British Showjumping’s Spring Championships took place at Addington Manor recently giving members four days of jumping and eight championship titles to aim for.
The venue attracted competitors from the length and breadth of the country all hoping to claim at least one of the Championships on offer.
The courses, which were designed by London 2012 course designer Bob Ellis and Nigel Jess, gave some great competition across the show’s entirety with members also thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to compete across some former Olympic Games fences.
Jade Meekings from Felsted, Essex took the Silver League Championship on board her own 12-year-old palomino mare, Pauls Lass.
Jade put all her training with John and Laura Renwick to good use in the Winter Silver League Final, guiding Pauls Lass into 0.28 second victory.
“I learn a lot just watching Laura at home, I think a turn is too tight, but it never is,” said Jade, 20, who has been based in Essex with the Renwicks for three years.
The Irish-bred 12-year-old ‘Gracie’ joined Jade five years ago as her first horse.
“We started in British Novice and we’ve done more than I ever thought we would. I knew we could gallop to the last two fences, she never has problems taking out strides [down a distance],” said Jade.
Tim Davies from Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk became the Winter 7-Year-old Champion with Barrett Watson’s 7-year-old chestnut gelding, Lionel van de Markieslanden.
Tim claimed the 7-year-old Championship from the front of the five-horse jump-off. The Falco-sired gelding was talent-spotted in Lummen, Belgium, when Tim went to try another horse.
“I was told he might have a bit of a jump and when I popped him over a tiny fence, I decided he definitely had a jump and bought him. I raved about him to Barrett – who though he looked like an Arab when he came home – and the first time I rode him, he napped for 30 minutes,” said Tim. “But I really like him and he’s getting better. He’s still silly and spooky sometimes, but he’s naturally quick and wants to jump.”
The Winter 6-year-old Championship title was secured by Harry Bateman from Hockley, Essex on board his own 6-year-old chestnut mare, Zuniek van de Tojopehoeve.
Only three of twenty-one starters came forward to contend the winter 6-year-old jump-off, and Harry Bateman was riding two of them. He claimed the win on first-drawn Zuniek Van De Tojopehoeve with the only double clear and finished third with Jennifer Thompson’s Jaloubet K Z, sandwiching Christina Foley into second on Hendrikje M.
“I’m over the moon, I only came for this class with two horses, it couldn’t have gone more to plan,” said Harry, who bought the Zirocco VDL mare as an unbroken 3-year-old. “She’s so sweet a 6-year-old child could rider her, everything I do with her is a walk in the park.”
