British Showjumping National Championships – Tuesday 6th August Roundup

Day one of the British Showjumping National Championships has come to a close and was a day of top-class competition.  

Kicking off with the first Championship class of the day in the Sytner Land Rover Coventry Arena 1, Katie Benbow piloted Latico to complete a quick, precise round to take the win in the Equissage Pulse Senior British Novice Championship.

‘She’s got quite a long stride, so I used that to my advantage. I met the fences quite well to be able to take one less [stride] as she does have the ability to do that. It did play in my favour quite well to have more of a flowing jump-off, especially with her. She’s better when I get off her and just keep kicking, I let her get on with it really!’  

Katie purchased Latico as an unbroken 4-year-old, and now at 7 years old, the quirky mare is really showing her class.  

The National Senior Rider Championship Final went to Derek Morton and 9-year-old Darcon V&V, who nicknames the class as ‘The Wrinklies’! The course proved challenging for many, with a final fence catching many combinations.  

Derek has owned Darcon since he was a 3-year-old, and said ‘He’s been a super horse for us. I thought it was a good course, I was last to go so it made it easy – I’d already been round once and made a mistake, but I was very quick on my first horse, so I was able to plan it and make the right decisions. At the end of the day, he’s come in and done a great job, so very pleased with him.’ 

In the Unibed Championship Arena 2, Emma Sargeant and Whisper’s Love, an 8 year old mare by Whisper in the Wind, took the red rosette in a field of 126 starters, where only 28 combinations made it to the jump-off. The course builder, Shaun Sands, created some technical questions, including a troublesome double mid-way through the course.  

‘I’ve ridden her since she was 4 for her owner, Pat Morris. Being early to go in the jump-off, coming to the last fence I thought, “should I go six, should I go seven…” I played it a bit safe on seven and thought, “well, someone’s going to catch me!” said Emma. 

The National Grade C Championship Final saw only 2 of 12 riders go to the jump-off, but Michaela Scott and Eddie G Z claimed top spot by almost 5 seconds. Michaela and Eddie previously competed in all of the age classes after being produced by Michaela herself.  

‘It was a nice, smooth course but technical enough with lots of distances. I thought he handled it really well, he listened everywhere that he needed to listen. In the jump-off, I contemplated taking a stride out on the first line and changed my mind, so he saved me there! He’s always loved Stoneleigh and always jumps well here’ said Michaela. 

With two of the three jump-off rides, Tony Pearson took both first and second in the National Grade B Championship Final. Using his first horse, Everest Villatte, as a pathfinder to navigate Wyoming 19. 

‘I was last to go [on Wyoming 19] so I had a little bit of an advantage where I knew what I had to do. I had to jump a clear round…I ultimately tried to play it safe, and we jumped a clear’ said Tony. 

Our final class of Tuesday was the first of the Horse of the Year Show International Wild Card Qualifiers, Incorporating the National 1.40m Championship. Joseph Trunkfield and Gordan and Sue Hall’s 14-year-old Grennanstown Sarco Luxhill came out on top of a 57 rider strong class.  

‘It was a really good jump-off course, the turn into the double was a big question, the lines to take the strides out and a big risk to the last suited him [Grannanstown Sarco Luxhill]. He’s a horse that, if there’s risk there, you can take it and he’s always there for you…he’s a little bit of a character, but he tries 100% in the ring when you get going. He’s the best horse I’ve had and I’m lucky to have him’ said Joseph.