News
Posted on June 26th, 2014
Charles Owen GB Pony Long List announced
Last year the Charles Owen British Pony team secured double gold in Arezzo, Italy, with all six squad members finishing in the top 15. The selectors of the British Pony squad have now made their long list for the team who will defend these 2013 European titles at the 2014 FEI Pony European Championships at Millstreet (IRL), 30th July – 3rd August.
Shortlisted from our region is Isabelle Upton, 15, from Suffolk riding Alfie XI or Howen Loganberry.
Posted on June 26th, 2014
Suffolk Showjumper Tim Page and Santa Cruise II Win the International Stairway at Royal Highland
25 year-old Tim Page from Bury St. Edmunds Suffolk, with Sue Hodgson’s 10 year-old grey gelding Santa Cruise II took the victory in the fourth leg of the International Stairway which took place on Friday 20th June at the Royal Highland Show in Ingliston, Edinburgh.
Twenty competitors came forward to contest this competition and the 1.55m course was designed by course designer Mark McGowan. The course comprised of thirteen obstacles with sixteen jumping efforts, all of which required jumping within the time limit of 90 seconds.
In the first round, a number of combinations faulted at fences throughout the course just two combinations managed first round clears to secure their place in the jump off for their share of the £7,500 prize pot. In a competition which draws the five highest placed competitors through from the first round, it meant that three additional horses and riders were invited through based on least faults and fastest time.
First to go in the jump off was 48 year-old Robert Bevis from Wrexham, Clywd with his own 13 year-old grey gelding Courtney 6. After picking up 6 penalties in the first round, they jumped clear in the jump off to finish in a time of 55.70.
Next into the arena was 32 year-old Douglas Duffin from Dollar, Clackmannanshire with his own and Richard Jenkinson’s 9 year-old bay gelding Quidam BZ. Bringing forward his 4 faults from the first round, they also put in a foot perfect round to stop the clock in 50.55 seconds meaning that they finished on 4 faults.
Robert Bevis also went through to the jump off with Kate Mustill’s 9 year-old grey mare Pebbles IV this time taking through the 4 faults that he picked up in the first round. The combination then went on to jump clear stopping the clock in 49.48 seconds meaning that finish on the 4 faults from the first round.
28 year-old Kelly Connor from Cardenden, Fife, with her own 11 year-old chestnut gelding Why Me II. were the only other combination to jump clear in the first round and emulated it in the second, crossing the finish line in 55.09 seconds.
Posted on June 26th, 2014
Essex’s Young Showjumper Jared Lunn helps Team Fairfax Win Pony Nations Cup in Hagen
For the third consecutive year, the Pony showjumpers representing Great Britain under the Team Fairfax banner have won the Pony Nations Cup competition in Hagen, Germany on Friday 13th June. The British Team relegated the German home team into second place, whilst the French riders finished in third.
Jared Lunn aged 15 from Hawkwell, Essex was the third rider to go and he was on board his father’s 11 year-old piebald mare Javas Alun. After producing a solid clear in the first round, Jared and Javas Alun were unfortunate to add 12 faults to their score in the second round. However with this second round result becoming the drop score, Great Britain were left in good position overall.
Jared competed alongside Harry Charles aged 14 from Alton, Hampshire who took the role of pathfinder with Aroldo, a 17 year-old grey gelding owned by his father Peter 15 year-old, Charlotte Ash from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with her mother Shirley’s 10 year-old bay gelding Aughnashammer, and Team anchor rider Alex Gill, aged 16 from Northallerton, North Yorkshire with Lynn Barker’s 10 year-old dark bay gelding Ammanvalley Santino.
Posted on June 26th, 2014
Suffolk’s Young Showjumper Chloe Winchester selected for the Team Fairfax Young Rider European Championship Squad
British Showjumping has announced that Chloe Winchester, aged 19 from Eye, Suffolk has been selected for the Team Fairfax Young Rider European Championship Squad representing Great Britain at the forthcoming FEI Children, Junior and Young Rider European Jumping Championships, which will be held during the 22nd – 27th July at Arezzo in Italy.
