Decadence is ‘better than ever’
Charlotte Doel overcomes her nerves as riders up and down the country battle for Aintree championship qualification
Senior second round shows
COMPETITION was hot at the final two senior qualifying shows for this week’s British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals at Aintree.
At Bury Farm, Bucks, Charlotte Doel,18, produced a fabulous round on Decadence to win the bronze league qualifier by less than half a second. Bexleybased Charlotte has owned the 11-year-old for three years but the gelding was out of action for five months from December 2019.
“It started with mud fever and then he just wasn’t right, but after some rehab he’s come back better than ever,” said Charlotte, who works for her father’s lorry firm.
“My two horses are kept at home, so working for Dad makes it easier to ask for a cheeky day off,” laughed this self-confessed nervous rider. “I suffer from nerves really badly, but Decadence is the most honest little horse. I sometimes get so nervous that I freeze, but even then I’m confident that he’ll take me round.”
This win realised an ambition for Charlotte.
“I’ve always dreamed of being in the bronze league final and I think going to Aintree will be as good as Horse of the Year Show,” she added.
The same qualifier at South View, Cheshire, also attracted a strong entry, but produced clear winners in Abbie Goodwin and Jasmina V. This 17-year-old mare is 15.1hh and is a real family horse.
“She belongs to my sister
Amy, and our Dad [former international rider Geoff Goodwin] has also competed her,” said Abbie. “I inherited Jasmina when Amy had a baby and she's
“I can’t wait to jump at Aintree”
ABBIE GOODWIN
now pregnant again, so I have her for another year.”
Abbie herself has a year-old son and recently returned to work as a part-time teaching assistant.
“I cant wait to jump at Aintree,” she said.
Both silver league qualifiers went to in-form riders. Emma-Jo Slater added to her tally with victory at Bury Farm on Freule TN, while Scottish rider Lucy Stewart (Cancun II) won the qualifier at South View.