fast as I could, but she jumped so well, I’d have been happy either way,” said Lucy, who joined forces with this consistent mare two years ago on the recommendation of trainer Amanda Petts of Warren Wood Manor Stables.
“I loved her as soon as I sat on her, she’s perfect. Amanda has trained me since I was six and I have had professional showjumping lessons with Annette Lewis since I was eight,” added Lucy.
Nonetheless, the winning – and riding – has been put on hold for a month.
“I’ve got to take time out while I take my ‘A’ levels, then I’ll take a gap year and see what happens with the horses; I’d like to aim for the British Showjumping National Championships and the Silver League again.
Emma had to settle for second aboard Maxima Z and Ed Eltham slotted Ibrina HBC into third.
Louise McDonald and her consistent winner Fanta-Astic added yet another to their tally with the Star Championship.
A mammoth 114 competitors started in this Final, but two water trays caused consternation amongst the riders and only 16 made it through to the jump-off. Louise’s super-quick round, utilising every tight turn option at optimum pace, denied Emma Sargeant another championship title, and she had to settle for second and third with Whisper’s Love and Ballyheerin Quintana 0.41 seconds in arrears.
Louise acquired the 15-year-old from an eventing home five years earlier.
“He’d previously evented all his life but he’s so competitive – he’ll shorten or push on to take strides out easily,” said Louise. “He’s a funny character though, he wouldn’t ever hurt you, but only licks people, very strange.”
Amelie Haydon scored her biggest win in the Bliss of London Novice Championship with Oughterard MBS Cassero.
Fifteen from a field of 78 returned for the jump-off but Amelie had the win sewn up, winning by 0.60 seconds.
Jersey-based Amelie, 21, acquired this Irish-bred seven-year-old mare two years ago.
“She was bred for eventing but loves to showjump. The jump-off was so much fun, it was so fast I just had to go in and give it a go. She’s so quick, as soon as I asked, she went and it was lovely to have the crowd behind me,” she said.
Emma-Jo Slater finished second on Chacala Blue with Shari Vincent filling third spot aboard Crystal Clar.
Emily Proud made her Blue Chip debut a winning one, outpacing her rivals to take the Seaver Diamond Winter Championship on Billy Salute.
The top 30 with combined results over two qualifiers from an original entry of 115 qualified for the Final over a 1m track, and the competition was hot as 20 supplied initial clears to go forward into the jump-off. Emily proved the fastest as she dared with ultra-tight turns and a gallop to the final oxer to win by 0.88 seconds.
Jodi Randall had to settle for second on Heralda and Ruby Whan jumped Couper HZ into third.
“This is amazing, I’ve had him since a three-year-old and backed him myself. We bought him from the very first Billy Stud Auction and as there weren’t many there, we bagged ourselves a bargain.” said Emily, on the Billy Congo x Animo 11-year-old. “I just have to look where we’re going and keep up with her – she’s bold and careful and loves her job.”
Somerset-based Emily is usually a dedicated eventer and fits seven horses in around her career as a full-time physio.
“She qualified for the Corinthian Cup at Gatcombe but she didn’t really enjoy the cross-country. Now, we’ve got a good partnership together and I’d like to step up to bigger courses,” added Emily.
Image: Suzanne Jones
.JPG "Hollie Gerken adds another Championship to her tally and Tabitha Travis makes a winning return with a victory double in the exciting Pony Finals at the Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships")
