26 year-old Luke Humphrey from Wisbeck, Cambridgeshire on board his own 15 year-old dark bay mare Soraja took the victory in the Dodson & Horrell 0.95cm National Amateur Second Round that was held at Patchetts Equestrian Centre in Watford, Hertfordshire on Sunday 7th September 2014.
All of the competitors were aiming to collect one of the twelve direct qualifying places on offer in each second round for the Dodson & Horrell National Amateur Championships, which take place at Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool during the 19th – 23rd November 2014.
This second round attracted forty-two starters and the jump off proved to be competitive after nineteen combinations produced a first round clear. Six combinations then secured a double clear, leaving the rest of the field to battle it out for a place in the Championship Final.
Luke and Soraja benefitted from being drawn last to go in the jump off and they used this to their advantage, putting in a clear in a fast time of 34.45 seconds. This gave the combination the win with over one and a half seconds to spare.
Second place was taken by 30 year-old Shari Butchart from Waltham Abbey, Essex on her own 9 year-old bay gelding, Anquis. Shari produced two immaculate rounds to take her place in the top two in a time of 36.02 seconds.
Tagatha Payne (18) from Welwyn, Hertfordshire took third on her own 9 year-old dark bay mare, The Maharanee. This combination put in two foot perfect rounds to jump their double clear in 37.04 seconds.
An additional nine riders also achieved their qualification for the Dodson & Horrell 0.95cm National Amateur Championship Final.
