Fountain Ranger strolls to success
A new pairing’s treble clear lands them a Hickstead ticket, and an ambitious 10-year-old rider who lives and breathes horses catches the eye
GREAT winning performances over tough tracks and some unlucky rounds typified this show, where another 10 riders got those precious tickets to this year’s Royal International Horse Show (RIHS).
A new combination hit the heights in Saturday’s 138cm qualifier when 12-year-old
Elissa Herrmann took the top spot with the sole treble clear on Fountain Ranger.
Elissa, a former Shetland Grand National jockey, keeps her ponies in Essex with Jason and Katrina Moore, and travels from her Hampshire home for training as often as she can.
The 23-year-old Fountain Ranger — the 2008 Horse of the Year Show champion for Jessica Crosby and whose former riders include Bertram and Harry Allen — came to her in November.
“That was my best win by miles because I’ve never jumped that height before. I’m so proud of my pony,” said Elissa, who fits in competition with her education at Cheam prep school. “My headmaster is really good and I often get time off for shows.”
The RIHS tickets were decided before the four-pony final round, as second-placed Thomas Francis- Jones and Kiltormer Hero had already qualified.
Lauren Caroline took third place on her ride of only three weeks, The Jacaloupe, while the final qualification went to another new combination. Rosie Collins now has a chance to add to her 2016 victory in the winter 128cm final after qualifying for the 138cm equivalent on only her fourth ride with Nicola Rogers’ Shaman Sundance, a pony she meets at shows.
TOBY FRY SERVES UP A WINNER
THERE was an equally tense time for parents and riders in the following day’s 138cm qualifier when just four ponies jumped clear in round one. Tabitha Kyle (Playboy Van De Zoetewei) had already qualified, so the other three were fighting for two Hickstead spots.
The top qualifier — and winner of the class — was Toby Fry, with a fabulous double clear on Airbourne Freddie. Tabitha slotted into second place ahead of Evie Tighe (Country Town Kacey), while the luckless Charlotte Bevan has to try again on her lovely novice pony Rathcoona James.
Toby’s younger brother Ollie qualified his 128cm pony at Keysoe a fortnight earlier, but it was big ask for 13-year-old Toby, who was riding a pony he has had for only six weeks and had never even attempted a second round before this show.
Toby is looking forward to Hickstead, as Airbourne Freddie has experience of the International Arena. The 15-yearold gelding was a finalist last year with Ella Derbyshire.
“Toby’s never had the chance of trying these classes before because I keep selling his ponies. I’m delighted for him,” said his father Jamie.
Evie Tighe and Country Town Kacey have been ultra-consistent this season and it was welldeserved qualification for the rider from Sussex and her 19-yearold mare, who was a Pony Club all-rounder until Evie took her on a year ago.
Keith Bristow’s course for
Sunday’s 128cm qualifier asked questions from start to finish, but the five combinations who reached round two all jumped superb rounds.
The result was decided at this stage when the already-qualified combination of Tia Squibb and Wyndham Tom Thumb produced the sole double clear.
Second place and the top Hickstead ticket went to Thomas Bradburne on Runaway Dolly, with Sophia Taylor (Kolbeach Holly’s Dancer) and Eva Haley (Merlin XVII) also securing their places in the final at the RIHS next July.
The rider who just missed out was Emilia D’Ambrosio, who had jumped one of best clears in the first round on Darth Moll. Emilia put on a brave face and her dad Mario also coped impressively with the disappointment.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m really proud of you,” he told her.
A DOUBLE FOR SQUIBB
TIA SQUIBB was completing a double after winning the previous class on her other qualified pony, Gorm And Ban. She could not have been more pleased with the 21-year-old Tom Thumb, on whom she finished third at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) last year.
The 11-year-old is one of the more experienced riders in the class, but when told she was getting older, she pointed out:
“I’m not as old my mother!”
“My daughter thinks I’m an old lady and I’m only 35,” explained Tia’s mum Sarah, a former showjumper herself.
This win also sealed a good day for Tia’s trainer Eleni Murphy, whose racehorse Turning Gold won at Haydock while this class was going on.
With RIHS, HOYS and Olympia appearances, 17-year-old Runaway Dolly gave 11-year-old Thomas Bradburne the season of his life in 2017 and Thomas has started his final 128cm year in fine style at this venue, where he also qualified last year.
As the son of two top-class jockeys in Cheltenham Festivalwinning Mark Bradburne and his wife Gee, Thomas is torn between racing and showjumping. He is also a winner at pony racing and can’t decide which he prefers.
“That’s a difficult question, but when we’re going fast on a lap of honour, I do think I’d quite like to be a jockey,” he said.
Essex-based Sophia Taylor will be jumping at Hickstead for the first time in her final season on Kolbeach Holly’s Dancer, her only pony. Sophia has had the Australian-bred 18-year-old gelding, who has show pony bloodlines, for three years, but has only recently stepped up to this level.
Eva Haley is another new recruit to top 128cm classes, but she kept her cool superbly in both rounds. Merlin was produced by Kelly Wecke, whose family still owns him and this was a major test for pony and rider.
“I can’t believe it. This was only their second try at a big class,” said her mother Tricia Wecke.
Despite not feeling her best after returning from a skiing holiday with an ear infection, nine-year-old Noora von Bulow took Sunday’s equivalent with the only double clear on Penchwintan Glynle, a pony she got after HOYS.
Noora now has three rides qualified and has to choose just two for the final on her first visit to Hickstead.
“I don’t know how I’m going to do that,” she said.
Thalia Nuttall gave a squeak of joy when she and Just Ozzie cleared the last fence to secure second place and give the Lincolnshire-based 11-year-old a first ride at the RIHS in her final 128cm season.
This mare was bought justbroken from Ireland.
“She’s still a novice. When I got her, she hadn’t seen a coloured pole before,” said Thalia, whose family runs the donkey rides on Skegness beach.
As third-placed Sophie
Wicks and Camizion had already qualified, a Hickstead ticket went to Ellie Burrell-Squibb and My Little Liesel.