Jake Myers lands the Winter Grand Prix at South View Arena’s Winter Classic with Gamin Des Rondets
Monday 17 February 2025
Jake Myers emerged triumphant in a hustle for victory in the Winter Grand Prix at South View Equestrian Centre’s final Winter Classic for the 2024/2025 season with Gamin Des Rondets.
“He’s such a lovely horse, very quiet and a pleasure to ride, I’m looking to step him up to world ranking classes this year,” said Jake.
Twenty-four competitors came forward to face course-designer Gillian Milner’s 12-fence track starting at a height of 1.40m, and 11 found the key to access the jump-off.
Ryan Page set a competitive target on BP Skybound from first draw, neatly taking an inside angled line to the final fence, this innovative move becoming the focus for following riders as they sought to cut the time and chase victory.
Nevertheless, although the time was beaten, only four double clears were produced, and Ryan remained ahead until the halfway stage.
Jake rode smooth but tight lines on Gamin Des Rondets, taking every shortcut option, including inside a flower island and angling the penultimate vertical to take the inside line to the final oxer to snatch the lead. William Whitaker was in the hunt in the final draw, taking similar lines to slot Millfield Quickstep into second place 1.02 seconds in arrears. It pushed Ryan into third with Hannah Sims jumping the only other double clear for fourth on Kingfisher VI.
“The courses were built quite big all week and the Grand Prix course had square oxers and some challenging curving lines,” said Jake, who had been based with trainer Anthony Condon for 12 months. “The jump-off track also had some challenging lines and tight turns, with the last line particularly difficult – you had to angle the [penultimate] vertical just right to get inside the [obsolete] vertical to the final fence, and a few riders had it down, but I went through the course with Anthony and we had that line in our minds from the start. We knew we would likely have to give it a go and I was pleased how my horse responded.”
Jake has produced the Diamant De Semilly x Desir Du Chateau nine-year-old from discovery level just over four years ago.
“We stepped him up at the end of last year and it’s nice to be competitive. We’ll step him up again in 2025 in world ranking classes and two and three-star Grands Prix,” said Jake, 20, who also had Young Rider European aims – 2025 is my final Young Rider year.”
Annabel Shields raced to the top of the 1.40m with Creevagh Carisma. Only five competitors survived the first round to access the jump-off, Annabel hitting the turbo button on the 15-year-old Camiro De Haar Z daughter to take the win by an incredible nine seconds. Louise Lovegrove provided the only other double clear for second on Caliblue PS with Anthony Condon’s fast four faults on LMD Marko in third.
Ryan Page used his penultimate draw to land the Winter 1.35m with BP Ko Jax. It was a battle for the top in the 10-horse decider with Ryan claiming two rides pitted against Paul Sims with three chances. Paul claimed an early lead with his opening round on Marshmallow II but Scotland’s Kelly Connor was quicker and slipped Glamour Boy H ahead. Both Ryan on first ride BP Skybound and Paul’s second chance Double M Cristalla failed to match Kelly, but Ryan came out fighting on BP Ko Jax, winner of the Winter 1.35m at Hartpury University six weeks ago. Taking advantage of his stride, Ryan eased the Elvis Ter Putte x Iroko 10-year-old over the line with 0.78 seconds in hand, and when Paul’s final challenge failed, the pair deservedly claimed victory. Kelly finished second on Glamour Boy H with Paul in third and fourth on Double M Cristalla and Marshmallow II, just ahead of Ryan in fifth on BP Skybound.
Emma Sargeant saved the best until last in the Blue Chip Dynamic B and C with Gemma Sargeant’s Maxima Z, finding the shortest route to take victory from the Grade B section. Sixteen of the 29 starters returned first round clears over the 10-fence 125/1.30m handicapped course to qualify for the jump-off, Emma claiming two of the rides. She claimed an early lead with Mark Holland’s Cancellara Z II but was pushed down the order to third when she entered the ring for a second time. Emma wasted no time, slicing the corners at maximum pace to bring the 12-year-old Mylord Carthago x Air Jordan Z mare – who went on to win the UNIBED Winter B and C for Royal Inernational qualification – into the top spot with two seconds to spare. Anthony Condon had to settle for second place on SFS Valente with William Whitaker in third aboard Wendy Berry with Emma also taking fourth with Cancellara.
Emma enjoyed a successful show, also doubling up in the 1.15m and 1.20m classes with Whisper’s Love while following in her mother’s footsteps, daughter Lizzie won Sunday’s 1m on Luidam’s Girl.
Thomas Pritchard travelled up from London to claim a victory double in the Blue Chip Calming Performance and Winter Six-year-old. Thomas headed the Blue Chip Calming Performance on Orah. Thirty-three competitors came forward to face the 10-fence 1.20m track with 21 returning to battle it out in the jump-off, Thomas and the nine-year-old Vagabond De La Pomme daughter sweeping into the lead to win by 1.54 seconds. Anthony and SFS Valente again picked up second with Stephen Gee in third riding Tazio.
Ottos’ BB handed Thomas his second win. Sixteen of the original 32 starters gained access to the jump-off of the Winter Six-year-old with Thomas touting three of the rides.
The on-form Thomas claimed two of the top three places, easing the Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve x Cavalier stallion into the top spot by 0.34 seconds and taking third with Orovito, sandwiching Glain Watkin Jones and Asca Star VM Z into second place.
Thomas, who was also celebrating his birthday, scored four wins over the show, adding wins in a 1.20m on Calcourt Hero and a Foxhunter aboard Orah.
Graham Babes secured the win in the Winter Seven-year-old with Nanieta P (Harley VDL x Diarado). The 1.20m course reduced the 26 starters to 11 for the jump-off, Graham finding the best route to return triumphant by 0.43 seconds. Keith Shore steered Valentina Blue into second with Charley Elvin’s Magic Carpet II in third.
Angel Tough lifted the Winter Grade C qualifier from the front with Old Selui De Semily. Twenty-nine competitors tackled the 11-fence 1.30m track with 19 providing first round clears to qualify for the jump-off. However, the top spot was decided from first draw as Angel deftly took all the shortcut options to set an unbeatable time on the nine-year-old Diamant De Semilly x Oklund stallion, winning by 0.89 seconds. Also an early contender, Robert Shields claimed second on Centacco 11 and Kith Shore slipped GCS Gold Rush into third.
Joe Trunkfield dominated the Winter 1.25m with the top two places. Twelve from the field of 35 qualified for the jump-off, but Joe was too fast for them all, galloping to victory on the 13-year-old Greenacres Vanquish (Van Gogh x Abdullah) and taking second aboard Kermit Van Overis Z. Keith Shore came the closest for third on Fabuleux De Riverland, just 0.06 seconds in arrears.
Image: Phil Hillier
.JPG "Emma Sargeant flies to the top in the UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B and C qualifier at South View Equestrian Centre")
