Abigail Leadbetter Dominates Nupafeed Supplements Senior Discovery Second Round at Harrogate Riding Centre
Thursday 07 May 2026
The Nupafeed Supplements Senior Discovery Championship Second Round at Harrogate Riding Centre delivered an exciting and competitive day of showjumping at the weekend, as riders battled it out for a coveted place at the final during the British Showjumping National Championships in August.
A total of 20 rider combinations came forward to take on Mark McGowan’s well-built and technical course, which asked a series of questions from the outset. Riders needed accuracy and consistency across both rounds, with only 11 combinations producing double clears to secure their place in a competitive jump-off.
It was Abigail Leadbetter who proved to be the standout performer of the day, delivering a superb double success. Riding her own PJS Cruise, she produced a polished and confident round to take the win in a quick time of 33.60 seconds.
Not stopping there, Abigail also secured second place aboard Rarusa H, once again delivering a stylish clear round in 36.25 seconds to complete an impressive one-two finish.
Third place went to Rachel Valks riding Care for Pleasure HD, who also jumped a fluent clear in the jump-off, finishing in 37.36 seconds to round off a closely contested podium.
With all three top combinations producing faultless rounds, the class was decided by speed and precision, highlighting the fine margins at this level of competition.
“PJ is a 10 year old and we have had him nearly a year now, he was very low mileage, so wanted to get his double clears. He got his Discovery, Newcomer and Foxhunter double clears for this season and has stepped up 1.30m now, but I still really wanted to aim for this as it’s always a good final and would be within his comfort zone. It’s the first second round I have jumped with him, and he went and did it! He’s a real character and escape artist in the stable, we have three bolts on the stable door to keep him in. He’s very cheeky and his own person; it’s just a case of managing him on a daily basis. They’ve all got to have a quirk haven’t they!
“Harrogate is one of our local venues, about an hour and a half away. Mark McGowan was course building and I really enjoy jumping his courses, I’ve jumped his courses at the Amateur and Veterans Championships where PJ was second in the 105m Amateur final. The course was nice, it followed with the combination at the end which suited me, PJ has such a massive stride I really had to slow him down to that. There was a good number of clears, but I was so busy with two in it I didn’t really get chance to look at the course and see how it was jumping. The final round was more of an ask for my five year old who was second than it was for PJ. I was first to go on PJ, he is better if you just let him have a go, so I just kept going with him to get a good time. After I jumped PJ I realised the time was tight when I saw someone pick up time faults, so I was glad I had put down a time with him.
“PJ will carry on jumping the Newcomer second rounds as I’d like to aim for that final, and I will also aim him at the Grade C and Talentseekers qualifiers. PJ loves to jump on grass, so I am hoping to get to a few of the Grade C’s on grass.” Abigail said.
These results confirm qualification for the final at the British Showjumping National Championships in August, where the combinations will now turn their attention to competing against the very best in the country.
Nupafeed Supplements Senior Discovery Second Round
Harrogate Riding Centre, Monday 4 May 2026
1st – Abigail Leadbetter & PJS Cruise – 0/0/0 33.60
2nd – Abigail Leadbetter & Rarusa H – 0/0/0 36.25
3rd – Rachel Valks & Care for Pleasure HD – 0/0/0 37.36
NB Results pending official grading
