KBIS British Equestrian Insurance National Club Championship
Tuesday 08 August 2023
The sun shone all day on the popular KBIS British Equestrian Insurance National Club Finals, with several riders crying tears of joy as they claimed their biggest win to land a coveted rug and sash as their winning prize at the British Showjumping Club Championships.
Louise King celebrated winning the KBIS British Equestrian Insurance National Club Senior 80cm Final with the Handel 15-year-old Handels Vienna, winner of the 90cm last year.
“We bought her as a yearling and she was very feisty, one of the hardest I’ve had to break, but in the ring she’s amazing – it’s all worthwhile when she jumps as well as that,” said Louise, who faced heartbreak in April. “She was diagnosed with navicular, and I didn’t know whether she’s ever jump again but she had remedial shoeing, steroid injections, and a good supplement and now she’s in a happy place. She isn’t cured but the vet said, ‘Enjoy her while you can.’”
Nine of the 26 starters reached the jump-off but clears were scarce second time out and Louise commanded the win with the only double clear.
“She came back into work around June and she can only jump on a surface, but it means I’ve still got my horse,” she said.
Kizzy O’Keefe was almost four seconds faster but a rail hit the floor to drop Princess Layla to second and Amy Blake claimed third with Move To Music.
Milly Morrison made the journey from Fife worthwhile with the KBIS British Equestrian Insurance National Club Senior 90cm Final with Davids Delila Dances.
Seven of the original 18 competitors accessed the jump-off but only Milly and her 13-year-old mare jumped clear again to take the title and her very first rug.
Milly, 25, works as an Environmental Advisor for Bear, Scotland, and bought Delila nine years ago.
“We went all through Pony Club but I aged out last year and started doing Club classes. She loves her job but last winter she developed a bone spavin and had time off. She’s only just started jumping again with the vet advice to take things slowly,” said Milly, who bought her from a Retraining of Racehorses source.
“She was bred in a racing stable and trained for 18 months but didn’t race as she was too small. She’s so level but she picks up when she’s got a job to do and loads herself on the trailer. However, my Mum said she didn’t want a Thoroughbred and I replied, ‘She looks nice.’ She was totally not what Mum expected but she was exactly what was said in the advert and perfect for me,” added Milly, who was full of praise for the show – “I’ve really enjoyed it, everyone has been so helpful.”
Cat Mayes was the fastest four-faulter to take second on Greenvale Diego and Louise Muir finished third riding Autumn Olympic.
Mya Talbot-Chapman drove seven and a half hours from Cornwall for this show, but it turned out worthwhile when Nipura XX convincingly claimed the KBIS British Equestrian Insurance National Club Senior 1m Final with the sole clear round.
“She’s level in the arena and concentrates on the fences but in the jump-off, it’s ‘Let’s go Mum!’, said St Austell College pupil Mya, 17, who acquired this 9-year-old mare in tragic circumstances.
“I lost my other horse, Chalis, while giving birth to her foal Tango, who is now a 2-year-old, and I wanted another to compete. A friend suggested Nipura and I’d seen her competing; when I got on, we just had that connection.”
Living in Cornwall can have its challenges despite being such a beautiful county.
“We struggle with facilities down there but it is so nice to come away to a show and everyone is so friendly,” added Mya.
Cat Mayes and Greenvale Diego claimed second place with the fastest four faults with Kizzy O’Keefe in third riding Meadmoor Voodoo Lilly.
Serena Rees lifted the KBIS British Equestrian Insurance National Club Senior 60cm Final for the fourth consecutive year, this time riding Hunting Buttons.
“It was unexpected, there were some fast riders to beat,” said West Oxford Riding Club member Serena, who won this class three times with Lordsoak Caramel Surprise, who retired here last year.
Twelve riders reached the jump-off with Serena and Buttons finding all the shortcuts to win by 0.68 seconds.
“The win is so unexpected, Anne Coombs was the one to beat but we got all the turns,” said Serena, who admits to being, “Almost 64!”
The 14-year-old Buttons was purchased seven years ago.
“No-one wanted him, I bought him out of the field for £800 and I’ve nurtured him. Now he’s a cracking pony and lives out in the field with a herd as I don’t have stables.
Anne Coombs finished second on Carbonado Joe and Kay Francis guided Ava May into third.
Serena almost made it a double but late drawn Amy Tilbury Stamate, who made the four-hour journey from North Devon worthwhile, hit top gear on Basement Jack to claim the KBIS British Equestrian Insurance National Club Senior 70cm Final.
