‘We were meant to be’
Alex Kublin earns Blue Chip qualification with a “fun” mare, while a 17-yearold tops the 1.40m grand prix
Chard Equestrian, Somerset
“SHE is the most amazing thing I have ever known in my life!” said Alex Kublin, who claimed a Blue Chip Karma victory with her exciting rising eight-year-old mare, Carmel Bay.
Alex bought the Messenger daughter last April from Alex Bishop, when she had been on the verge of giving up the sport, and the partnership has already chalked up some 1.30m experience, as well as qualifying for the Blue Chip Dynamic B&C.
“I’d had a bit of a bad run and my plan was to go and spend my time in Spain overlooking the sea with a piña colada, but my mother said, ‘Why don’t we buy another one,’” Alex said.
“Within two days of getting her, we had won a class, and I think we were meant to be.
She wouldn’t be for everyone, but everyone says that we are well matched!
“I can’t sit and look pretty on her, which is quite annoying, as it’s more of a case of being in the foetal position hanging on,’’ Alex added. “She is fun, though, and I think she could go all the way; she just can’t get enough of jumping.”
Sammy Cotton had a very consistent show, delivering clears with all of her string and collecting a Blue Chip Dynamic B&C victory with the 11-year-old Indoctro stallion Gregor LV.
“He stepped up to 1.40m in 2020, but then last year he kept getting an infection in his leg as a reaction to something so we didn’t do that much,” Sammy said. “This weekend, he jumped clear in the first 1.40m he has done for a while, as well as winning the B&C. He goes clear in pretty much every class you jump him in – he’s very consistent.”
Cornwall-based Sammy is planning to contest the Blue
Chip Championships with the stallion – her first since 2016.
“We’ve not done it for a few years as we’ve been in Spain, but I was planning on going this year as I wanted to jump him in the grand prix, so it’s ideal he’s qualified,” she said.
Rachel Gallop and Helen Rees claimed a national 1.30m open apiece, with Helen taking the first day’s win with her seasoned campaigner Bart VI, while Rachel and Champagne V took the runner-up spot.
The next day the positions were reversed, with Rachel and Champagne heading the class and Helen taking second with her chestnut mare Bianca Du Rouet.