Carnhill Luna shines in new show
A 15-year-old monopolises a HOYS qualifier with a win and another ticket
College EC, Keysoe, Beds
ANTONIA PLATT had a terrific opening day at the first-ever pony premier show at this venue. The 15-year-old from Essex dominated the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) pony showjumper qualifier, winning with Carnhill Luna and riding Sligo Furisto Flight into third.
Antonia had already qualified “Luna” for their first HOYS final with third place at Arena UK and this will also be a first NEC appearance for Furisto Flight, a 12-year-old mare bought from Italy in 2016.
“Luna’s a kind, sweet pony,” said Antonia, who got the 11-yearold from Ireland two years ago.
“We took our time because his Irish owner didn’t have a rider, so he’d been jumped by lots of different kids,” explained Antonia’s mother, Rosalind, a former international showjumper. “Furisto Flight tries so hard and is also very talented, but it’s taken a while for them to become a real partnership.”
The other qualifiers were runner-up Nicole Lockhead Anderson (Claggan Gypsy Delight) and Sophie Bowen Howard (Quincy V). Nicole had already made the journey from Aberdeenshire worthwhile by winning the pony Foxhunter second round on Gangnam Style II.
Nicole and her Irish-bred eight-year-old now have two HOYS titles to chase after heading the newcomers equivalent at South View.
Nicole has been riding her JA qualifier Claggan Gypsy Delight for Christine Graham since March while Christine’s daughter Iona recovered from a broken knee.
“Iona’s back in the saddle, so I’m getting him ready for her to take over again,” explained Nicole, who will still have the ride at HOYS.
The second ticket in the Foxhunter second round went
‘We took our time because his Irish owner didn’t have a rider, so he’d been jumped by lots
of different kids’
ROSALIND PLATT, MOTHER OF CARNHILL LUNA’S RIDER ANTONIA
to 13-year-old Fife-based Mya Roxburgh Caira with Paddys
Pet II. Mya and the grey had already taken their HOYS 138cm qualification at South View and this diminutive pair captured the hearts of many.
“He’s the easiest, most gentle pony in the world,” said Mya, 13, who is in her final 138cm season.
There were only four Foxhunter treble clears and the third HOYS qualifier was Elizabeth Baker (Okehurst Colour Code), with Daisy McKinlay just missing out on Ashwey Patchwork Sparrow.
FLAVIA SCORES WIDE-MARGIN WIN
WITH 81 starters in next day’s newcomers equivalent, course-designer David Cole was perplexed when 32 ponies reached round two.
“I thought I’d asked enough questions, but they’re riding so well,” he said.
The fences went up considerably and 13 pairs went against the clock. After Faye Sutton galloped into the lead on Angela Davies’ Beyond Doubt
II, only one pair could beat their time. Madison Jamison let the handbrake off on her mother Nicola’s Flavia and this impressive seven-year-old, who just missed out at South View and Quainton, made no mistake to win by almost 3.5 seconds.
This British-bred gelding is by Verdi out of a Heartbreaker mare.
“We saw him loose-jump and had to have him,” said Madison. “He’s unbelievable, but it’s my last pony year so someone else will have the best of him. Dad said I could keep him and ride him in seniors, but he’s only little and I don’t think that would be fair on him.”
There were tears of joy from Faye and her mother Jacqueline after Beyond Doubt’s HOYS place was confirmed.
“Angela Davies kept this pony because she believed in him and it’s her dream come true for him to go to HOYS,” explained Jacqueline.
Small ponies also had their own qualifiers, but one HOYS 128cm place went begging after three of the five who reached round two had already qualified. Cousins Eloise and Henry Squibb took their tickets on Platinum Prince and Pussy Cat Doll respectively, while the winner of the class was Olivia Banks with her 13-year-old Remington Steal.
Cheshire-based Olivia, 11, had nothing to lose after qualifying for her first HOYS at Weston Lawns and she won by a huge margin.
“I think he knows when he’s in the jump-off,” said Olivia who, until the beginning of this year had not jumped bigger than 80cm and has risen through the ranks with help from Eleni Murphy.
Eleni also helps Rosie Collins and Thyme Flies, who took their HOYS 138cm ticket in style.
Five ponies reached the final round and as two had already qualified, the pressure was off the remaining three.
Red Morgan chose not to jump off and settled for fifth place with 18-year-old Dylasau Derior. The second HOYS ticket went to Claudia Moore and Tullineaskey Fear Deas, while the top qualifiers and class winners were Rosie and Thyme Flies.
Essex-based Rosie, 12, started riding Anastasia Snook’s 15-yearold at the end of 2016 and took an early Royal International Horse Show ticket.
‘Flavia is unbelievable, but it’s my last pony year so someone else will have the best of him’
MADISON JAMISON