“Winning something like this is a complete shock! I can’t stop crying, I’m so happy! I am so lucky to have him,” said Amy, 19, who claimed victory with an incredible four seconds in hand in the 13-horse decider on the Irish-bred 22-year-old found by chance four years ago on Preloved.
“There was a lot of interest in him and we almost missed him! He had a lot of interest and when his previous owner rang us, my Dad’s phone had bad signal but we pulled over and rang her back and got him.
“He’s very nervous and I think he was mistreated in a previous life, getting to this stage of him trusting me and having that bond is beyond dreams. We’ll keep doing what we’re doing until he tells me enough is enough – and then he’ll retire with me in his home for life.”
Serena and Hunting Buttons finished second with Angela Easley and Carrie On Diamonds taking third.
Arthur Butler hit a purple patch to claim victory in both the KBIS British Equestrian Insurance Junior 80cm and 90cm Club Finals with Cityview Moving On.
“They’re my biggest wins; I hadn’t won a rug before, now I’ve won two,” he said.
The pair won the 90cm with the sole clear in the first round but the 80cm was more of a challenge.
Thirteen competitors contended the jump-off with Arthur finding the shortest route to land the win by 2.11 seconds. Rubi Harper guided Silverlea Ronette into second with third awarded to Florence Mannion and Mockbeggar Douglas.
The Connemara 9-year-old was bought from Wales as a Covid project during lockdown.
“He needed lots of time as he was scared and it took four people to hold him as someone got on and when he jumped a fence he raced away from it,” said Arthur, 14, who made use of the time building a bond. “He couldn’t really canter at first but he steadily improved with help from my trainer Aaron Knobbs.
Gloucestershire-based Arthur only started jumping at Club level this year – “My first love is hunting,” said Arthur, who also finished second as the fastest four-faulter on Pumpkin Pie II with Charlie Hylden-Thorne and Major Sensation II in third.
Charlie provided the sole clear in the KBIS British Equestrian National Club Junior 1m Final to take the championship title with Major Sensation II. Myla Coppins and Whitfield Pot Black finished second on four faults.
“It’s my biggest win and the first time I’ve ever won a rug,” said Bedfordshire-based Charlie, 11, who acquired the 11-year-old Major 12 months ago through his Mum’s connections.
“We were told he was going on an advert so we went to look at him and the first time I rode him, I jumped the highest course I’ve ever done at 1m. The second time I tried him, I knew he was for me,” said Charlie. “He’s so easy, other ponies around him could be excited but he’ll just stand there asleep and he’s so funny in the stable, he throws his food across the stable and into his bed and save it for later midnight snacks
Kara Lean, 13, went all out to win the KBIS British Equestrian Insurance National Club Junior 70cm Final on Whiteleaze Armani.
The 31 starters were reduced to 18 for a hot jump-off with Kara, 13, flying into the top spot by 2.07 seconds to score her biggest win to collect her first winning rug.
The 20-year-old Armani, who is also a Pony Club Games pony, joined Bridgend, South Wales-based Kara four years ago.
“He was up for loan but we managed to buy him, he’s quite cheeky, a treats lover and likes to be in everyone’s face. He’s very good against the clock and I love the atmosphere here, but it was really nerve-wracking in the jump-off,” said Kara, who has ambitions to go eventing and will spend next weekend at the Pony Club Games Championships.
Daisy Fisken steered Baby Buttons into second place and Florence Mannion claimed third on Mockbeggar Douglas.
Amelie Bradshaw, 12, claimed a victory double with Ocknell Wooden It Be Nice, winning the KBIS British Equestrian Insurance National Club Junior 60cm Final and the Just 4 Schools 60cm individual.
Twenty-one of the 29 starters in the Club 60cm returned for the jump-off but Amelie had the win sewn up from the front with 0.23 seconds to spare. Daisy Fisken finished second on Baby Buttons and Bonnie Evans secured third with Ruby Tuesday XIV.
“There was pressure going first, you don’t know what you have to beat, so I went as fast and tight as I could. It was nerve-wracking waiting for everyone to jump, they were getting closer and closer to my time,” said Amelie, who inherited 15-year-old ‘Woody’ from brother Zach, winner of this class two years ago.
The Wigan, Lancashire-based pair went on to the Summer Individual Schools 60cm Final to head the 20-strong jump-off by an impressive two seconds.
Image: Louise King & Handels Vienna Credit: Jasmine Punter Photography
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