Daisy-Bella Newman’s Commands Victory in the 138cm Grand Prix victory at South View Arena at her final big show with Party for Cornflakes
Tuesday 05 November 2024
Daisy-Bella Newman scored a bittersweet victory with the 138cm Grand Prix on Party for Cornflakes at the English Home Pony at South View Arena in Cheshire, their final big show together.
“I will be out of 138cm classes at the end of the year, but this is a great way to finish – I wanted to win,” said Daisy-Bella, 14, who rode a tremendous round to win despite the nerves.
Twenty-five competitors faced course-designer Sue Barratt’s 1.15m track and quality was there in spades as 17 answered every question to reach the jump-off. However, there was no racing involved as a related distance between the first two fences, a crucial inside turn and a rollback to the penultimate vertical demanded focused and accurate riding. Only four riders supplied double clears with Raphaela Dawson, who claimed two rides in the jump-off, taking an early lead on Ardnacashel Little Dreamer.
Mid-drawn Daisy-Bella sliced into the turns confidently and risked a gallop to the final vertical to win by 0.52 seconds. Raphaela had to settle for second place with Lowan Cruise Mills in third riding Jimdone.
“I was a little nervous as it was quite big, but I had a late draw and was able to watch lots go. I wasn’t expecting it, but I had to try and go clear,” said Daisy-Bella, who relied on the advice and confidence of trainer Ronnie Jones. “It’s thanks to Ronnie I got to jump the big tracks. He told me to stay calm, let him do his own thing, don’t over-think it and whatever I do, don’t lose my head!”
The seven-year-old ‘Party’ – who is out of the same mare, Cornflakes, as Magic Cornflakes, a former ride of Scarlett and Sienna Charles and now with Ella Kay – was purchased two years ago.
“We flew out to Germany, but I didn’t ride him as he bucked the girl off and I didn’t want to get on,” said Daisy-Bella. “Unbeknown to me, my Mum went ahead and bought him anyway. When I saw him come off the trailer, I was very upset.”
It all worked out eventually.
“We put a lot of work in to slowly produce him and now he’s sweet, will do anything for me and follows me around like a dog but he’s still a competition pony with lots of blood and gets excited,” added Daisy-Bella, on her reigning Blue Chip Pony Novice champion.
Tears of joys were shed as Fenella Adams scored her biggest win in the 128cm Grand Prix with Dunbarover IV as she crowned a mega week at this popular show.
With double clears all the way followed by selection to represent Scotland in the Home Pony Teams competition made for an incredible week, but it wasn’t over. Not only did Fenella and the special and much-loved Dunbarover win the 128cm Grand Prix, the pair clinched qualification for the London International Horse Show at the Excel Arena. Heady success, indeed.
Thirty-two competitors came forward in the 128cm Grand Prix, chasing not only glory but with that added incentive – qualification to the top three for prestigious London Excel. Eleven conquered the 1.10nm track to access the jump-off, with both Poppy Dorise and Anya Dewey Clarke claiming two rides apiece.
Fenella has established a good rapport with the vastly experienced Dunbarover and oozed confidence as she guided the Irish-bred 15-year-old into the tightest of turns. Drawn midway in the all-important decider, Fenella commandeered victory with 1.18 seconds to spare, beating Anya and her National 128cm champion Kilcreene Snapdragon into second spot. Kobi Watt celebrated with third and the final London Excel place aboard Hill Garth Bailey Cream.
“I thought it was a hard, technical track but I believed in ‘Yogi’ and he jumped it with ease,” said North Yorkshire-based Fenella, 11, who relied on the expertise of trainer and former owner Lisa Kerr’s advice. “Lisa told me to keep moving and try to jump clear and put the pressure on, and Yogi is naturally quick anyway.
“He’s such a kind, loving pony and as long as I trust him, he trusts me and always tries for me.”
For the second consecutive year, the 148cm Grand Prix fell to Ireland as Sam Widger threw everything into his round, hitting top speed on Western Ranger in the edge-of-your-seats, thrills and spills jump-off.
Thirty-eight riders contended the 1.25/1.30m track with 15 returning initial clears – the on-form Sam claiming three of them. Lucy Capper set an early standard on Oscar Van De Beekerheide but was immediately relegated by Ella Kay aboard Little Flexible but Sam hit the ground running on Western Ranger, the Irish-bred nine-year-old responding to every question at the gallop to fly into the top spot. Lucy returned with the 13-year-old Capability Brown and chased hard but could only come within 0.59 seconds to slip into second place, also taking fourth with Oscar, sandwiching Ella into third.
