Treble Clears Secured at SEIB Big Star Championship Qualifier at Chard
Wednesday 13 May 2026
The SEIB Big Star Championship Qualifier at Chard Equestrian attracted 24 rider combinations at the weekend, all aiming to secure their place in one of the most exciting young horse finals of the summer season.
Course designer Nigel Jess set a technical and demanding track which tested both the carefulness and rideability of the talented six-year-old horses coming forward. With qualification on the line, riders needed accuracy and consistency across the opening two rounds, and only nine combinations managed to produce those all-important double clears to progress to the jump-off.
The pressure remained high in the final round, where just five combinations succeeded in adding a coveted treble clear to their record, earning qualification for the SEIB Six-Year-Old Championship Final at the Young Horse Show taking place at Hickstead this August.
Nicole Pavitt & Attendro NB
Megan James & Kokomo DCS
John-Paul Sheffield & Easy Touch III
Angela Thompson & Pepzzo AJ
Lottie Tutt & Billy Fever
Riders contesting the SEIB Six-Year-Old Championship will also compete for the prestigious Big Star Trophy, awarded in honour of Nick Skelton’s legendary 2016 Olympic gold medal-winning partner Big Star.
Adding further excitement to the series, any horse jumping a treble clear in one of the four Big Star qualifiers held between May and July will automatically become eligible for the £1,000 Big Star Bonus, which will be awarded at the Final.
With another successful qualifier completed, anticipation is already building ahead of the championship finale at Hickstead, where Britain’s most promising young horses will go head-to-head for top honours.
NB: Results pending official grading
Image: ESP Photographic
