Fourteen-year-old Katie Waldock-Smith from Ware, Hertfordshire won the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round hosted by Bury Farm Equestrian Village in Slapton, Buckinghamshire as part of their popular Pony Premier Show on Saturday 19th July 2014.
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 seventy-six starting combinations went with the aim of taking one of these tickets home.
After two rounds of competition, the final jump off was well contested by the twelve combinations who made it through into it. Five combinations then went on to produce a treble clear and the order of places came down to the ever crucial clock.
The fastest treble clear of the class was achieved Katie on Ross Cottage, an 11 year-old bay mare owned by Deborah Waldock. Katie and Ross Cottage were in the enviable position of being drawn last to go in the jump off and after having seen four treble clears already produced before her, Katie knew that only a treble clear in a quick time would secure her the win. This is something that she and Ross Cottage duly achieved and they did so in 36.20 seconds.
Sophia Fox (15) from Greenfield, Bedfordshire took second place on board Glenarousk Flash Bandit, a 10 year-old grey gelding owned by Deborah Fox. Sophia also went on to produce three immaculate rounds to finish on a treble clear in 36.54 seconds
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.