Ellin Gifford hit top gear with Robe Ruadh to take the South View Rising Stars Championship. Seventeen of the original 29 start-list over the 1.15m track made their way into the jump-off with Ellin and the Irish-bred 20-year-old Robe Ruadh edging ahead to win with 0.28 seconds in hand. Leva Eldridge slotted Clonbolloge Lad into second ahead of third-placed Arabella Henderson aboard Our Billy Eile.
Lilly Garrett raced to the top with an early round in an exciting jump-off to claim the South View Novice Championship with Machno Dalonia, her reigning British Showjumping National Championships Pony Restricted Rider 1m champion. The 1.05m course reduced the 34 starters to 18 for the jump-off, Lilly setting out with determination on the nine-year-old Machno Special daughter she has produced for the past two years. Shaving the corners as tight as she could, Lilly set a sizzling target that proved unbeatable, winning by 0.86 seconds. Hollie Gerken steered NFS Doris Day into second with Daisy Andrews on Behybeg Lass II in third.
Ireland’s Jack Derwin claimed the Fledglings 128/138cm 85/90cm Handicap Championship with the speedy 128cm Sparkles In The Rain. Twenty-eight of the original 36 starters posted initial clears to make for a sure-fire hot jump-off of 12 128cm ponies pitted against 16 138cms. But Jack found every conceivable shortcut at speed to land the top spot by 2.23 seconds. Portia Taylor Wilson came the closest on the 138cm Rhyfelwr Tywysoges with Jonty Hughes and his 138cm Idole Des Islots in third.
English Home Pony
England reigned with a hat-trick of victories in the English Home Pony Team competitions, but the overall winner was the team spirit, camaraderie and fun witnessed as riders learned how to work as a team, made new acquaintances and lifelong friends.
England dominated the 148cm competition on a zero score with a commanding lead of 20 faults to stand at the top of the podium. The first three, pathfinder Ella Kay on Little Flexible, Nellie Lock riding Catho Van De Langvelden Z and Cate Kerr aboard Cindy VI returned a clean sheet while anchor rider Raphaella Dawson made just one mistake to return four faults as the discard score with Maifield Another Sunshine. But it was all to play for as Wales also touted a zero score at the halfway stage.
Ella posted 12 faults second time out but the other three strengthened their hold on the gold medal with three solid clear rounds while it didn’t go according to plan for Wales, and they dropped down to the silver position. Scotland claimed the bronze medal in third.
Only one fence separated the top two in the 138cm team competition as England again scored victory with double clears all the way. Pathfinder Christina Cotton jumped two exemplary rounds on Mayfly Black Pennell and Henry Leggott with Blossoms Letterkeen Bettyn and Raphaela Dawson aboard Churchfield Tulla Bluebell followed suit for a clean sheet. Anchor Ella Kay returned foot-perfect in round one with Icaris W and, as the score could not be bettered and the gold medal was already theirs, opted not to jump in round two. Scotland and Ireland both finished on four faults after two rounds, Scotland taking silver with a faster time to leave Ireland in bronze.
In a similar result, England again claimed gold with one fence in hand in the 128cm competition. Pathfinder Anya Dewey Clark rode Jim to perfection to mark up a double clear and Lucia Caroline also produced a clean sheet in both rounds on Desdemone De Marquis. Kobi Watt made only one error to return an initial four faults with Kobi but bounced back with a clear second time out. Anchor Annabel Widdowson with her newly crowned HOYS champion Bunbury Conquest jumped a clear where it counted for a zero score in round one and, as gold was already secured, was not required to jump in round two. Wales stood in the silver position on four faults with Ireland two fences in arrears taking bronze.
Ireland took the top honours in the 148cm Debut after forcing a jump-off situation with Scotland. The team of double clear supplier and pathfinder Evie Dorise on Westward Sunshine, Tara Sweetnam aboard Klassic II, Lola Thulborn with Fabreeka V and Sam Widger riding Poynstown Hero finished on a score of eight faults in round one but dug deep in round two to post a zero score without anchor Sam needing to jump. Sam was selected as jump-off rider and produced the winning clear for the gold medal. Scotland had to settle for silver with England on a team total of 12 in bronze.
The United Warriors of Jack Derwin (Sparkles In The Rain), Michael Kelly (Washbrook Snap Dragon), Grace Waddington (Just Dandy) and Georgia Harland (Silver Sienna) ruled in the Minis, winning on time with more than 14 seconds in hand over the Ghostly Ghouls – the only other team to supply a zero score over two rounds. Pumpkin Power finished in bronze on a total of four faults.
Image: Phil Hillier / Landscape and Horses Photography
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