Family Affaer dazzles
Unbeatable Rachel Proudley is in sparkling form, while a pair put in a dynamo performance after a break and a rusty rider wins through
IT proved a busy two days of Blue Chip Championship qualifiers at Richmond and while it was cold and wintry outside, the competition was anything but over the packed weekend programme.
Rachel Proudley’s first-drawn effort proved unbeatable in a close finish to the Blue Chip Sapphire qualifier.
Riding Family Affaer II (Lucy), Rachel took up every shortcut over an inviting jump-off course set by Alan Mewse, but try as they might, the following four riders could not overtake the pathfinders.
“Lucy likes to gallop and turn and I really trust her,” said Rachel. “The course included some shortcuts and open lines, so it suited us down to the ground.
“We kept as tight as we could everywhere and a neat turn near the end of the course helped us to stay ahead,” she added.
The 12-year-old rider is just a few months into her partnership with Lucy, who previously evented with her owner Beth Stephenson.
Since taking on the ride in September, Rachel lost no time in racking up the necessary newcomers and Foxhunter double clears over the winter to qualify for the second rounds this summer, and they gained a recent win at Addington’s pony premier in the British Showjumping 148cm special.
Over the past 12 months, Emma Woods and Knix Unique Amethyst (Hazel) have picked up numerous wins and places, and they produced the only initial clear round to head the
Blue Chip Coral qualifier.
Emma started riding Hazel last February at 80cm level.
The pair had a busy summer and contested the British novice, discovery and bronze league finals at the national championships last August.
The East Stirlingshire Pony Club member has also evented the Unique SQS 13-year-old mare and gained a recent win at Alnwick Ford in the Liz Fox JD/JC Royal Highland qualifier.
“The course seemed to cause problems but we had a great