Charles Britton Equestrian Construction Winter JA Classic
Sunday 18 April 2021
.JPG "Charles Britton Equestrian Construction Winter JA Classic")
Henry Squibb from Brentwood, Essex secured the Charles Britton Equestrian Construction Winter JA Classic with nerve, skill, a cool-head combined with scope and power on Emily Fenn’s handsome stallion Kilcurry Dawn to conclude a three-day spectacular at South View Equestrian Centre at Wettenhall in Cheshire.
“If he’s confident, he’ll jump the moon and this arena is his happy place, we trained here a lot a couple of years ago,” said Henry.
Twenty-five competitors faced course-designer Gillian Milner’s 13-fence, thought-provoking track which tested scope, carefulness and rideability, and just four returned after producing first round clears – an on-form Henry claiming two of them.
Rachel Proudley was first off over the raised track and, dismissing her fall from her late-drawn ride The Bobster in round one, she put all her efforts into jumping another clear on Charlotte Shore’s Robin Hood Lad and setting a great standard. “My shoulder hurt a bit but I put it to the back of my mind and concentrated on the jump-off. The course was massive, you had to be confident but he [Robin] has become more consistent the bigger the fences,” said Rachel.
Henry was next in and, following trainer John Renwick’s top-notch advice to the letter, cut every conceivable corner and trusted the Westside Mirah sired 13-year-old ‘Chocco’ to the final tall vertical to wipe an incredible six sec from the time. “He won here yesterday and that set him up for today. I think my Granddad (the late Les Squibb and long-time sponsor of the Squibb Demolition pony Foxhunter championship at HOYS) was looking down on us today – he would have been so proud.” said 14-year-old Henry.
Tabitha Kyle tapped out the ominous skinny stile with Su and Gordon Hall’s Atomic Du Bary to finish third while Henry took it easy second time out with the inexperienced Clyde Barrows – winner of the pony newcomers championship last year at the alternative HOYS at Aintree – and they finished on eight faults for fourth place. “It was Clyde’s first time at this level. My Granddad bought him for me before he died so he is very special. He’d have actually said, ‘Don’t put my pony in that class, its too soon,’ jokingly, but he’d have been proud,” added Henry.
Henry and his father Leslie were full of praise for the efforts made to make this show special. “It’s been a great show, we’ve all felt a little bit of normality the last three days. All the Covid regulations have been adhered to but Charles [Britton] and his team have made it happen and happy,” said Leslie.
RESULTS
1st Henry Squibb & Kilcurry Dawn – 0/0 – 36.90 seconds
2nd Rachel Proudley & Robin Hood Lad – 0/0 – 42.89 seconds
3rd Tabitha Kyle & Atomic Du Bary – 0/4 – 39.47 seconds
4th Henry Squibb & Clyde Barrows – 0/8 – 44.94 seconds
5th Amy Morris & Tobar King – 4/- – 82.44 seconds
6th Kieran Taylor & Magic Cornflakes – 4/- – 83.88 seconds
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