KBIS Insurance National Club Championships
Tuesday 13 August 2024
The sun shone 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.
Chloe Nicholas kickstarted the KBIS National Club Finals with a win in the 60cm Junior Final aboard High Topps Satellite, also winners of the 70cm Junior Southwest League.
Twenty-one of the 34 starters advanced to the jump-off, but it was Cornwall based Chloe who commanded the win: “I just went for it because he turns so well. Sometimes he’s not forward so I pushed him on and took some tight turns and he did well. We’ve missed out twice in other years and he was hard to start with and so it is nice to get a win.”
Charlotte Goaman rode Pride of Rineen into second, with Lucy Walker and Red Butterfly picking up third place.
The Junior 70cm title went the way of South Wales’ Grace Davies and her ride Gingerbread Jack, winners of the 70cm Junior League in Wales. Fourteen of the 47 starters advanced the jump-off and as the penultimate rider, Grace left nothing to chance, steering the 17-year-old gelding to victory.
After her win, an emotional Grace commented: “I thought I would go in there and try it because I know he’s really good at turns so I may as well go in and do it. I’ve had him for about five years, and he didn’t come from the best background, but he’s come good now and is jumping really well. I’m really proud of him.”
Rylee Dorward took second with Pendann Dime and it was Hollie Milne and Tantassaig Girl who took third.
It was Emily McDougall and Titanic VI who would take home the 80cm Junior Title, after the pair fought off their eight jump-off rivals by 1 second.
“It was amazing, he was so good,” said Emily, who is from Northumberland. “I’ve only had him for like a year and he came here last year, and we lost all our confidence but now he has come back and has been amazing.”
Commenting on how she secured her win, Emily added: “I never thought I would win but he’s just amazing I love him so much. The jump off was good, it was quick, and he never normally feels that quick because he’s got such a big jump, it feels so slow. But when he goes fast it makes up for it and he’s good at his turns.”
Oliver Betteridge secured second aboard Manor Pearl and Zachary Campbell slotted into third with Pumpkin Pie II.
Lily Dolewska had a birthday to remember when she picked up the Junior 90cm Final title with with Curraghgraigue Cobra Flight.
“It was really good, I have ridden more difficult tracks but there were a lot of good riders. I’ve only had her since May this year, we’ve had our ups and downs like every horse, but I’m pleased with her. She has only just started British Showjumping and she’s quite a green horse, but she trusted me in there and went with me so I’m thankful for her, she’s given me an amazing birthday present.”
Grace Davies placed again, this time riding Chasing Ace and Elliot Keegen slotted into third with Martel Parry.
William Eustace sped to victory in the Junior 1m Final with his ride Lackahmore Avatar. Two of the four starters jumped clear and so William and Lily Dolewska, winner of the 90cm Final, would go head-to-head in the jump-off. William just edged ahead into top spot with the only double clear of the class.
After his win, William commented: “That was so amazing. The jump-off was really adrenalin filled. He is very strong but very lovable.”
Lily Dolewska and Curraghgraigue Cobra Flight finished off their day with a high in second place and Thalia Sampson took third with Gorden Baron.
Fiona Stephenson kicked off the KBIS Insurance National Club Senior Championships in the Senior 60cm Final. Sixteen of the 22 starters advanced to the jump-off and Fiona, in her first Club Final left it all out there as the penultimate rider to go and piloted Tyngwndwn Harriet to top spot.
“I started riding ‘Hattie’ because Lizzie, my daughter, moved up to horses and she rode her last year. I decided to take off my retirement coat and now I’ve got my first championship win, I can’t believe it, I’m so pleased,” exclaimed a delighted Fiona.
“I gave everything in both, I came 2nd in the 70cm as well and I couldn’t have done any more, if I’d have come first or last. I went in and thought you know what, I’m just going to properly go for it, I’m so pleased.
“It makes it even more special that she was Lizzie’s first pony. We’ll never sell her; she’ll be with us forever. She taught Lizzie to jump and winning the 60 and 70 club last year and then I won the 60 and 70 club this year, she’s fab.”
Anne Belbin rode Dezina Queen Bee into second, with Serena Rees, a previous winner of this class for the past four years, taking third spot with Hunting Buttons.
Fiona was so close to doing the double, but last to go in the jump-off, Andrea Richardson pipped her to the post and secured a well-deserved victory with her ride Kilbrien Dun, known as Brian at home, after Monty Python’s ‘Life of Brian’.
In her first championship appearance, Andrea was over the moon with the result: “He was absolutely on fire, he knew exactly what I wanted and anticipated the turns, just went for it. Even the last one, because I’ve never turned that tight before, he just went ‘yeah, okay, no bother’ and he not once did he falter. I’m just thrilled with him, he’s on top form.
“I’ve had him since he was three, he came from Ireland, completely untouched, and it took me four days to get him in the stable and about a week to brush him, with a stick and a glove. He’s quite a spooky horse, very sensitive, doesn’t like noise and he has to be really sympathetically ridden otherwise he loses his bananas, and when he’s had enough, he tells you. But when he pulls it out the bag, he really pulls it out the bag.”
Andrea has since become a full affiliated British Showjumping member but credits the Club League for her improvement and confidence: “I’ve just done my first amateur class, I didn’t do very well but that is this year’s challenge. This is the whole point of the British Showjumping Club - I never considered affiliating before, I didn’t think I was good enough and I had to be forced to do 70cm at the start of the year. Now I am flying but I’ve absolutely loved doing Club this year.”
Fiona Stephenson took second place with Tyngwndwn Harriet and Anne Belbin placed again with Dezina Queen Bee, this time taking third place.
In the Senior 80cm Final, Abi Neve and Bella XX whizzed around the jump-off to outpace her rivals by almost two seconds. Eleven of the original 37 starters came forward to the jump-off but Abi guided the 17-year-old mare seamlessly around the course and into top spot.
“It was really great,” remarked Abi. “I was a bit scared going in, but it was so much fun. I didn’t expect to have a clear to be honest.
“She can be difficult to catch at times but once you catch her, she’s perfect. It was very exciting and a really nice jump off course, perfect for turning which is her speciality.”
Louise King, winner of this class last year with Handels Vienna, had to settle for second place as Trudi Fearnley rode Feagh Fare Do into third.
Milly Morrison once again made the journey from Fife worthwhile as she secured the 90cm Senior title for the second year in a row with Davids Delilah Dances. Five of the original 22 competitors accessed the jump-off but it was Milly and the 14-year-old mare who took the title.
“It was awesome; I rode like an absolute lemon, but she saved me every time because she’s such a cool pony. The jump off was really fun as there were quite a few who had a pole down so my theory was that if I just stayed a bit slower it might be okay. So, it’s quite nice to do some angles instead of going fast. It is amazing to be back-to-back champions.”
Darcey Carroll jumped Alfie Z II into second place whilst Zoe Stanbury piloted J R Spot On into third place.
In the last class of the day, Rachel Rodden was victorious in the Senior 1m Final with Brendonhill Query as the only combination to jump clear in the first round.
“The course was really well built, I’m just surprised I remembered it at my age,” commented Rachel. “She went really well and luckily, we didn’t need to do jump off especially as it was so hot today.
“She was bought for my daughter to event, but I’ve taken on the reins having not competed much recently. She’s been a rock in my life, we’ve been through a lot together, so it’s amazing really. This is my first sash ever so were very excited, I might sleep in it tonight.”
Second place was secured by Zoe Stanbury and J R Spot On who jumped the fastest four fault round and Darcey Carroll took third with Alfie Z II.
Image: Jasmine Punter Photographer
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