National titles for Tabitha Kyle and Clea Phillipps...
WYMESWOLD teenager Tabitha Kyle has claimed victory at the NAF Five Star British Showjumping National Championships, retaining the National 138cm title she won last year.
Qualifyingthree rides through to the nine strong jump-off was a huge achievement in itself and her performance in the final round saw her finish in first, second and seventh place!
Kyle was first to go in the jump off with her 9 year-old gelding Playboy van de Zoetewei, with whom she won last year. She set off at a cracking pace and secured a clear round in 36.26 seconds.
Her second pony Lindsuff Royal, a grey 17 year-old gelding, also put in a great round to finish clear in 37.76 seconds to see her secure the top two places whilst her third pony Mr Proper, a 9 year-old gelding, finished in seventh having a lowered a fence and picked up four penalties.
Afterwards she said: “As the first in the jump off I was hoping to go clear and also quick to pressure some people into having some poles down and it worked as a few went quicker but picked up faults. “We had managed to get to a few shows before coming here but we were a bit rusty so I went in thinking we wouldn’t go mad but layboy van de Zoetewei just went really well so I let him go for it.”
There was also success for Loughborough rider Clea Phillipps who won the National Senior Rider Championship title at Bolesworth in Cheshire.
The title, sponsored by Nupsala Pharmacy, is open to riders of 45 years plus, and riding the 11 year-old brown gelding Night Tide 11, owned by her husband Vere Phillipps, Clea put in a stylish clear in 34.13 seconds to take the win ahead of David Brown and Americo with their time of 35.49.