Chloe Winchester wins big at Hickstead
Thursday 20 June 2024
.jpg "Chloe Winchester wins big at Hickstead")
Suffolk-based showjumper Chloe Winchester was delighted to take victory in Thursday’s Astore & Sons 1.35m Open Championship at the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting, riding Elliott Rowe’s nine-year-old Korlenski.
The pair were able to take a narrow victory by a margin of less than a second over second-placed Hannah Tiley and Capistelle JX, the bridesmaid once again in the International Arena today, with some decisive riding in the jump-off phase of the course.
“I didn't actually watch anyone go, but I saw who was leading and second and third, and I thought, ‘’okay. This is fast!’’ laughs Chloe, who was the last to go in the twelve-strong class. “So I thought I'd just do what I could do, and I actually ended up on one less stride to the first in the jump-off. Then I kept going, and I knew I needed to slow down a bit to jump the last, but she was fantastic. She answered every question.”
The mare, who is often confused with one of Ellen Whitaker’s rides – “she has the exact same name, and even similar breeding,” said Chloe – has been part of her string since September, and Chloe has high hopes for her future.
“We’re just going to keep producing her and seeing what she can do,” said Chloe, who joked with Frank [Grinnill] when he was putting the sash on her – and said, ‘‘it’s been a while since he’s done that!’’ She was delighted to find herself back in the winners’ enclosure at Hickstead after a fallow period that last saw her win in the main arena in 2017, just two years after her winning debut in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the age of just 21.
The Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting runs from 20-23 June at Hickstead in West Sussex. Tickets are available at the gate or can be booked online at www.hickstead.co.uk. All the action from the International Arena will be livestreamed on ClipMyHorse.TV and Hickstead.TV.
Image credit: Boots and Hooves Photography
