Helen and Opportunity B do it again

The British Showjumping Business Partnership International Stairway took place today at the South of England Show Ground, West Sussex. Despite the torrential rain overnight the going remained perfect and the spectators saw some of Britain’s top riders take on the challenging course built by International Course Designer Bob Ellis who was accompanied by Bob Jansen from the Netherlands.

 

The course proved a challenging one with tight turns and a tricky treble combination. With only Nicole Pavitt, Helen Tredwell, Joe Whitaker and Abbie Squires managing to jump a faultless round it allowed the fastest four faulter, Geoff Luckett on Brickfield Boy to join them in the jump off.

 

Helen Tredwell from Finmere in Buckinghamshire managed to keep up her winning streak by jumping the only double clear of the class. Helen was riding her own British bred fourteen year-old chestnut mare Opportunity B which keeps going from strength to strength. Second place went to Geoff Luckett riding Old Lodges Brickfield Boy who had an unfortunate four faults in the first round but jumped a superb second round in an outstanding time of 52.29 seconds.

 

 

The International Stairway series is aimed at identifying and assessing both potential and existing British Team competitors, taking in eight of the largest County Shows in the country. Funded jointly by the British Showjumping Business Partnership and the County Show venues hosting the classes, the series has a purse of £60,000 prize fund. In addition to the prize fund available there is also the bonus of £45,000 worth of Rider Ranking Points to the eight highest placed competitors on the overall league table that sits behind the series.

Shows hosting the International Stairway Series for 2010 are:

Devon County 20 - 22 May