Cerise is picture perfect
A 148cm show pony and her jockey claim their first big money supreme, triumphing over a 128cm who booked her NEC place earlier in the day
AN already stellar season reached new heights for the homeproduced Jobling-Purser team when Martha Jobling-Purser produced a smooth, flowing and mannerly performance with her dual 148cm show pony and part-bred campaigner, Litton Cerise, to lift her first Michaela Wood £1,000 North of England supreme pony title.
This was only the seventh outing for Martha with the eight-year-old former broodmare, supreme light horse at Royal Highland just six days earlier, so this high-powered final was a mighty ask. However, Arena UK has already proved a lucky venue for the duo, who stood champion and qualified for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) here at Midland Counties.
A strong field of 16 braved the searing heat to come under judges Alan Edmunds and John Cutts, who were in complete agreement.
“As soon as this pony walked in, I could see it as my winner,” said John. “It’s a lovely, scopey and elegant animal, beautifully ridden by its jockey. I’d love to have it as a broodmare.”
Since the family had two qualified finalists — the other being the Royal Three Counties and Lincoln show hunter pony champion, Assagart Kittywake — they faced a quandary.
“I chose Cerise over Kittywake because she is slightly more established, but it was a hard decision,” said Martha, 13, whose previous best result in one of these popular supremes was runnerup in lead-rein ranks. “The
realisation still hasn’t sunk in — we are all on cloud nine.”
Martha also headed the HOYS show hunter pony division on her very first outing with the lightlyshown 143cm victor, Battleship, a seven-year-old who came from Loraine Homer and had only been in the yard for a week. She then won the 133cm class with her regular partner, Holnicote Hot Toddy, picking up both HOYS tickets.
“It’s been an incredible few weeks all round but it proves that hard work does pay off — Martha does all the ponies herself, with Elliee Stunt’s help,” added Martha’s mother, Yorkie.
Reserve marked another major success for home producers, going to Emma Harker, 11, with her lovely 128cm show pony Ardenhall Blenheim, who qualified only that morning when he won his HOYS class and earned that pass, too. The family was on a roll, as Emma’s sister Victoria was fourth in the Michaela Wood pony and third in the Colosso part-bred supremes with the Stanley Grange-produced Wadacre Whisper — another ticket earned at this show.
“It’s been a terrific day,” was mother Jenny’s summing up.
FOLLOWING DAD’S INSTRUCTIONS
SAM WALKER, 14, rode his socks off on the ever-enthusiastic Party Time V (Didi) to land the Sporting Sam intermediate title. Thirteen came forward, but there was no denying Didi, who galloped with his usual aplomb and pulled up neatly without a murmur.
Didi, now 12, is no stranger to a £1,000 spot here, being a past Underwood horse supreme for father Robert, but it was a first for Sam.
“I was quite relaxed until they were calling out the top five, but then I got nervous,” he admitted. “I followed Dad’s instructions which were not to bore the judges, leave the line with purpose, keep our canter big and forward and show Didi’s manners with a polite walk to canter. I always look forward to his gallop anyway so I didn’t need to be told to go for it.”
It was a close decision, though, because the runners-up — Lucy Glover with Sharon Harrison’s home-bred show riding type Sarison Heavenly Silk — also went forward freely, especially into their downward transitions which impressed both judges. However, the decision to compete with virtually no working-in backfired slightly as this lovely mare spooked momentarily in a corner.
“Because it’s so very hot, we decided to chance it, rather than risk her drooping in the heat,” explained Sharon.
There is little left to report about the Colosso part-bred Arab winner, Rotherwood Rainmaker (Rupert), who went as sweetly as ever for India Till, 11, to head a strong field of 15. This was the 11-year-old’s sixth £1,000
supreme title on this spot, having previously scored in the partbreds with both India and Poppy Carter, who also partnered him to stand supreme pony three times.
“Rupert’s a total legend,” said producer Katy Carter. “He hasn’t missed a beat since we brought him out as a four-year-old. He still pings along happily with his ears on, and India’s confidence has just grown and grown, thanks to him.”
Stanley Grange took reserve courtesy of Taran Hanover and Whittakers Prince, already qualified for HOYS in hack ranks and winners of the final Cherif championship last term.