Chloe will be partnering her mother Gillian’s 11 year-old bay mare Avoca Valkyrie.
Chloe Aston, aged 19 from Tring, Hertfordshire has also been selected.
Posted on June 10th, 2014
GB Junior & Young Rider Euro Teams announced for Italy
The British Dressage Young Rider and Junior Selectors are pleased to announce the horse and rider combinations for the Junior and Young Rider European Championships in Arezzo, Italy 9th – 13th July include Second Reserve Gaby Lucas (18) from Dunmow, Essex with her own Laurentius II.
The Chefs d’ Equipe are Anne Keen (Junior) and Cara Hayward (Young Rider) and the veterinarian for both teams is David Rowlands.
Posted on June 10th, 2014
Hertfordshire’s Young Showjumper Katie Waldock–Smith wins the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round at Hand Equestrian Centre
Katie Waldock-Smith (14) from Ware, Hertfordshire on her mother Deborah’s 11 year-old bay mare Ross Cottage took victory in the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round that was part of the Pony Premier Show held at Hand Equestrian Centre in Cleveland, Somerset on Saturday 7th June. As ever, this second round proved to be popular with competitors, with a total of sixty-six eligible starting combinations coming forward.
Up for grabs at this second round were two direct qualifying tickets for the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Championship Final at the Horse of the Year Show and all of the starting combinations went with the aim of taking one of these tickets home.
From all the starters, nineteen combinations went on to produce two clear rounds to make it through into the final jump off and six combinations then went on to produce a treble clear.
After Katie and Ross Cotttage produced their third clear in 35.62 seconds, it ensured that the top spot belonged to them.
Second place was taken by 13 year-old Lottie Tutt from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire who was competing on Craig Callaghan’s 7 year-old bay gelding Jim Bob II. The pair secured their treble clear in a time of 36.87 seconds to take their place in the top two.
The first two pony and rider combinations, disregarding those already qualified, will qualify for the Horse of the Year Show. The first five, disregarding those already qualified, will qualify for the Alexanders Horseboxes British Showjumping Scope Festival. Ponies and riders that jump a treble clear also qualify for the Alexanders Horseboxes British Showjumping Scope Festival.
Posted on June 10th, 2014
British Dressage Pony Team announced for Millstreet Euros
The British Dressage Pony Selectors have announced the Great Britain Pony Team for the European Championships in Millstreet, Ireland on 30th July – 3rd August. The selected combination from our area is Bethany-Rose Horobin (15) from Rayleigh, Essex riding her own Gigolo. The Chef d’Equipe is Liz Mills and Peter Storr is Pony Team Trainer.
Posted on June 2nd, 2014
It’s time to get voting for Equilibrium Products’ Rising Star 2014
Equilibrium Products’ Rising Star competition is aimed to help the aspiring amateur rider succeed in their chosen discipline and votes are being invited during the month of June for you choose the rider that you think most deserves to win the title of Equilibrium’s Rising Star 2014.
Each month Equilibrium has chosen one winner after carefully considering a number of factors including dedication, high achievement, versatility, overcoming adversity and most improved. These candidates are now looking for your votes and the chance to become Equilibrium’s new Rising Star.
There are a total of ten nominated riders who are competing for the chance to WIN £1000 worth of Equilibrium products and the company’s support for one year.
This year’s candidates are involved in a range of disciplines from Eventing, Dressage, Showjumping, and Showing.
Full profiles can be viewed at www.EquilibriumProducts.com/RisingStar so get voting now!
Posted on June 2nd, 2014
Essex Showjumper Dan Neilson Helps Team GBR Win St Gallen Nations Cup
Dan Neilson from Chigwell, Essex with Stacy Willsone’s 12 year-old chestnut gelding Varo M helped Team GBR win the fourth leg of the 2014 FEI Furusiyya Nations Cup series held St Gallen, Switzerland on Friday 30th May. Their victory made it the second year running that GB have claimed the title as their own; a victory that World Class Showjumping Performance Manager, Rob Hoekstra, couldn’t have looked any more pleased with when he walked his team into the arena for the prize giving.
