Looking ahead to the British Showjumping Spring Championships at Arena UK
Friday 17 March 2023
The British Showjumping Spring Championships is hotting up and promises an exciting final two days of competitive sport as riders flocked to its popular new venue at Arena UK, Grantham, to secure last-minute qualification to the Championship Finals.
Tom Dovkants, winner of the 2022 6-year-old final, has his eye on the prize in the Winter Grade C Championship. Tom claimed the top two places in the direct qualifier with the only two double clears on Sara Williams’ Stolzenberg x Espri 9-year-old Santa Barbara and Susan Wilson’s Cabachon 10-year-old Top Gun XIV (pictured).
“I love these Championships and now the location and access is even better – Arena UK always put on a great show,” said Leicestershire-based Tom, who was also sixth on Idylle. “I have three lovely horses in the final and I’d love to win again but it’s all about luck on the day.”
Louise Saywell claimed day two’s Winter 1.35m direct qualifier with Prince Sultan Saud’s 11-year-old Lando daughter Carlina D’Argouges in a hotly-contended 11-horse decider. Using her midway draw, Louise wrenched the top spot from Joe Trunkfield’s opening round with Oh La La Van Overis by 0.25 seconds.
Reigning Hickstead Derby champion Shane Breen made the journey from Sussex and is gunning for another title. Shane topped a seven-horse decider in the initial Winter 1.35m direct qualifier with Breen Equestrian’s Cato Boy, the Commissario x Lord Pezi 9-year-old commanding the win by 2.28 seconds.
Katie Speller scored handsomely for Breen Equestrian and Team Z7’s home-bred horses in day two’s 5-year-old championship direct qualifier. Katie won on BE Ratatosk (Cuick Star Kervec x Lux) with almost three seconds to spare and picked up third aboard Z7 Pink Panther (Cuick Star Kervec x Obos Quality 004).
Nottinghamshire-based farrier Jake Elliott topped the 7-year-old championship direct qualifier with his own British-bred Wellfields Memphis Belle, the Mylord Carthago x Contendro I mare edging ahead to win by just 0.15 seconds. Alicia Page had to settle for second and third aboard Fermoyle Prince I and Lady Shergar.
Daniel May got the ball rolling for Double M Stud and JME Equestrian in the first of the direct qualifiers, claiming three places in Saturday’s 5-year-old Final. Daniel headed the 41-strong class with more than four seconds to spare on the Firkov Du Rouet daughter Double M Sensation and slotted Double M Victory and Double M Extrovert into 5th and 8th places.
Sonny Broberg returned triumphant in the NAF Five Star Winter Silver League direct qualifier with Jim Wilmer’s Postscriptum J&F Champblanc. Twelve of the forty-six starters contended the jump-off with Sonny and the Ulahop Boy x Caretino eight-year-old gelding flying into the top spot by 0.47 seconds.
A late but super-quick, confident challenge from Laura Carpenter and the 12-year-old Graciana (Spartacus x Quasimodo Z) outpaced their 23 jump-off rivals by 0.59 seconds to head into the NAF Five Star Winter Bronze League Final.
Archie Kendle posted the sole double clear in the Winter Children on Horses Direct Qualifier to guarantee a place in Sunday’s final on Rhyleigh and Ivan Kendle’s Irish-bred 11-year-old Kinnegads Lighting.
Director of Arena UK Lauren Fogg is pleased with the number of entries and the smooth running of the show: “We’ve had a good start to build on and I hope we can go better and better.”
So, the stage is set. Who will be crowned champions of 2023? Good luck to all.
Image: Equipics
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