Showjumping Brian Walker

round. Hazel is a very laid-back pony and so careful, and it was mission accomplished,” said Emma, who will be making her debut at the Blue Chip Championships.

BACK INTO HIS STRIDE

CHARLIE ROGAN and AG Dynamo (Tommy) also produced the only clear round to win the Blue Chip Pro sparkle JC/JA.

Charlie took over the ride on Tommy from her older brother Rogan last year and has enjoyed a very successful summer season. After a winter break, Tommy was quickly back into his stride with lots of places at Alnwick Ford and Blue Ridge.

“Although the combination was tricky, Tommy was spot on everywhere and I couldn’t have asked for a better round,” said Charlie. “We used this class mainly as a warm-up for the Royal Highland qualifier, so to win was a real bonus,” said the 11-year-old, who was sadly out of luck in the next class.

Additional tickets to the Blue Chip Championships were on offer the following day as senior riders turned out in force for three more qualifiers.

Returning to action after a winter break, Alison Lines and Wrigoletto (Welshie) set a blistering pace to win the Blue Chip Joint RLF power qualifier. Third drawn of 13 combinations winning through to the jump-off, Alison spotted three time-saving turns and managed to pull off all three before taking a flier at the final fence.

“I saw a stride a long way out and went for it,” said Alison, who got the ride on Aileen Wilson’s 15-year-old gelding last year.

“This was a decent class to start with and up until now, I had never tried Welshie on tight turns, but everything came together today.”

Welshie was bred in Scotland by Sandra Low-Mitchell, by Larino out of a Secundus mare.

“I thought I’d got a little fun horse, but then found out how well-bred he was,” added Alison, who has now taken Welshie up to 1.30m level.

RELATIVE VALUES

WITH her brother-in-law Paul Barker and Stephen Smith following her, Sarah Mousley kicked on to take the top ticket in the Blue Chip Karma performance qualifier.

Riding the Zambesi sevenyear-old Gait L (Zambi), Sarah kept all the turns ultra-tight and smooth everywhere.

“Zambi has a monster stride, so we went up a gear and stayed level and we had a great turn to the final oxer,” said Sarah, who used to ride Zambi as a five-year-old.

“I took two years out of competing to groom for Robert Smith to gain experience and handed the reins over to Paul [Barker], but when I came back just before Christmas, I pinched the ride back. After being out of the ring for two years, I was a bit rusty, but we’re getting there,” explained Sarah.

It certainly proved a family affair in the DDS Demolition 1.25m qualifier where Paul Barker produced the winning round with Lux Fabulous (Fabian).

Taking the next two places were Paul’s wife Hannah riding Cartouche II and her sister Sarah (Mousley) with Sandors Legacy.

All three riders were late to go in the single-phase competition, but Paul took full advantage of being last to go.

“This is Fabian’s first run out for six weeks and he was raring to go. It was close, but I think we were the quickest back to two tall verticals at the top of the arena,” said Paul.

‘Lucy likes to gallop and turn and I really trust her’

RACHEL PROUDLEY