Paul Sims raised the Lesley McNaught Memorial Trophy as winner of the Audevard Winter 1.35m Championship at the British Showjumping Spring Championships
Sunday 23 March 2025
.JPG "Paul Sims raised the Lesley McNaught Memorial Trophy as winner of the Audevard Winter 1.35m Championship at the British Showjumping Spring Championships")
Paul Sims lifted the Lesley McNaught Memorial Trophy with victory in the Audevard Winter 1.35m Championship with Jankorado GB in an exciting jump-off which was won or lost at the heartbreaker final fence at the British Showjumping Spring Championships, Arena UK, in Grantham.
“He’s just class. He’s had a small break from the ring, this was his first show back and he really feels on form,” said Paul, on the Indorado x Numero Uno 11-year-old.
Course-designer Nigel Jess was set a difficult task as he had to cater for British team riders Michael Whitaker and Guy Williams as well as those less experienced, and he conjured up a 12-fence track that tested with technicalities.
“It was beefy enough, definitely not a 1.35m track, more like a Winter Classic Grand Prix course. The first four fences got you into it, and then it became more technical; it tested but it was nice,” assessed Paul, who was the only rider to achieve two in the jump-off of 12.
A couple of turn options were on offer to the daring, but the bait of a gallop down the length of the arena to the final oxer proved too tempting for some, and they paid the price when a rail came toppling down.
Paul had an early look-see with the eight-year-old Double M Cristalla but he had to come back fighting in the latter stages as Mark Bunting on Kiaminka and JP Sheffield with Mydonatus K set sizzling quick targets. But they had to settle for second and third.
Tighter but still not taking a break in his stride, Paul guided Jankorado – winner of the Kelsall Hill Winter Classic Grand Prix in November – in an increasingly quick pace. Risking a gallop to the final ‘Audevard’ oxer paid off as the big scope grey showed a clean pair of heels.
“It was his first show back since Aintree Winter Classic about six weeks ago and we thought this would be a nice class for him to do before the end of the winter season – and he nailed it,” said Paul, who will be looking towards the international circuit this summer. “He jumped well at Sentower Park three-star last year and Chepstow International is definitely in the plans this time, and I’d love to do a Nations Cup.”
The win helped compensate Paul after an earlier mistake – “I booked stables and the Premier Inn for Saturday night as we had a horse in the grade C, or I thought we had, and it turned out it isn’t qualified, so we going to have a drink in the bar tonight to celebrate and drive home in the morning!”
Joe Trunkfield emerged triumphant on Usha Z in a battle for the Winter Seven-year-old title with Holly Smith.
“She’s a bit of a dark horse in the camp as she hasn’t done a lot, but now she’s seven she’s coming along nicely. She only started as a five-year-old because I’ve been so busy with other horses, but she’s ticked along quietly in the background and in the last three months, she’s really settled and trusted me,” said Joe.
Riders faced a 12-fence 1.25m track with 11 returning for the jump-off, David Coombs and Holly Smith touting two rides apiece. But it was Joe who found the shortest route, conquering the jump-off to relegate Holly’s early target on No Limit D by 0.74 seconds. Johnathan eased D’Avicii JL Z into third.
It was the first attempt against the clock for Usha Z (Untouchable x Casmir), a home-bred of Mark and Julie Williams and jointly owned with Jane Noton.
“She’s sensitive and hot but she goes in any ring and she took it all in her stride,” added Joe, who is quietly confident he has a good one on his hands.
Michael Potter claimed a well-earned victory in the Winter Five-year-old Championship with the talented Doris V Z (Dourkhan Hero Z x Etoulon VDL) – surprisingly by the name, he is actually a boy!
“In Dutch, it is pronounced Door-ris,” said Michael, who was approached by his breeder at the World Horse Breeding Championships in Lanaken, Belgium. “[My wife] Zoe was competing his mother Lavella, jumping cleat the first day but we then sold her. The breeder had come to watch as they follow their home-breds, and he explained he had her son at home, explaining he was turned out in the field but was coming in at Christmas.
“We travelled through dreadful weather to see him, but once we saw him loose-jump, we bought him there and then and we brought him home at the end of his three-year-old year. He has a lot of blood and he was sharp to break; he’s always alert and doesn’t relax and is so careful and a fabulous jumper, but we’ve taken our time with him and he’s only done a handful of shows,” added Michael, who temporarily took the ride here.
“Zoe was riding him, but he came back quite sharp after a break and she decided I should wear him out a bit – I think I’ll lose the ride again, now.”
JP Sheffield finished second on Kravitz Z with Sam Ward taking third aboard I’m Special Energy.
Emma Sargeant made full use of her late draw to capture the first title of the 2025 Championships with victory in the NAF Five Star Winter Silver Championship on Pat Morris’s Whisper’s Love.
Only six riders answered every question over the 12-fence 1.20m track to go forward into the jump-off, but it was hot and fast. Emma-Jo Slater had travelled up for the day in a bid to gain her third consecutive win in this class, but a surprising rail down in the first round on Freule TN, putting them out of contention.
“The course was strong and technical, but the course-builder got it right with six clears and when I realised Emma-Jo wasn’t in the jump-off, I knew I stood a chance – she’s really quick,” said Emma, who only managed to watch the competitors immediately before her. “My daughter Lizzie watched the early ones go and told me I had to go on six strides to the last.”
The Whisper In The Wind x Bon Ami nine-year-old answered every call, slicing into corners and moving forward to the final vertical to land the win by 1.27 seconds.
“The jump-off really suited us, it was fast and flowing and she is so quick and careful, feisty but focused; she’s an out-and-out winner, a real fun horse and she jumped proper today,” added Emma.
Ed Eltham eased Ibrina HBC into second place with Jo Carlin and Mighty Mouse D’Ilena filling third spot.
Image credit: Suzanne Jones
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