Chiltern and Thames Rider Show Jumping Championships on 12th March 2011 at Patchetts EC

Report Jessica Gill Photos Catch It Quick Photography


Mini Classes Prove to be Big Competition

Kristen Hindley and Whineray Rush Willow were the first winners of the show with a speedy double clear over the Mini Warm Up course, kindly sponsored by Chess Valley Equine. Kristen was thrilled with her pony’s performance, giving her all the credit for the seamless round, she said ‘Willow really went for me, she turned the corners really sharply herself. She knows exactly what to do!’

As the second class, the Mini Championship, got underway it was clear that there were going to be some very fast times in the jump off. The ponies and riders showed real competitive spirit as they practically galloped round the 70cm first round course. Five of ten competitors went into the jump off, but fighting fit Teigan McNamara and Baby, who train six days a week, took the class on a double clear and very fast time of 24.34secs. Teigan is very happy to have Baby who ‘always puts her heart and soul into everything we do and has never stopped at a fence. This young rider said ‘I want to say thank you to my mum, dad and my riding instructor Lara for helping me out’.

Winners of the Mini Championship horse section, Miss Gail Ditchfield and her shared horse, Strattonstown Rio Lobo, missed the presentation as she thought she wouldn’t be placed. Gail, who bought her C and T jumping membership because she thought it would give her ‘something to aim for’, was thrilled with her win. She said ‘I didn’t actually ever dream that I would qualify, I can’t believe we managed it in the end! He’s great and he’s really given me the confidence to jump.’

‘Fat Girl Flies’ in the Novice Championship

The Novice Warm Up class set a high standard for the Championship with some immaculate clear rounds. Best of all was winner Innes Harper and her own Mister Mouse. The pair was third into the ring and raised the bar with a very fast time and double clear, holding their lead for a victory. Innes and Mousey really enjoy their jumping, she said ‘he can be naughty at home, but he knows when he is at a show and does really well’.

Winner of the Novice Championship class was Sophie Palmer and her pony Mikey, who is stabled at Patchetts and ‘always does well’ there. They put in a professional round, taking some very tight, clever lines in the jump off and Mikey was rewarded with a huge pat at the end of their round.  In their three years together they have had their ups and downs; Sophie recalled a previous championship where jockey and pony parted company due to some grass that was too good to miss!

The horses in this Championship class narrowed down to two in a tense jump off for spectators and riders alike. Zoe Jones and her impressive chestnut mare, Rosie, had an unlucky plank down at fence seven, taking second place. While Lulu Jenkins and her brilliantly titled Arab, Fatti Foo Far, flew into first place on a double clear. Lulu, who later rode her Arab stallion Idaho to third place in the Intermediate Championship, was ‘very nervous’ about jumping her mare, as ‘she’s done two shows this year and she hasn’t jumped that big before.’ Lulu laughed, ‘I didn’t think fat girls can fly but she can!’

The Novice and Intermediate classes were sponsored generously by Equilibrium and the winners won some brilliant tendon, fetlock and overreach boots; there were also prizes for second to sixth place.

A Combination of Style and Skill Puts Jade and Maximus in the Ribbons

It was definitely a successful day for talented young rider Jade Short and her own Maximus Allwin. Jade and Maximus won both the Intermediate Warm up class and later, the Open Championship pony section. The pair has done a lot of showing, but Jade said now they ‘have started doing the fun stuff like Show Jumping and three day events again! Maximus enjoys his show jumping and it’s always the bigger the better with him. This is the start of the Show Jumping season for us and we are looking forward to doing a lot more. We’re entered in the CTR Cross Country league and we will also start competing at some dressage too.’ Maximus exceeded Jade’s expectations for the day as all she had wanted was a ‘double clear’ and didn’t expect to win two prestigious classes. To top it all off, Jade also won the Rodger Taylor award for Style and Performance on her mums horse Evie, who she competed in three classes.

‘Spooky’ Atmosphere Generates Just Three Double Clears in the Intermediate

Kathy Williams and her pony Jodie, whom her Aunt purchased from Ireland a year and a half ago, also had an excellent day, taking second place in the Intermediate Warm Up and first in the Championship. Kathy said ‘she is really good at jumping; we do lots of Pony Club activities, One Day Events and Cross Country. She is always good as gold and is just lovely!’ Jodie was one of only three ponies that jumped double clear in the class, in amongst many tumbles and stops. ‘It was very spooky’ one competitor said, ‘there was definitely something in the air!’

Winner of the horse section, with the only double clear, newly confident Christina White and her aptly named mare, Black Beauty was thrilled with her win. Christina claimed that this was her first championships for a while, ‘I’ve had a year off and just recently got back into it. We’ve always done really well together and she’s always so honest. Bebe’s excellent in the stable, but sometimes seems to think she’s a stallion!’

Open Classes Close the Day

Last to go in the Open Warm Up class was Bea Bartholomew and Heritage Braveheart, stable name Ginger, who took first place. Bea told us that the first time Ginger Show Jumped competitively he wouldn’t go in the arena; her trainer had to coach her for ten minutes before they got over the first fence! Since then, he has come on in leaps and bounds and they are able to jump at least once a month at Snowball Farm.

Second place, following Jade Short, in The Open Championship pony section was Tagatha Payne and Florida. Tagatha, who has done very well at a number of Chiltern and Thames Championships, said that the course was ‘very nice to jump, if a little scary and big!’ She was right; the course reached an impressive 1.05m.

The horse Championship title was taken by Ellie Skelton and Beano in a competent round. Ellie said ‘We do lots of Pony Club activities and we Show Jump a lot. I’ve had him for two years and we qualified for this in November. We usually compete at around 1m, so he was happy today.’ Ellie was very pleased with Beano and her prize of an Equetech Candy Competition shirt.

Thanks go to our sponsors Chess Vallley Equine for the mini class prizes and some beautiful rosettes; Equilibrium for the novice and intermediate class prizes and Equetech for the open class prizes. Also thanks to Roger Taylor for the style and performance awards. Congratulations to all our competitors and winners, we hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did!

Photos from top to bottom / left to right:

Jade Short and Maximus Allwin- Jumping in the Intermediate Warm Up class

Kathy Williams and Jodie- Winners of the Intermediate Championship (Pony Section)

Christina White and Black Beauty- Winners of the Intermediate Championship (Horse Section)

Ellie Skelton and Beano-Winners of the Open Championship (Horse Section)

All the winners to be featured in the next issue out on 30th March!