Showjumping South View, Bury Farm and international highlights
Taking risks pays off for Scots as their late starters make up for lost time
IN an exciting finale to the SEIB winter novice, Scottish riders
Kelly Connor Baillie and Alana Hood took the Royal International tickets riding Feeling I (Ari) and Scherzinger FB.
Gillian Milner’s jump-off track offered a multitude of options and, with half of the 60-strong field coming through to the jumpoff, risks had to be taken.
Kelly’s late-drawn effort was a joy to watch as the Scottish rider weaved her way around a series of turns.
Ari answered every call, the Azteca VDL eight-year-old taking a flier at the third from home, then took a stride out to the next fence before spinning back to the final double.
Kelly bought Ari four years ago, but because she proved quite tricky at first, she was a fairly late starter and spent her six-year-old year chilling out in a field.
“She is the hottest horse I have ever ridden, so we have kept her on a low burner and she is still fairly low-mileage,” said Kelly. “She has all the ability and loves to jump, and a fluffy noseband today kept her more focused.”
Kelly also has Cool Flo through to the Hickstead final after finishing second at Alnwick Ford.
As 17-year-old Alana Hood was concentrating on her final years in ponies, second-place Scherzinger FB (Nico) was another late starter.
After Alana’s father Gary arrived home with the Sheikh It seven-year-old mare five years ago, Alana backed and rode her away herself, but has only just started jumping in earnest.
“We’ve not done much against the clock, but she rides and turns like a pony, although we were that tight back to the final double, she almost ground to a halt,” said Alana. “I just missed out on ponies six times, so I’m relieved finally to get a Hickstead ticket.”
DIANA TAKES A TICKET
TWO more Royal International tickets were decided in the Champagne Cave winter B&C qualifier, where second-drawn Lisa Jones set an unbeatable standard in the 30-strong final round with her 2017 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) grade C finalist Diana P.
“The jump-off asked a lot of questions, but Diana has a good brain and she’s always with me,” said Lisa, who originally bought her Silverstone 10-year-old three years ago as a project, but ended up keeping her. “She makes up so much ground and has the scope to turn up to decent fences.”
Hickstead’s international arena should hold no fears for the speedy pair as they finished fifth in the 2016 winter novice.
Eve Staveley claimed the second ticket riding Shadow IV.
The local rider and British Showjumping (BS) accredited coach has enjoyed a productive seven-year-partnership with her Cormint 11-year-old, the pair finishing fourth in the BS summer league championship at Birmingham last October.
“He was originally sent to me to sell, but he got better and better, so I kept him,” said Eve. “He’s a dope on a rope at home, but he lights up in the ring and
will bust a gut for you. I think we would have been closer to the winner if we hadn’t lost a stride on a slight slip.”
Already qualified for three other Blue Chip finals, Abi Walters and Miretta Mena (Wendy) added an extra ticket when they won the DDS Demolition 1.25m qualifier.
Abi bought her eight-year-old mare from John Annett three years ago and produced her through the age classes.
“She’s a firecracker who loves to win,” said Abi. “It was a good course and she was level all round.”
Thanks to an economical round, Beth Vernon and
Annbalou are Addington-bound for the BS spring championships after winning the winter sevenyear-old qualifier.
Beth found her Balou Du
Rouet mare quite sharp when she bought her a year ago, but plenty of flatwork has paid dividends.
“Everything has clicked into place now and she’s really grown up,” said Beth. “This was a fast class, so I kept tight to the wings and gave her head to the last.”
Charlie Dawson and MB Landini provided a fast finish to the winter grade C qualifier.
“He’s loves to go forward into his fences and would gallop all the way round if I let him,” said Charlie. “It’s a challenge to keep everything smooth, but he’s agile and careful and we had a good shot to everything.”
‘STRONG AS AN OX’
JUST four months into their partnership, Joe Trickett and One Two Watch II (Mario) clinched victory in the closing £500 winter 1.35m qualifier with a daring round that included a series of tight roll-backs and risky runs.
A popular feature over the weekend was the multi-optioned tracks set by Gillian Milner and, fourth-drawn in the 10-strong jump-off, Joe took every shortcut
and slipped the reins on the runs, especially to the final oxer.
“He’s as strong as an ox, but with no quirks, and he felt spoton from the first fence in the collecting ring,” said Joe, who took over the ride from his dad Alec in October. “I’ve resorted to hiding Dad’s boots just in case he wants to pinch him back.”
Tracey Newman and Derek Bolton’s Lucky Boy stallion Challenge topped another £500 class, the pair using their last draw to best advantage to relegate Tony French and Kinsale Houdini in the national 1.40m.