British Showjumping Winter Pony Championships 2020
Wednesday 26 August 2020
Hannah Barker provided two flawless rounds despite the rain to land the Charles Britton Equestrian Construction Winter JA Classic Championship at Scope Festival on her grandmother Lynn Barker’s Ammanvalley Santino.
Four riders came forward to the jump-off but Yorkshire based Hannah drew the short straw as first to go.
“I was second in a few classes at the end of last year, including Olympia, and I was determined to have a go and go as fast as I could and leave the fences up without being silly and it put the pressure on the rest,” said Hannah, who eventually proved the only double clear. “The course suited us. It wasn’t the biggest due to the weather conditions but all the oxers were square with technical distances that demanded respect.”
Jennifer Billington – second in the Bolesworth 148cm grand prix – again had to settle for second on four faults and two seconds in arrears with Faith X.
Santino has been in the Barker family for 10 years and was a winner of this championship in 2014 with Hannah’s cousin Alex. Hannah has ridden the Welsh-bred 16-year-old for the past four years and recently returned from the Youth Festival in The Netherlands where they were a member of the winning British team.
“He’s a character but we have a great partnership, we know what each other is thinking. I’m so grateful my grandmother kept him for me, he’s a big part of the family,” said Hannah.
Stranraer, Scotland based Charlotte Gaw scored her biggest win with the Springboard 138cm Championship on Gael Gaw's Coltstown Dun Cruiser in a tense, two-way decider at their third show back since lockdown.
“I was first to go and tried to set a target but it was a long run to the last vertical and we hit it,” said Charlotte, 13, who had a nail-biting wait as Georgia Cooper-Hall on Mentos Lara aimed for a clear.
But the final fence again hit the floor and Charlotte, who has been back at school for two weeks –“They’re very accommodating and let me travel to South View,” – was declared the winner.
The 15-year-old Dun Cruiser – aka Roger – was purchased in Northern Ireland two years ago.
“He gives me such an exciting feeling in the ring. He’s very affectionate, loves kisses and likes a power nap before he goes in the ring but as soon as he hears the bell, he’s off,” said Charlotte, who trains with James Smith. “He tells me to let him run, he likes to go forward, flowing and in a rhythm.”
Jack Martin of Preston, Lancashire, landed the Springboard 128cm title with the sole double clear on Buachaill Baire owned by Sophie Bowen Howard in a four-pony decider, using his penultimate draw to win.
“He missed one turn but it was the clear that was needed. It’s a big step up from 10-year-old and under classes but lockdown was good for us, Jack got lots of practise at home jumping bigger fences without the pressure of being at a show. It has been a learning curve but they’ve hit it off and are consistent now,” said Jack’s father Neil.
Ellesmere, Shropshire based Kieran Taylor lifted the Winter 1.10m Pony Championship with Hazelcroft Little Gem owned by Heidi Taylor.
Eight contended the jump-off with Kieran and Little Gem, an eight-year-old mare he has produced from British Novice level for the past 18 months, claiming victory by 0.71 seconds.
“I was originally going for a clear but she was jumping well in the warm-up and as my brother (Seamus on Just Sonic) was drawn before me and jumped clear, I decided she was ready to go [against the clock]. She likes to take out strides and do the turns; the more pressure, the better and when I get the buzz she gets the vibe off me,” said Kieran, 14.
Amy Tucker headed a seven-strong jump-off to score her first Scope Festival Championship win in the Winter 1m Pony Championship on Derien Tucker's Sam 003.
The pair were on form after winning an earlier pony Foxhunter and when they entered the ring in fifth draw, a clear was yet to come.
“I still had strong riders behind me and he has a big stride and covers the ground. Luck was with us and it paid off,” said South Wales based Amy, 15, who claimed the win with 3.77 seconds to spare.
The Irish-bred 18-year-old Sam joined Amy two years ago.
“He’s quite a hot pony but always a gentleman,” said Amy, who just missed out on qualifying for the HOYS pony newcomers in 2019 and is looking forward to contending pony Foxhunter second rounds in 2021, her final pony year.
Fergal Holohan provided the only other double clear to take second aboard Prime Diva.
Nya Harriman from Cleveland was crowned champion in the British Showjumping 128/138cm Handicap Special Final riding April Star V owned by Ian Harriman.
It was a dream come true for Nya, 10, winning her first much-coveted rug and sash.
“Nya had been second in three other championships at this show, we thought it was going to be ‘seconds’ shows and she was all the more determined in this class,” said Nya’s father Ian.
Four competitors provided first round clears to access the jump-off with Nya and April Star, a 15-year-old mare bought last September from Jonathan Reape in Ireland through recommendations from friends Peter Allen and Joanne Tanfield. The pair commanded victory by 2.06 seconds.
“April is a strong, big-striding, big track pony and Nya is so small it has taken her time to get together, she is obsessive about getting things absolutely right. Now they have a bond and have just started to go against the clock,” added Ian.
