Chantelle Duggan returns to HOYS for another crack at the Events Through A Lens Talent Seeker Incorporating the 7-year-old Championship
Tuesday 09 May 2023
The solo six-hour drive from Pontefract to Somerset was made worthwhile as Chantelle Duggan claimed a convincing victory in the Events Through A Lens Talent Seeker at Chard Equestrian with her ‘Horse of a Lifetime’ Linton De La Chapelle.
A field of 63 faced course-designer Krissy Spiller’s 12-fence, 15-effort track starting at 1.30m and 19 found the key to gain access to the jump-off. With three direct qualifying places plus a seven-year-old finalist place on offer, it was all to play for.
Chantelle executed two ultra-tight, gasp-inducing turns into the vertical at two and following double. And ‘Pepe’ was forgiven his customary skip and buck after the first fence in the jump-off when Chantelle changed her mind perilously close to a midway vertical, going for an extra stride which placed the gelding deep into the bottom of the fence. He didn’t turn a hair, flicked his heels and carried on to the next tight turn and, with a flyer to the last, the pair secured the win with 1.44 seconds to spare.
“I’ve never known a horse that can bunny-hop like him at 1.40m and I went the other way at the last and kicked on the longest stride,” said Chantelle, who shares a unique, trusting bond with Pepe and opted to go for speed.
“There was one inside turn option, but it was so tight and taking the horse out of his rhythm I decided to go round and keep travelling as Pepe is quick across the ground anyway – I could have tried the turn and be sent crashing into the Champagne bottle wings!”
It will be the third time this consistent partnership will contend the Events Through A Lens Talent Seeker Final. Chantelle and the L’Arc De Triomphe/Clinton 10-year-old, owned by Margaret Duggan, won the title in 2020 at the HOYS alternative British Showjumping Championships, Aintree, and jumped in the Talent Seeker Final at HOYS, NEC, Birmingham, a year later in 2021.
“Initially, I wasn’t going to chase the Talent Seeker qualifiers this time as Pepe only has about 100 points left in grade B but as I am sponsored by Events Through A Lens and they were so excited we were eligible I had a rethink,” said Chantelle, on the reason she made the long journey to Chard.
“I don’t overjump Pepe anyway but after we qualified for the Hickstead B and C final in February, I deliberately saved him and he’s only jumped at two shows since, although I thought I’d overdone the break. At a local show the week before Chard, he was so fresh and bothered by the flies in the warm-up, he bucked me clean off in the ring after the first fence! He’s never done that before, but he was still fresh at Chard, spinning and whipping around in the collecting ring on day one. He likes to keep me on my toes.”
Chantelle will keep Pepe in the same routine.
“He leads a normal life for a horse and goes in the field every day. I ride him four times a week to keep him occupied as he does get bored easily and if he doesn’t get to a show, he starts jumping out of the field,” she said.
Chantelle, a Claims Inspector for NFU Mutual, bought Pepe as a just-broken 4-year-old from the breeder, her father’s long-time friend and former British team rider Scott Smith. The pair have a good jumping record but three years ago, Chantelle broke her neck from a fall off a young horse and underwent an operation.
“I see a physio every month and my neck doesn’t absorb shocks like it used to, it can jar like whiplash if I come off,” Chantelle explained. “I’ll probably get arthritis when I’m older but for now, I’m living for today.”
Ryan O’Sullivan made the HOYS qualification dreams come true with second place on Ross Irving’s 8-year-old Kilroy V. Emily Sage netted third place with the Harley VDL/Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve 10-year-old I Am A Harley and the 7-year-old place finalist was taken by sixth-placed Serena Kullich on Benfields Victory (Billy Congo/Pauldarys Romeo).
Chard Equestrian – Friday, 5 May 2023
Events Through A Lens Talent Seeker incorporating the 7-year-old Championship qualifier
1st Chantelle Duggan & Linton De La Chapelle – 0/0 - 39.54 seconds
2nd Ryan O’Sullivan & Kilroy V – 0/0 - 40.98 seconds
3rd Emily Sage & I Am A Harley – 0/0 - 41.38 seconds
Image: ESP Photographic
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