British Showjumping National Championships – 10th August Roundup

The juniors came to conquer today at the British Showjumping National Championships, and despite a grizzly start to the day, the weather soon changed and the sun came out for Stoneleigh Park.

The first final of the day in the Unibed Championship Arena 2 played host to the National Pony 1.15m Members Cup Final, and Ellin Gifford aboard 20-year-old Robe Ruadh gave two classy rounds, producing the only double clear of the class. 

‘I just wanted a clear round as nobody had gone clear.’ Ellin tells us, ‘He’s a very quick pony, but when you’re not on him he’s very dopey, just an old man really. I’ve only had him since March!’

The Pony Bronze League 148cm & Under Final over in the Sytner Land Rover Coventry Championship Arena 1 saw 51 combinations come forward, and Francesca Hodges had the fastest double clear of the day on Uncanny. 

Francesca told us her game plan for the jump-off – ‘To make up lots of time by moving him up a bit, ride my turns nicely. He’s a super cheeky little pony, I’m still getting used to him but he’s so much fun to have around and I really enjoy riding him.’

The Pony Bronze League 128cm Final followed up, Mia Cheetham took Arrogan Emily T R to clinched their ‘big win’. 

‘I was excited, but also nervous… I knew that if I rode it right, I could win it on her. She felt like she was ready to do it!’ As well as showjumping, Mia also takes ‘Emily’ out showing, as well as cross country.

Lilly Garrett and 9-year-old Machno Dalonia competed in a class of 40 to take home the Pony Restricted Rider 1.00m Championship Final title. Their swift jump-off time of 34.43 seconds was almost unexpected from Lilly.

‘I was planning on just going steady, and yeah…that didn’t happen! She’s 9 years old, I’ve had her 3 years. She’s a machine on the clock and loves her job’ said Lilly.

The I.C.E Horseboxes Pony Silver League 148cm & Under Final was next up, and competition was fierce. With just 0.09 seconds to spare, Sienna Palin and Mikado Van Den Dael flew over the final fence to clinch the top spot. 

‘He’s got quite a long stride, so he covers the ground. There’s not many optional turns we could have taken, it was just moving him really. It’s my last year on him, so hopefully whoever has him next, I want to see them do bigger tracks on him as he’s only young. I want to see him progress’ said Sienna.

With crowds gathering, the Pony Bronze League 138cm & Under Final had an electric atmosphere, and of the 53 combinations that entered the Unibed Championship Arena 1, Sophie Lund and Sparkling Starlight came out on top. 

‘I think I had 25 people in front, and I was getting really, really nervous by the end. I thought, I’m just going to do my absolute best, and just go for it, and it turned out okay in the end!’  

‘She’s a little bit spooky, she is so sweet and so kind, she makes me laugh a lot with all of the silly things she does’ said Sophie.

The final class of the day had audiences on the edge of their seat watching the action in the I.C.E Horseboxes National 148cm Championship Final. Just 3 riders made it to the jump-off, and all combinations put in a fierce fight. However, Maisie Allsop on Vaughann De Vuzit produced a spectacular double clear, with 7.23 seconds to spare.

‘I went in with not many expectations as it was proving quite difficult, but he’s amazing and he’s always proved on the tricky days to shine.’ Maisie says, ‘I rode him how he likes to go, nice and forward and not touching him too much, let him flow. In my jump-off, the original plan was to have a nice clear round…but he felt confident enough to send him on and try to win it.’ said Maisie.