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
Monday 14 April 2025
.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")
Hollie Gerken added yet another championship title to her already impressive tally with the Blue Chip Pro Sparkle JC/JA Championship on Krakboom D’Euro at the Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships.
The 31 starters in this handicap class were reduced to 16 by course-designer Nigel Jess’s 12-fence track, nine less experienced JCs pitted against seven older JAs. But the younger pony won out as Hollie skilfully guided the 10-year-old gelding into the top spot with 1.78 seconds to spare.
“He’s lovely, very kind and knows his job, he’s very fast and doesn’t like having a pole down,” said Holly, who made a flying visit to these Championships, winning both the Blue Chip JC/JA on Ballycarrow Mirahs Sparrow before landing the actual Blue Chip JC/JA Championship.
The Le Cruise x Euro News 10-year-old gelding was originally purchased by Paul Kelly and produced by a few riders before the pony was bought for Evelina Roberts. Now out of ponies, Evelina put him on sales livery with Paul and handed the reins to Hollie.
Second and third came for the JA section, Ellin Gifford taking the runner-up position on Robe Ruadh with Lottie Mae Bullock in third riding Carrickaduff Pet.
Tabitha Travis made a winning return to the Blue Chip Championships and went one better with a victory double on the final day – taking both Bliss of London Pony Winter Sapphire and Coral Championships with Starflower, last year’s Eskadron Pony Winter Discovery champions.
The consistent pair first claimed the Bliss of London Sapphire title as 25 of the 54 starters accessed the hot, competitive jump-off, Tabitha and Starflower hitting top speed to win by 0.32 seconds. LaceyMae Russel jumped Beezies Taz into second and Jack Waddington filled third on Halo Joy.
It was a similar story in the Bliss of London Pony Coral Championship. The 26 starters were halved to 13 for the jump-off, Tabitha and Starflower gaining their second title by 1.06 seconds with a flying early round which could not be beaten. Lilly Garrett steered Machno Dalonia into second with Evelyn Bond Smith taking third aboard Killefea Gem.
“I hoped I’d done enough, but I did panic waiting until the end,” said Tabitha, on a nerve-wracking wait as the jump-off progressed.
Starflower joined Tabitha, 14, 18 months ago.
“She’s a 19-year-old ex-eventer I’ve got on loan from Bizzy Loffet. She was not as strong in her dressage and rather than fully retire her, she’s taken a step down to do showjumping – and she loves it,” said Tabitha. “She’s very quick over the fences and she wants to jump, so I went as tight as I could. Being an ex-eventer, she does lock on to a fence but she’s very straightforward to ride.”
Bonnie Evans secured the Eskadron Pony Winter Discovery Championship with a series of amazing turns aboard the small but mighty Ruby Tuesday XIV in an ultra-fast, mega-competitive jump-off.
“She’s amazing, very special and she loves going fast,” said Bonnie, 12, who hails from South Wales.
A field of 66 originally contended this title with 19 posting initial clears to qualify for the deciding round, and although the lead changed several times, gasp-inducing turns supplied by the diminutive Oakley Nash on the 128cm Sonic I seemingly claimed victory. Nonetheless, Bonnie was not at all daunted and followed up with breath-taking turns of her own, turning Ruby Tuesday on a sixpence and take a risky gallop to the last fence to fly into the top spot by the tiny margin of 0.07 seconds.
“The one before us [Oakley] went very quick, so I had to go quicker. I had a plan to do all the tight turns, but I didn’t know if we could go that quick, but she got it,” said Bonnie, who commented on why her 138cm mare is so special – “Well, she’s a New Forest and that’s a disadvantage because they’re usually a cobby type, but she doesn’t follow that type.”
Ruby Tuesday was acquired four years ago after she was for sale for a length of time but in the field and not at all fit.
“I loved her straightaway, she’d got fire in her belly,” said Bonnie.
However, not all went to plan.
“We were in this class last year, but she got eliminated, she just wouldn’t jump round,” explained Bonnie. “Now I’ve got another 12 months experience, stronger, taller and I’ve got to grips with her – now I know her like the back of my hand.”
Oakley finished second on Sonic I with Lara Davenport in third riding Aphrodities Echo.
Sophia Hogan’s patience and dedication paid off in spades with the Pikeur Pony Winter Novice Championship on Rosie Mae Harmony.
“We’ve had her since a two-year-old and I’ve done all the work with her from scratch, including breaking her in, so this win is very special,” said Sophia.
A big entry of 88 came forward in this championship class, and 25 conjured up all the right answers to access the jump-off and chase glory, but Sophia was the quickest, making use of ‘Rosie’s’ stride to gallop ahead by 0.66 seconds.
“It’s her first championship and her first time against the clock. I didn’t expect to win, especially in this environment as I didn’t know if she’d go spooky, but was hoping for a top nine placing and she took it all in her stride and she’s not even six until October. I’ve won other championships but this is my first Novice Championship with a baby I’ve produced myself,” said Sophia, 15, who will be out of ponies at the end of the year.
Rosie was a planned purchase.
“We had a lot of success with the 138cm Jessie Mae Harmony and wanted a 148cm version, so we found her half-sister Rosie, out of the same dam, the 128cm Birchill Harmony – a former ride of Jack Whitaker – and by Kroongraaf,” said Sophia, who worked with the now six-year-old mare. “On the ground she can be very calm but she can get sassy but always tries her best.”
Long-time leader Lucy Rogers settled for second place on OG Buttons WFS and Tilda Wear took third place on the podium aboard Draxover Major Mischief.
Image: Suzanne Jones
