H&C blogger Yazmin Pinchen has enjoyed the biggest win of her career, taking the top spot in the Redrow Grand Prix at Bolesworth International.
Adrenalin
The 22-year-old was the youngest rider in the class but took on the world’s best – and most experienced – including John Whitaker and Trevor Breen to produce three clear rounds.
After the other riders in the jump-off all had faults, Yazmin knew a clear would win her the class and the £19,800 prize money. Belying her young years she kept her composure and left the poles intact.
“Going last in the jump-off was the best thing ever,” said Yazmin. “There was a lot more pressure, but I knew I just had to go clear.
“John Renwick has been helping me, and he just said to stick to my plan and focus on going clear. I have got a bit of an issue with my adrenalin taking over sometimes!”
Good relationship
Experience gained jumping on the Longines Global Champions Tour gave Yazmin the confidence to pilot Van De Vivaldi, owned by her mother Nancy, to victory.
“I know my horses can do it, it’s just all down to me being positive,” she added. “This is the biggest win of my career. The horse is such a sweetheart. I have had him for a long time, and I have got a really good relationship with him.
Ireland’s Trevor Breen was second on Oldtown KC, John Whitaker and Lord of Arabia came third, while Keith Shore and Mystic Hurricane finished fourth.
Earlier in the day Scotland’s James Smith won the opening four-star class on the 14-year-old grey mare Cumina.
Jump anything
The previous evening saw a tie between Irish rider David Simpson and Norway’s Victoria Gulliksen in the Equestrian.com puissance. David (Gotti van Paemel) and Victoria (Grafit) both cleared the famous red wall in round five at 6ft 10in to win the class. Third place went to Victoria’s brother Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen, riding Grand Balou 4.
It was a great show for Robert Whitaker who won two classes. On Friday (19 June) he triumphed in the Cazenove Capital Management 1.55m class riding on Catwalk IV. The pairpushed Italian rider Lorenzo De Luca and Geisha van Orshof into second place by just 0.06sec. Laura Kraut was third on Nouvelle.
“He is on good form,” said Robert of the 12-year-old stallion. “He will jump anything, really. There is never a course too big for him.”
Robert went on to win the Equerry Horse Feeds 1.55m class the following day, riding USA Today. Once again, it was tight at the top with Captain Michael Kelly 0.17sec behind Robert, riding Drumiller Lough. Fellow Irishman Edward Doyle was third on board Mullaghdrin Touch the Stars.
Successful show
Laura Renwick also had a successful few days at Bolesworth. Following on from her win with Beluga on Thursday, the pair triumphed again, taking the Equiline 1.35m speed class. They finished more than two seconds clear of James Smith and Cumina in second place, followed by Belgium’s Jos Verlooy on Clearwater 5.
“She is not a slow horse, so she is always going to be in with a shout if the fences stay up,” said Laura.
The final four-star class of the show, sponsored by J Hales & Shaw Farm Stud, was won by USA’s Laura Kraut riding Thalis de la Roque. James Smith and Theoreme du Desir came second and Ellen Whitaker and Le Beau were third.
Superman
The show also saw Superman flying around Castle Arena, in the guise of Geoff Billington. Geoff was competing in the Cats & Pipes mini major relay, where top showjumpers teamed up with young riders. Geoff and Martha Hughes saw off challenges from the likes of Ginger Spice (Laura Renwick) and Kermit the Frog (Cameron Hanley).