Four Riders Shine in the NAF Five Star Bronze and Silver League Qualifiers
Friday 31 May 2024
This weekend saw Highfield at Howe and Richmond Equestrian Centres host a NAF Five Star Bronze and Silver League Championship Direct Qualifier each, where riders aimed to secure a spot in the Final at Horse of the Year Show.
Kicking off the competition in Scotland’s Highfield at Howe Equestrian Centre, 38 competitors stepped up to take on the 1.05m Bronze League course, with 11 combinations progressing to the final jump-off. Four combinations left the arena with the wanted triple clear, but it was Cassi Mcdade who stood head and shoulders above the rest. Riding her own Quality Touch Z, the speedy pair stopping the clock in the fastest time of 46.23 second to take first place.
Victoria Walker piloted her own Ziva CA Z into second, with Emma Dawson taking third aboard her own Maryville Amerthal.
With the Bronze League qualifier concluded, Sunday saw NAF Five Star Silver League riders take centre stage and tackle the 1.15m course. 21 starters were whittled down to nine who jumped two clear rounds to advance to the final jump-off. It was a tightly contested battle, with just 0.55 seconds separating 1st and 2nd place where Aileen Craig came out on top, riding her own C&N Lockdown.
Leo Lorimer slotted his own and Shannon Lorimer’s Liu Jo VLS into second, with Laura Hutt and Ronald Brady’s Carrera Van Maarle Z picking up third.
In the Northwest of England at Richmond Equestrian Centre, 56 starters all looked to take top spot in the NAF Five Star Bronze League qualifier, with each combination needing to shine from the start to stand a chance at the jump-off. Such was the talent on display, 22 achieved the clear rounds needed to advance to the final jump-off. Up against the clock, riders knew they would need to be quick to be in with a chance of winning, and it was Lauren Coulthard and Classique Morinda who came home victorious, almost two seconds ahead of second place.
Lucy Melchers steered Alex Melchers’ Ipsodonius into second, with Jack Martin and Penelope Cornish’s Kimba Classic taking third, a further 0.38 seconds off the pace.
Rounding out the NAF Five Star qualifiers, over half the starting field of 28 jumped an initial clear in the Richmond Equestrian Centre’s NAF Silver League qualifier. Once again, the results would come down to the clock as 17 secured the clear rounds needed to advance to the final jump-off.
Jame Askew left nothing to chance and, piloting his own nine-year-old gelding The Lieutenant taking the tightest lines around the course, crossed the finish in the fastest time to take the win.
Holly Gair chased hard but could not catch James, slotting her two rides, Top Line Bellini and LGS Survivor, into second and third place respectively, just 0.04 seconds separating the two.
Semi Finals for the NAF Silver and Bronze league take place at Chard Equestrian and Northcote Stud at the end of July, and for the first-year riders can choose with semi-final they compete at. The top 15 combinations from each regional league will qualify along with the top three combinations from each direct qualifier.
To find out more, head to https://www.britishshowjumping.co.uk/page/Leagues.
Highfield at Howe – Saturday, 25th May
NAF Five Star Bronze League Qualifier
1st – Cassi McDade and Quality Touch Z – 0/0/0 46.23
2nd – Victoria Walker and Ziva CA Z – 0/0/0 47.25
3rd – Emma Dawson and Maryville Amerthal – 0/0/0 49.59
Highfield at Howe – Sunday, 26th May
NAF Five Star Silver League Qualifier
1st – Aileen Craig and C&N Lockdown -0/0/0 39.18
2nd – Leo Lorimer and Liu Jo VLS – 0/0/0 39.73
3rd – Laura Hutt and Carrera Van Maarle Z – 0/0/0 41.48
Richmond Equestrian Centre – Saturday, 25th May
NAF Five Star Bronze League Qualifier
1st – Lauren Coulthard and Classique Morinda – 0/0/0 38.30
2nd – Lucy Melchers and Ipsodonius – 0/0/0 40.16
3rd – Jack Martin and Kimba Classic – 0/0/0 40.54
Richmond Equestrian Centre – Sunday, 26th May
NAF Five Star Silver League Qualifier
1st – James Askew and The Lieutenant – 0/0/0 38.90
2nd – Holly Gair and Top Line Bellini – 0/0/0 40.62
3rd – Holly Gair and LGS Survivor – 0/0/0 40.66
NB: Results pending official grading.
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