Co. Kildare-based Chloe Salley partnered the delightful Team Forster/Jinks-produced first ridden campaigner, Ravara Mr Tod, to claim the Colosso Family £1,000 mini supreme.
“It was a superb example of its type,” said co-judge John Cutts, who again officiated with Alan Edmunds. “The child rode it effortlessly, and you could just imagine it scaled up as a large hack,” added Alan.
This result maintained an unbeaten run for the seven-yearold Tod, who had been champion on each of his previous four outings and is through to HOYS.
“He’s the ultimate child’s pony — an absolute dream to produce,” said Adam Forster. “They are a gorgeous combination and we’re really excited about them.”
YES SIR GETS THE NOD
TWO lead-rein ponies eclipsed the field to stand champion and reserve in the Pretty Polly homeproduced supreme, which drew 14 finalists of all types and sizes for judges Terry Pattinson and Hannah Lang to consider.
Anouska Potter’s supermannerly grey Welsh section A Heniarth Yes Sir, partnered in great style by Aston PotterFirth, five, headed the line. The typey six-year-old, yet another successful contender from the Heniarth Stud, was fourth at HOYS last year and also contests first ridden and open classes with Aston’s sister Anya, 12.
“He’s just a fabulous pony who can turn his hoof to anything,” said mother Anouska. “Plus he’s always so laid-back with it.”
“We both agreed the first and second ponies were absolutely bombproof,” said Terry Pattinson, having awarded Sophie Simmonds, five, and the 10-yearold Dartmoor Pumphill Brosnan the runner-up spot. “You could put a child of any age on board and know they were safe,” added Terry. “They also did lovely shows — in fact, they were an example to many of the bigger ones!”
The result astonished Surreybased Sophie’s mother Carrie, though. “We only came for a nice day out,” she said. “We bought this pony as a schoolmaster for Sophie, who is moving on to first ridden classes — it’s her last year in lead-rein classes. Since she had qualified for this, we thought we might as well come — we’ve never even been in a supreme before.”
One of the best-ever fields lined up for the Vanguard coloured supreme on day two and, after much deliberation by judges Matt Cooper and Gemma Stanford, Vikki Smith was called forward with Michelle Cuerden’s multi-garlanded traditional stallion, Del Boy. Although Burnley-based Vikki has been second twice in the Torne Valley native supreme, this was her first time in a top spot.
“I always think the traditionals are at a disadvantage against the plaiteds, but I just plan my show to play to Del Boy’s strengths,” she said, before rushing to the adjacent worker ring to leap aboard her Connemara worker, JP Corbally, jump a fabulous clear — earning 98/100 — and win her HOYS class, eventually standing reserve behind Sarah Parker with Maiham First Edition.
Vikki’s results came as a surprise, though, as her baby daughter’s illness while on holiday abroad meant the family did not return until the day before.
“The ponies haven’t been sat on for over a week,” added Vikki.
Reserve in the coloured supreme went to last-minute stand-in jockey Craig Kiddier, who deputised for Cheshire-based Vicky Smith on her handsome plaited horse, Bart, who qualified only that morning.
“I was already booked to ride The Dowager in the supreme, so when Bart qualified too, I had an hour to find a new jockey,” said Vicky. “I knew Craig lived fairly locally, so I rang and asked him — he dropped everything and literally sat on the horse for about five minutes before they went into the ring.”
Craig looked completely unflustered, though. “It was a bit of a rush to get here, but he’s such a light, quality ride and Vicky had him going beautifully, so I felt good to go,” he revealed. “I made up my show as we went along.”
A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE
THE same judges officiated in the Torne Valley native supreme, assessing 14 finalists. After much discussion, they opted for Tracey Milward’s stunning Highland stallion Lochlands Gypsy Baron, the first to perform. Tracey last won this prize in 2010 with Waterside Ben, using the money to buy Baron as a foal.
It was no easy decision, according to judge Gemma. “We changed our minds about the top three several times — it was so close,” she said. “I love my Highlands, but I’m more critical of them than any other breed. This one is a beautiful example, though — very typey, with fabulous limbs and a great way of going.”
Reserve went to the prolificwinning partnership of Becki Penny and Lynn Scott’s Welsh C Lynuck The Showman, ahead of stablemate Aimee Devane and the Walkers’ Welsh D Aleanto Bon’A Parte.