Ashford Farm Bolesworth International Sunday Round Up
Sunday 21 June 2015
Yazmin Pinchen hailed "the biggest win of my career" after a superlative display saw her crowned Redrow Grand Prix champion at the Ashford Farm CSI**** Bolesworth International.
The 22-year-old Sussex rider delivered three clear rounds aboard the 12-year-old chestnut gelding Van De Vivaldi, which is owned by her mother Nancy, to power home and claim a £19,800 top prize.
Despite being the youngest rider among a 49-strong field, Pinchen displayed impressive composure as last to go in a four horse jump-off alongside Trevor Breen, John Whitaker and Keith Shore.
With the other riders having collected jump-off faults, Pinchen knew a clear round would be enough to claim one of British showjumping's most prestigious prizes, and she delivered in style.
And her career looks set to go from strength, with selection now confirmed in the Great Britain team that will contest next month's Nations Cup event in Falsterbo, Sweden.
Irish star Breen finished second on Oldtown KC, collecting £12,000, with Whitaker and Lord of Arabia third. Shore and Mystic Hurricane finished fourth.
"John Renwick has been helping me, and he just said to stick to my plan and focus on going clear," said Pinchen. "I have got a bit of an issue with my adrenalin taking over sometimes!
"Going last in the jump-off was the best thing ever. There was a lot more pressure, but I knew I just had to go clear.
"Luckily for me, I have had experience of jumping a few Global Champions Tour events, and it has given me more confidence. I know my horses can do it, it's just all down to me being positive.
"This is the biggest win of my career. The horse is such a sweetheart, really. I have had him for a long time, and I have got a really good relationship with him."
Whitaker, 37 years Pinchen's senior, praised the skills of course builders Bob Ellis and Kelvin Bywater, whose track tested riders all the way through.
"The course caused its share of problems all the way around, which is good, and the sign of good course-builders. It was a tough test," he said.
There was also an impressive display by Britain's world number one Scott Brash, who produced some majestic riding with Hello Forever to finish fifth, guiding the horse through two rounds of jumping with brilliant precision and accuracy.
Earlier in the day, Scotland's James Smith made it a case of third time lucky in this year's Bolesworth International as he captured the opening four-star class.
Smith had already claimed two second-placed finishes at Bolesworth on the 14-year-old grey mare Cumina, but he went one better in the 1.35m final, sponsored by Equi-Trek, to edge a thrilling jump-off.
And Smith did it from first to go in the race against clock, posting a time of 36.50 seconds to collect a £2,970 top prize and edge in-form Brazilian Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and Cavalia into second spot, while Laura Renwick and Ulievka De Breve finished third.
"We've had Cumina for eight or nine years now, and she has always been a real winner. She always tries and tries," Smith said.
"She is a very quick mare and she turns very well. She jumped superbly. Because she is small, she is always going for the distances, and she doesn't waste a lot of time."
The closing 1.40m accumulator four-star class, sponsored by J Hales and Shaw Farm Stud, went to America's Laura Kraut on Thalis de la Roque by just two hundredths of a second from Smith and Theoreme du Desir, with Ellen Whitaker finishing third aboard Le Beau.
Elsewhere, Nina Emery completed the first international show of her career in style by securing the opening grand prix title on the final day at Bolesworth.
Emery, from Cannock in Staffordshire, guided 12-year-old bay mare Piana to victory in the amateur 1.20metre grand prix, sponsored by Gain Horse Feeds.
It proved a dominant display, with the combination finishing 1.5 seconds clear of runner-up Joanne Whitaker and Contendro Star, while third place went to Bryony Holloway and Why Not.
Reflecting on a fine win in Bolesworth's International Arena, Emery said: "I have had the horse for six years. I bought her from France, and I have had since she was at British Novice level, so I have brought her all the way through myself.
"She has been very consistent for me, and it is fantastic to win at what is the first international show I have ever been to. We wanted to have a nice week, and it has been great."
Elsewhere in Sunday's two-star classes, there was an impressive double for Geoff Luckett, who won the 1.40m accumulator class, sponsored by Horse & Hound, with Cash Point, then captured the 1.35m two-phase final, sponsored by Horse and Country TV, on Constant II.
Claire Shepherd took the win in the six-year-old final, sponsored by Horsepower Motor Centre, on Jordanta, and the same sponsors saw the seven-year-old section go to Jude Burgess and Comeback De Fremis, with Lara Whiteway and Bellagio II landing the 1.25m speed class, sponsored by Gatehouse.
Image: Credit Trevor Meeks