Four competitors provided first round clears to access the jump-off with Nya and April Star, a 15-year-old chestnut mare she has competed for 11 months. The pair commanded victory by 2.06 seconds.
Nya almost made it a double victory in the British Showjumping 11-year-old and Under Final but had to concede to second place as Nellie Lock from Brentwood, Essex galloped Ellies Miss Chief owned by George Lock into the top spot.
Fifteen of the 18 starters made it through to round two to make for a hot, competitive jump-off but that didn’t faze a determined Nellie despite getting the opening draw and she set a blazing trail.
“I was worried about first draw at first but I had to go for it and he takes it all in his stride, he knows his job as soon as the bell goes,” said Nellie, 10, who flew into victory, winning by 0.77 seconds. “I so wanted a sash and a rug and I have to thank my aunt and trainer Sandra Dean for all she does for me – this win is down to her.”
Horncastle, Lincolnshire based George Sanderson – whose hero is John Whitaker – impressed judges Liz Jackson and Eve Staveley to win the 10-year-old and under Style and Performance title.
“George displayed an excellent feel for a stride and presented his pony accurately and in a good rhythm to each fence. It was a pleasure to judge such exciting young talent coming through,” said Eve.
The 17-year-old skewbald 128cm Elith owned by Joanne Sanderson – better known as ‘Thug’ and now a gelding – originated in Belgium and was actually on his way to the slaughterhouse with his mother and sister but all three were rescued with Thug costing just one euro.
After homes in France and The Netherlands, Thug was bound for England and a home with Holly Truelove. He joined the Sandersons five years ago with Annabell taking the ride before handing over the reins to George, 10, a year ago. The Sandersons were contacted by his former rider in Belgium traced him and earlier this year, Alexia paid a visit.
“There were lots of tears as Thug recognised her straight away, Alexia used to kiss his nose and he ran up to her wanting a kiss,” said George’s mother Jo.
“Thug still likes his own way so it was a surprise when we qualified for the Style and Performance, but George just gelled with him – they go out into the ring and just have a nice time even though he says he’s got butterflies in his tummy.”
Images courtesy of Landscapes and Horses Photography
CHARLES BRITTON EQUESTRIAN CONSTRUCTION WINTER JA CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP
1st Hannah Barker & Ammanvalley Santino – 0/0 – 32.61 seconds
2nd Jennifer Billington & Faith X – 0/4 – 34.85 second
3rd Henry Squibb & Kilcurry Dawn – 0/4 – 35.24 seconds
4th Tabitha Kyle & Nightgirl Van Het Sonnishof Z – 0/8 – 33.32 seconds
WINTER 1.10m PONY CHAMPIONSHIP
1st Kieran Taylor & Hazelcroft Little Gem – 0/0 – 40.97 seconds
2nd Sophie Wicks & Zodianne Van De Doevenbree – 0/0 – 41.68 seconds
3rd Seamus Taylor & Just Sonic – 0/0 – 49.23 seconds
4th Connie Mensley & Banner Girl – 0/4 – 37.12 seconds
WINTER 1m PONY CHAMPIONSHIP
1st Amy Tucker & Sam 003 – 0/0 – 41.83 seconds
2nd Fergal Holohan & Prime Diva – 0/0 – 45.60 seconds
3rd Connie Mensley & Wilma Star – 0/4 – 39.58 seconds
4th Gabriel James Ball & Rescue – 0/4 – 41.90 seconds
BRITISH SHOWJUMPING 128/138cm HANDICAP SPECIAL
1st Nya Lily Harriman & April Star V – 0/0 – 30.71 seconds
2nd Evelyn Bond Smith & Rockyview Hanah – 0/0 – 32.77 seconds
3rd Daisy Day & J’s Phoenix – 0/4 – 35.18 seconds
4th Gabriel Mattie & Myerscough Maple – 0/8 – 35.00
11-YEAR-OLD & UNDER FINAL
1st Nellie Lock & Ellies Miss Chief – 0/0 – 28.54 seconds
2nd Nya Lily Harriman & April Star V – 0/0 – 29.31 seconds
3rd Michael McColm & Tynebank Royal Jubilee – 0/0 – 30.50 seconds
4th Nya Lily Harriman & Laithehill Paisley – 0/0 – 31.26 seconds
SPRINGBOARD 128cm FINAL
1st Jack Martin & Buachaill Baire – 0/0 – 33.54 seconds
2nd Nya Lily Harriman & Laithehill Paisley – 0/4 – 29.40 seconds
3rd Megan Celyn Jones & Devils Chance – 0/4 – 33.49 seconds
4th Nellie Lock & Ashsars Miami Bound – 0/8 – 30.06 seconds
SPRINGBOARD 138cm FINAL
1st Charlotte Gaw & Coltstown Dun Cruiser – 0/4 – 33.91 seconds
2nd Georgia Cooper-Hall & Mentos Lara – 0/4 – 38.53 seconds
3rd Nellie Lock & Ellies Miss Chief – 4 – 75.96 seconds
4th Ella Dyne & Brecklyns Not A Problem – 4 – 84.44 seconds
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