Royal County of Berkshire Show hosts final of new International Stairway Jumping Series next weekend

 

On Sunday, the Show is to provide the climax for the new International Stairway show jumping series. The series was created as part of an initiative by the British Show Jumping Association to identify and assess both potential and existing British team competitors.

 

The competition will be one of the highlights of the action in the main arena during the show where top class show jumping has been a popular attraction for both spectators and competitors for a number of years.

 

Funded jointly by the BSJA Business Partnership and the eight county show venues hosting the classes, the series has had a £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 that started back in May (21-23) at Devon County Show and culminates at the Newbury Showground next weekend.

 

The series has attracted some of the country’s top horse and rider combinations and the show weekend will see 28 riders come forward to compete in the grand finale.

Vicky Tulloch and Soliegette currently head the league table on 35 points ahead of Helen Tredwell and Opportunity B with 32 points. Geoff Luckett and Brickfield Boy are closely behind with 30 points, while Berkshire-based rider Tina Fletcher will give the home crowd plenty to cheer having moved into a strong position in fourth place with Promised Land after winning the International Stairway class at Pembrokeshire County Show, setting the stage for a thrilling contest. William Funnell, so successful in the past as Renault Series Champion at Newbury, will be back at the show with Mondriaan, Kepi D’Elle and Billy Congo.

 

As well as the International Stairway final, Saturday’s main class is the Wendy Green Six-Bar. £500 will go to the winner, which has been donated by Edgerton Green in memory of his late wife Wendy, the former Chairman of the show’s Light Horse committee, who sadly died suddenly in January last year. 

 

Some of Britain’s leading show jumpers will be in action over the weekend including Keith Doyle, Andrew Davies and Laura Renwick. Several top level competitors are locally based including James Fisher, whose training stable is at Sonning, Tina Fletcher from Lambourn, Paul Crago from Lower Basildon near Reading and Newbury-based Andy Austin. Talented up and coming local riders lining up with their eye on the top prizes include Tessa Hempell from Bucklebury, Buckle Goddard from Upper Basildon.

 

Pat Parsons, Chairman of the Show’s Light Horse Committee, said: “It is a great honour to be hosting the final of the new International Stairway class here. Show jumping is a fantastic spectator sport as the packed arena seating at Newbury always proves. Given the chance to see top riders in action, the public vote with their feet and I am confident that with the talented selection of riders competing, this year will be no exception.”

 

 

-ENDS-