Amateur showjumpers enjoyed their moment in the spotlight at the Horse of the Year Show, competing in British Showjumping’s Bronze and Silver League Championships (7 October).
‘Ecstatic’
Beth Mantel from Reading took the Bronze League title riding her 11-year-old mare Caoimhes Delight (apparently, this is pronounced Queevers, but we are still trying to work out how…).
The rider was almost four seconds faster than JuliaHelm and Eros 2000 in second place. They were the only two to post double clears in the 1.05m class.
“I’m ecstatic – I can’t believe it just happened,” she said. “I’m really pleased British Showjumping brought in this class, because it’s given me a chance to qualify and compete at HOYS.”
Testing course
Beth juggles three horses with working full-time as an instructor at Berkshire College ofAgriculture.
“My horses aren’t ridden much during the week as I get back from work too late,” she said. “I mainly hunt, but ‘Dora’ does a handful of shows every couple months to keep her ticking over. She’ll be back out on the hunting field next week.”
The Silver League Championship was won by Katie Shaw and her 14-year-old gelding Fools Business. The pair came third in the competition last year, after posting the fastest time in the jump-off, but having one down.
This year they were last to go, but Katie kept her cool to jump a fast clear around the testing 1.20m course and win the title by more than three seconds. Gillian Anderson (no, not that one) was second, riding Congeniality B.
‘Daunting’
Despite her great performance, the rider admitted its “quite daunting” competing at HOYS.
“It doesn’t matter how many times you do it, you still get really nervous,” said Katie, who runs a small yard in Stafford with her sister, producing youngsters.
“All the effort you put in, you just want to get in there and do your best. So today was great.”
Following this competition was the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Championships, which saw 14-year-old Hallie Lunn take the title riding her 16-year old gelding Little Boy De Carman. Second place went to Jesscia Hewitt on Wildwood Silver.
“I’m kind of speechless,” said Hallie.”It is the first big thing that I have ever won, so I’m a little overwhelmed. It means so much to me.”
Showing wins
In today’s showing, Carnsdale Dreamcatcher won the Irish Horse Gateway Small Show Hunter of the Year Championship, ridden by Chloe Vaughan.
The Sankey Property Maintenance Ltd Harness Horse and Pony of the Year Championship was won by Aghaderg Stand and Deliver, driven and owned by Jessie Dudley Apicella.