Jumper ups the pace
Tahnia Jordan-Jones continues a winning run with two exciting rides while another talented pair keep their cool to head a marathon second round
TAHNIA JORDAN-JONES is enjoying a tremendous winning run at the moment and she proved difficult to beat once again, particularly in the pony Foxhunter second round where Jumper and her pony showjumper of the year winner AKM Beech Comber (Bertie) took first and third.
Jumper came here in winning form after heading the 1.20m warm up and European viewing trial at the British Masters seven days earlier.
“We had an unlucky four faults yesterday in the newcomers, but this bigger course suited him better and he thought it was great fun in the jump-off as there were lots of turns which he likes to do,” said Tahnia, who already has her Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) tickets with Jumper after winning the newcomers and Foxhunter second rounds at Quainton.
Rafael Suarez built great courses over the weekend and he put the emphasis firmly on jumping in the Foxhunter third round, with just two of the 11 progressing through to the final jump-off achieving triple clears.
Pathfinders Antonia Platt and Bonnies Lass opened with a classic clear and she remained
at the head of things until penultimate drawn Tahnia Jordan-Jones and Jumper cut across a tight angle at number two and were quicker everywhere.
“Jumper does cover the ground well. I thought I took the same route with Bertie, but Jumper is so much quicker,” concluded Tahnia.
After missing out on her newcomers ticket several times in recent weeks — by a frustrating single place yesterday — Antonia Platt was understandably delighted to gain her Foxhunter ticket with Bonnies Lass.
“She isn't that experienced and this is her first time into the Foxhunter third round. She doesn’t like having fences down and has jumped two triple clears this weekend, but as she’s not that experienced at galloping, we have been practising tighter turns at home with my coach Tom Vante,” said Antonia.
While Tahnia had to work hard for her Foxhunter victory, the pony showjumper of the year competition came to a premature end when Bertie produced the only initial clear round.
Tahnia and Bertie have been placed in every European trial in this, their first season together.
“Even though there had been no clears, this track suited him as he likes to take on big fences. Although the distance from the water jump to the next upright was a bit tricky and I had to sit up and hold for a steady seven strides, everything else flowed for us, although it was nervewracking coming to the final combination,” said Tahnia.
A MARATHON CONTEST
LAUREN ROACH booked her return trip to HOYS when Renkum Starlight topped a hardfought Blue Chip pony newcomers second round.
It proved a marathon class with 30 of the 68 starters producing initial clears and 16 of those maintaining a zero score to contest the third and final round.
“Triple clears were slow in coming, but she is careful and covers the ground well, so I just had to make sure we kept our cool,” said Lauren, who has been schooling with Richard Howley.
Although the Maidenhead rider has qualified for this final before, this will be the first time Paul Kelly’s eight-year-old mare will start at Birmingham.
Once the pathfinders and eventual sixth placed Tabitha
Kyle and Playboy Van De Zoetewei opened with a clear, there was no room for complacency and the early riders took risks and rails fell, particularly from the third oxer on a tempting turn-back.
The winners produced the next triple clear from their late draw, but Lauren had to bite her fingernails as next placed Nicole Lockhead-Anderson (Little Red Cloud), Antonia Platt (Bonnies Lass), Chloe Templeton (Still
Got Me) and Sinead Cox (Lislan Cruising) chased hard.
“We took an early stride out to the second fence, but I made sure I factored in plenty of room for number three.
“She has a big stride, so we lengthened after that and picked up the pace even more on the run to the last,” concluded Lauren, who has shared the ride on Renkum Starlight with
Oliver Tuff.
Tia Squibb set an unbeatable target in the HOYS 128cm qualifier, the 10-year-old rider producing the first triple clear in the eight-strong jump-off riding Gorm And Ban (Blue).
Having already secured her HOYS ticket at Bicton,
Tia had nothing to lose.
“This was a good course with lots of options and we made two really tight turns into the third fence and into the final line,” said Tia, who will be making her debut at HOYS.
Also looking forward to having her first ride at Birmingham is second-placed Madeleine Archibald who produced the only other triple clear with My Little Sweetheart (Lucy).
The Dumfries rider is just a few months into her partnership with Lucy and rather than take any chances against the clock, Madeleine made full use of Lucy’s scope.
“She’s careful rather than fast, so I just concentrated on going clear and she helped me out a few times,” said 11-year-old Madeleine.