James Wilson motors to victory in the UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B and C at Kelsall Hill’s Cheval Liberte Winter Classic
Monday 13 January 2025
James Wilson took the handbrake off and hit top speed to take victory in the UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B and C Qualifier with Radjamerci Van De Vlasbloemhoeve at Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre’s Cheval Liberte Winter Classic.
“She has a lot of quality and is very careful, I think she’ll go on to jump big fences,” said James.
James was on a roll with this consistent mare, they headed the previous day’s Winter 1.35m qualifier as the ideal warm-up for this coveted Royal International Horse Show qualifying class.
Course-designer Raf Suarez set a 12-fence, 15-effort 1.35m track for the 44 competitors forward. Fifteen achieved their initial aim of a clear round to battle it out against the clock for the three Hickstead qualifying places on offer, three riders claiming two rides apiece – Charlotte Ash, Keith Shore and Jordan Thompson.
Early drawn Charlotte set the target to chase on Air Sandulay but Lee Williams pressed the turbo button on Handiarys De Titoy, taking out strides down every distance to edge ahead by 0.24 seconds. It seemingly appeared the top two places were set, but and undaunted James had a different opinion.
Slicing corners to the quick and moving up through the distances, James was travelling to supply a deceptively quick round to wipe 0.87 seconds from the time to secure the top spot.
“There wasn’t a lot of options, you had to be smooth and fast, and both Lee and I went on nine strides to the last – it was where it was won,” said James, who purchased this eight-year-old Dieu Merci Van T&L x Wandor Van De Mispelaere mare through BPH Auctions, a venture he runs with Heather Larson and Danny and Alice Dunne.
“She was entered in our very first auction four years ago and I invested in her with Dutch owners Barbara and Bram Von Trupp, she was riding but hadn’t been to a show,” said James. “She has a lot of blood and can get anxious when she’s hand-walked, but she loves to work and loves the job, she’ll be ready to move up to 1.40m in a minute,” added, James, who plans to take her on the Spanish Sunshine tour at the end of February.
Lee hung on to second place with the year-old Handiarys De Titoy () while Charlotte – already Hickstead-bound with Nubata JX Scais after winning the SEIB Winter Novice qualifier – will also put the eight-year-old Air Sandulay (Air Jordan x Sandro Boy) on the lorry with the third qualifying place.
Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre Cheval Liberte Winter Classic – 12 January 2025
UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B&C Championship Qualifier
1st James Wilson & Radjamerci Van De Vlasbloemhoeve – 0/0/ - 35.00
2nd Lee Williams & Handiarys De Titoy – 0/0 - 35.87
3rd Charlotte Ash & Air Sandulay – 0/0 - 36.11
NB Results pending final grading
Image: KT Equine Photography
