Eventing Jumping and Style Championships
A dedicated fan of British Eventing’s winter indoor series wins the top two classes at the championships
SOUTHERLY ROBERTS went home from the Jumping and Style (JAS) Championships at Hartpury College with a lorry-load of prizes after she won the open novice and finished first and second in the novice sections.
“I was starting to get a bit demoralised as I’d been in every class but hadn’t done very well,” said Southerly. “Fortunately my luck changed and I am so pleased — I always turn down ski trips with friends as I’d rather do the JAS series. It’s my favourite time of year.”
Her winning mount in the open novice was Tinx, a 13-yearold mare by Carnaval Drum, while it was Fizz IV, Tinx’s 12-year-old half-sister out of the same mare but by the Carnaval Drum son Carnaval Pleasure, whom she piloted to victory in the novice.
“Fizz is more technically perfect than Tinx but she is a wuss and really relies on me, whereas Tinx is a pony in a horse’s body and will jump anything off any line,” continued Southerly, who also finished runner-up in the novice aboard LVS Jackpot.
Southerly, who is a maths and science tutor, mainly competes in working hunter and side-saddle classes and has eight horses at her base near Tweseldown.
Clear rounds were at a premium in both the novice and open novice classes, with just seven combinations leaving all the fences intact and only one of those pairs — Southerly and Tinx, who also won the novice title back in 2013 — avoiding time-penalties.
The best style mark of the day was awarded to Florence Finzi, who received a score of nine from judge Jeanette Brakewell for her open novice round aboard Bonnie, a 12-year-old grey mare she has been riding for four years. The pair collected four time-penalties around Andrew Hunter’s showjumping and cross-country course to occupy second place.
Florence, 17, who was born to unhorsey parents, started riding at the age of nine when she lived in
‘I turn down friends’ ski trips as I’d rather do the JAS series’ SOUTHERLY ROBERTS
Bahrain as it was a “cheap” hobby.
“My mum and dad don’t know anything about horses but they are very supportive,” said Florence, who is currently undertaking a level 3 apprenticeship in horse care with Haddon Training Ltd at Rectory Farm near Cirencester.
Warwickshire-based Claire Deuten and the coloured stallion Ustinov Van Elsenham wound up in third in this class after they added just one time-penalty to their style mark of 14.
VICTORY FIVE YEARS ON
ANOTHER pair to taste success at the championships once again were Georgina Wood and Symmetry, who finished at the head of affairs in the BE100open five years after they claimed the top spot in the BE100.
“She’s been so unlucky with injury since I bought her in 2010 and has had numerous periods of time off, so now she lives in the field without shoes and it suits her down to the ground,” explained Reigate-based Georgina.
“She’s super talented but doesn’t like pressure and is in her element in the JAS competitions. She’s a fun horse and owes us absolutely nothing so I will see how she feels and maybe do some unaffiliated events this year.”
Second place in the BE100open went to 14-year-old Daisy Bathe riding Alfie XI, who completed on their style mark of 14.
Alfie XI, who was a member of the British pony eventing team in 2016 with Eloise Carter, was bought by the Bathes just before Christmas last year.
“He’s 18 so he knows what he’s doing and I’m aiming him for pony trials this year alongside my other pony, Pumpkin Pie II,” said Daisy, who is the daughter of former Burghley winner Charlotte Bathe (née Hollingsworth).
The 48-strong BE100 was won by Gotcha PSS and Laura Watson, who finished one penalty ahead of Hollie Cartwright with Niarca II.
Vittoria Panizzon and
Secret Legacy triumphed in the BE90open while the BE90 was topped by Freya Kendrew riding the 14.2hh Easter VII.
Abigail Boulton received the Kenneth Clawson Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to a rider who has improved throughout, been dedicated to the JAS series and used the series in the spirit in which it was intended. The series was the brainchild of Kenneth in the footand-mouth year of 2001.