Double joy for Barker
Hannah Barker lands a one-two victory, while a 14-year-old rider makes a successful switch back to ponies to take the top two places in the Sapphire
YORKSHIRE rider Hannah Barker took the top two places in the Blue Chip Pro Sparkle JC/JA qualifier riding Carlow Girl and TGF Lucy.
Hannah is in her first season with Lucy, who has made steady progress from British novice to newcomers level, and the six-yearold led the way at the end of the JC section.
“She’s laid-back and careful and has done everything we have asked so far.
“It was a flowing course, so rather than push on, we kept everything neat and tidy,” said Hannah, who overtook her first ride with Carlow Girl, who jumped later in the JA section.
“She has competed in the silver league and has been very consistent, so, as she is much more experienced, I upped the pace and took sharper lines,” said Hannah, who began riding the 11-year-old mare in February.
Having spent most of the year concentrating on her children-on-horses ride Golly
Girl, Holly Truelove switched back to ponies rather successfully. The 14-year-old rider took the top two places in the Horse Quest UK Sapphire riding Rajco (Ben) and Korado II (Colin).
Both ponies are Dutch-bred six-year-olds, who were bought unbroken in Holland, and Holly has brought them on herself.
“Although this is their second season, Ben and Colin are still quite inexperienced, but we have done a lot of flatwork and they are very rideable.
“I feel I can send them forward now, but rather than go bombing round, I just kept Ben on an even stride and kept tight to the wings. I think he is ready to step up now,” said Holly.
After finishing second in the Sapphire, Colin then stepped up a place to win the Horse Quest UK Coral qualifier.
“He has a great attitude and he is super careful. The intention was to keep an even pace and he jumped a class round,” said Holly.
STORER GETS INTO A NICE RHYTHM
LILY STORER booked her place at the Blue Chip Championships when Private Call (Benji) topped the Horse Quest UK novice qualier.
Drawn fourth in the 13-strong jump-off, Lily kept a nice even pace to finish ahead of Danielle Kennington riding Beatrice Potter.
Lily bought Benji as a complete novice last summer and affiliated him at the beginning of this year.
“He can be a bit sharp, so I just settled into a nice rhythm,” said Lily, who was a member of Minster School’s team at the national championships with Benji in August.
The Newark rider was also hoping to qualify for the amateur championships at Aintree as she has her 95cm and 1.10m second rounds coming up shortly.