British Showjumping National Championships – 11th August Roundup

Sunday marks the final day of the British Showjumping National Championships, and what a week of sport it has been. To cap off the show, the sun came out in full force and the crowds gathered to enjoy some of the best junior showjumping that the country has to offer. 

Jessica Brown and 26-year-old My Little Sweetheart took top podium in the Pony Silver League 128cm Final. 

We asked Jessica how she felt going into the jump-off ‘Nervous, but I trust her a lot so it was okay. We just kind of went for it!’ 

Jessica plans on simply enjoying her pony for the rest of the season, competing and participating at Pony Club.

The STX-UK Pony British Novice Championship Final had 100 combinations come forward to the Sytner Land Rover Coventry Championship Arena 1, 35 combinations going forward to the jump-off, with 20 double clears, every second counted, but in the end, it was Ruby Anna Birchenough on Miss Castielle who set the best time of 28.65 seconds. 

‘It was my last class of the week, so I just went for it!’ Said Ruby. 

‘It’s my last year on ponies so she’ll be going up for sale now. We bought her off Facebook unseen, and she’d only ever walked and trotted under saddle. She started cantering in November! She’s just such a quick learner.’

The Pony Silver League 138cm & Under Final over in the Unibed Championship Arena 2 was conquered by Phoebe Crossman, who clinched the top two podium positions respectively on ponies Acajou De Caux and Sparkling Mr Gucci. 

‘I had a plan to win.’ Phoebe said with conviction. 

‘My mind was set to win and nothing else. The boys made it happen.’ 

‘Coming down one of the lines, I rushed it a bit and had to “woah”…I got a bit deep but he really helped me. We just have an amazing bond’ said Phoebe about  her jump-off with winning ride Acajou De Caux.

Following on, the Stepping Stones 128cm Championship Final saw some top-class young competitors take to the course. Victoria Neachell aboard Rushill Rosie took the win with just 0.26 seconds to spare over Charlotte Noys and Amners Hot Springs. 

‘It was so fast! I thought she would struggle with the blue double, but she didn’t. I do lots of things with Rosie…she loves kisses’ said Rosie. Rosie is soon to be on her way to a new home, but Victoria’s aspirations will continue with her other ponies. 

The Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Masters proved challenging, and with no clear rounds to be had, it was a matter of seconds to decide the winner. Sienna Palin and 6-year-old  Mikado Van Den Dael continued their winning streak, taking the title following their win in the I.C.E Horseboxes Pony Silver League 148cm & Under on Saturday. 

‘He was really good – I knew I had to move him on, but he covers the ground and I have trust in him to look after me round the course.’ 

Sienna proudly tells us of her relationship with ‘Simba’ ‘I have a lot of trust in him, he’s just one in a million. I’m very lucky to have him – my Grandad got him for me. We had him when he was 4, I produced him until now.’

The Stepping Stones 138cm Championship Final saw young Tiggi Lock aboard 19-year-old Ellies Miss Chief take the win as one of 7 who made it to the jump-off. The mare was previously ridden by older sister, Nellie. 

We asked Tiggi what was running through her mind during the competitive final phase – ‘To keep my legs strong and make sure I keep my hands up!’