Victory for Rooney IV At the Royal Highland Int’l Stairway
Saturday 26 June 2010
It was however, 27 year old Robert Whitaker from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire riding Mandy Hall and John Whitaker’s 9 year old bay gelding, Rooney IV who jumped the only double clear of the competition.
Second place went to Keith Shore from Northwich, Cheshire riding Helen Ravenscroft’s 11 year old bay gelding Stranger. Keith had an unlucky 4 faults in the first round but jumped a foot perfect clear in the jump off..
22 year old Jemma Kirk (2009’s Young Rider European Champion) from West Lothian took third place riding Robert Kirk’s 14 year old bay gelding Wexford. Jemma jumped a fantastic clear in the first round, but finished on four faults in the jump off just a fraction of a second behind Keith.
British Showjumping Business Partnership International Stairway
Royal Highland – 25th June 2010
1st Robert Whitaker on Rooney IV – 0/0 45.80 seconds
2nd Keith Shore on Stranger – 4/0 46.12 seconds
3rd Jemma Kirk on Wexford – 0/4 46.42 seconds
4th Geoff Billington on Uppercut II – 4/0 47.42 seconds
5th Julie Andrew on Cree Cruiser – 4/4 50.88 seconds
6th Joe Clayton on GIG Rockim – 4 84.11 seconds
7th Julie Andrews on Rostaar – 4 84.47 seconds
8th Jemma Kirk on Tosca – 8 81.68 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
Devon County 20 - 22 May
Suffolk County 2 – 3 June
South of England 10 – 12 June
Royal Highland 24 – 27 June
Royal Highland 24 – 27 June
Royal Norfolk 30 Jun – 1 July
Great Yorkshire Show 13 – 15 July
New Forest & Hants 27 – 29 July
Pembrokeshire 17 – 19 August
Royal County of Berkshire 18 – 19 September
In addition for 2010 a 'Wild Card' to compete in the International classes at the 2010 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) is available via a points league encompassing both the International Stairway and International Trial competitions.
The British Showjumping Business Partnership has been created with a view of bringing like-minded companies and individuals together. Focused on creating an environment which will allow investors to form new business relationships and obtain exposure within the sport it also assists the sport to meet its own performance pathway objectives. These are a few of the organisations that have been brought together by the Business Partnership scheme; Marsh, Next, Champion and Chester Racecourse.
Further information on how to join the Business Partnership and to assist with the delivery of medals for Great Britain can be on the British Showjumping website www.britishshowjumping.co.uk