Dan and Varo M acted as pathfinder for the team and their first round proved to be the discount score with three fences having been lowered and a 12 penalty score being added. This was only Varo M’s second experience at 5* Nations Cup Level with Dan also still being relatively new on Top Level teams. Dan competed alongside Spencer Roe from Lincoln with his mother Sally’s 11 year-old bay gelding Wonder Why, Robert Whitaker, from Sidcup, Kent with his parents (John & Clare) 11 year-old brown stallion Catwalk IV, Anchor for the team came in the form of experienced team rider Guy Williams from Canterbury, Kent and he was riding the 10 year-old bay gelding Zaire who is owned by Caroline Phillips
At the end of the first half, Great Britain had secured themselves into the lead as a result of some brilliant performances and the team finished on just the 1 penalty to take the lead at the halfway stage.
The second round was almost copy book and couldn’t have played out any better for GB. Varo M, certainly looked to have learnt from his experience in the first round and appeared to be a different horse in the second. Taking all the fences in his stride, he couldn’t have tried harder for Dan to return home clear, within the time allowed to finish on a zero penalty score.
Finishing on just 3 penalties across both rounds, Team GBR managed to hold on to their lead despite Spain having been hot on their heels throughout the competition, Sweden took 3rd place on 10 penalties with home nation Switzerland finishing in 4th on 14 penalties.
Talking afterwards Rob Hoekstra commented “To say we are delighted would be an understatement. As a non-point scoring leg of the series for us we came out with a team of younger horses to give them experience of competing at this level along with some younger riders who are still very much cutting their teeth on senior teams. To win today, once again shows the world what tremendous talent we have across all levels within the sport. There wasn’t one horse or rider that wasn’t superb – they all put in brilliant performances and I am honoured to be here with them today”.
Posted on June 2nd, 2014
Olympic Riders Support Showjumping Community
Olympic and European gold medallists are among the country’s leading riders giving their support to an innovative new community campaign in the world of show jumping.
With the Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting just weeks away, many of the country’s top showjumpers are supporting the project to promote the Hickstead Derby Community.
The Hickstead Derby is part of the fabric of British showjumping. It is not only one of the most prestigious showjumping competitions in the world, but it has everything the British sporting audiences want to see.
It is thrilling, exciting, unpredictable and a real spectacle, showcasing all that is good within British sport. It teams fearless horses with brave riders, and even after more than 50 years, it remains the competition that every rider wants to win at least once.
Members of the Community get access to a host of fantastic benefits and become a sponsor of the Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby. Everyone who buys a Hickstead Derby Community polo shirt is also eligible to enter Equestrian.com’s ‘selfie’ competition, which is also taking the show jumping world by storm.
Last year’s Hickstead Derby hero Phillip Miller said: “The Hickstead Derby Community is a fantastic idea and it is great that so many people are showing their commitment to the sport and to a concept which allows thousands of people to be part of the competition.”
The Hickstead Derby Community is one of the most innovative projects to have launched in the equestrian world for many years, as it allows thousands of show jumping fans and supporters to get involved in this iconic competition.
The Hickstead Derby Community polo shirt costs just £24.99 and comes with a host of other benefits, including a free Members’ Enclosure ticket for Thursday 26th June at the Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting, worth £26 if bought separately.
The polo shirt gives its wearer automatic entry into the Hickstead Derby Community VIP competition, where the winner will be part of the presentation ceremony at the 2014 Equestrian.com Derby and present the winner with the iconic Boomerang Trophy, live on Sky Sports, as part of a fantastic weekend away at Hickstead. The prize will include overnight accommodation, VIP hospitality and a Sky Sports tour.
Hickstead Derby Community members will also be entered into the Equestrian.com Derby Course Walk Competition, giving showjumping fans the chance to walk around the iconic course with a leading rider, who will share their insights, tactics and tips.
