Sky hits stellar form
Caterina White conjures a career-best to secure a Hickstead berth and Jessica Howard keeps her nose ahead as pony riders snap up the last remaining tickets
SIXTEEN-year-old Caterina White had the best result of her career when she and Sky Bonita I came out top in an exciting jumpoff for the opening day’s winter JC qualifier. The stakes were high, as this was the final show of the pony premier series and it was this weekend or never if riders wanted one of those coveted tickets to the final at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS).
David Cole designed the perfect track for the 52 starters and nine reached round two, with six going forward against the clock. The standard was extremely high and any one of them would have been a worthy finalist.
Second-drawn Caterina and her little mare set off at the gallop. Every short turn came off and they whizzed through the finish a winning four seconds ahead. The other two qualifiers came from the end of the draw. Tatiane Mauree was on Westervelds Florijn, a pony who just missed qualification in previous seasons with Tatiane’s elder sister Anoushka. This time, they confirmed their Hickstead place in style with a round good enough for second place.
The pressure was on the final rider, Alice Young, who had already ridden Suzie Two Coats into third in the Blue Chip sparkle JC/JA. After five rounds, this well- named coloured pony should have been tired, but not a bit of it. She never looked like touching a fence and another third place and RIHS qualification was theirs.
“That’s our best-ever win by miles. I’m absolutely amazed
because I never dreamt that we’d qualify,” said Caterina White, who has lessons with Annette Lewis and got her 17-year-old Andalusian pony as a Christmas present in December 2016.
Caterina may be in her final pony season, but 13-year-old Newbury-based Tatiane Mauree, who trains with Eleni Murphy, has plenty of time ahead of her. Westervelds Florijn is a family favourite and has his own ideas about life.
“He gives fences the absolute minimum and he lives life like that. He does nothing that causes him any effort,” said Tatiane’s mother, Arlina.
There were tears of joy from Alice Young when she realised that she had qualified for a major final after she and Suzie Two Coats just missed their Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) ticket numerous times in 2017. The 15-year-old from Norfolk will be out of ponies at the end of the year and has produced her mare through the grades.
“We keep her with Alice’s trainer Louise Bussey and this result was down to her,” said
Alice’s mother Natalie.
Sunday’s “last chance saloon” produced a fabulous jump-off and the top spot went to Jessica Howard with a superb round on Tinkas Gentleman Jim. With only two tickets on offer today, Jessica was chased all the way by another of Eleni Murphy’s pupils, Rosie Collins, on one of the smallest ponies in the field, the 10-year-old Ravens Silver Cloud.
This was a well-deserved win, as Jessica and Tinkas Gentleman Jim had been close to qualification on several occasions this winter. The 15-year-old gelding, who is believed to be by Tinkas Boy,
was sent to Jessica for schooling in November.
“They developed a great partnership straightaway and his wonderful owners, the Staunton family, have been so generous and given her the ride until the end of the year,” said Jessica’s mother, Audrey Grahame. “He’s a pony with all the scope and talent and we’re looking forward to the newcomers and Foxhunter second rounds in the summer.”
SAMSON SHOWS HIS STRENGTH
TWO tickets to the final at South View went begging in Saturday’s Charles Britton JA qualifier. There were some unlucky performances, but Elloise Smit jumped the only clear in round one — a very good one, too — on Newtown Samson.
This was only the second show of the year for the Kentbased 14-year-old, who got her 16-year-old gelding after Robert Murphy rode him into fifth place at HOYS in 2015.
“I was only 12, so we spent a year doing 90cm and 1m classes and we’ve slowly moved up to bigger classes. He’s the friendliest, best gentleman of a pony. I probably love him a bit too much,” said Elloise, who currently has three ponies to compete.
“Samson” is just back from a holiday after taking Elloise to HOYS, Olympia and Liverpool in 2017.
“The aim this year is European trials,” said Elloise.
Another two finalists were confirmed on day two, when the honours went to the alreadyqualified pair of Madison Heath and Cisco Bay II. Elsi Jacques, who took one ticket on Trevoulter Ladies Man at Arena UK, now has two chances after finishing second on Westward Sunshine, while Elizabeth Baker took third place with Adams Fancy.
The bouncy Cisco Bay II was previously ridden by Madison’s big sister Bobbie and Madison, 13, took over at the end of 2017.
“He’s not actually as strong as he looks and he’s good fun to ride. I need the practice, which was why we came here,” said Madison, who has big ambitions this season. “I have two ponies and three horses and I’d love to go to the Europeans.”
The youngest riders in the class took the top two placings in Saturday’s Blue Chip sparkle JC/JA qualifier. It was won with a brilliant round from 10-year-old Tabitha Kyle on her JC pony Carnaween Laura (Candy), with 11-year-old Henry Squibb and the JA Sultan Du Bary close behind.
Candy was bought as a fouryear-old at Cavan sales in Ireland and Tabitha has produced the Connemara mare slowly over three seasons.
“She’s the kindest, most generous pony and she’s giving us loads of fun,” said Tabitha’s mother Tanya.
Craughwell Boy took last year’s HorseQuest Coral title with Flo Norris. The Irish-bred 11-year-old now has the chance to win it again after closing the show with the only double clear in the qualifier for current rider Mia Barr. H&H