BLUE CHIP PONY NEWCOMERS - SECOND ROUNDS - HOYS QUALIFIERS!
Each Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round will see the top four pony/rider combinations qualify for the Blue Chip Pony Newcomer Championship Final at the Horse of the Year Show in October.
The top eight, disregarding those already qualified, will qualify for the Masters at the British Showjumping National Championships in August, along with all ponies that jump double clear in any of the Second Rounds.
SOUTH VIEW - 31st May 2025
WINNER OLIVIA BRIGHTMORE AND WHATSAPP VAN DUYVERSPUTTEN
The second Summer Pony Premier of 2025, hosted by South View Equestrian, featured an exhilarating Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round competition. With 68 ponies at the start, the class showcased many of the top young talents in the equestrian world.
The first round saw 22 combinations clear the course, advancing to the second round, where a further 11 made it through to the jump-off.
14yr old Olivia Brightmore emerged as the winner, riding Rachel Brightmore’s Whatsapp Van Duyversputten. Her precision and accuracy outpaced the competition, securing them the top spot as the only combination to jump triple clear.
“The courses were built strong all weekend, but Whatsapp was so good, and he didn’t find it too hard,” said Olivia. “We were last to go and there hadn’t been any clears yet, so I really concentrated on riding a steady round to get the clear and win. He’s so careful and I trusted him to get us around and he did!"
“He’s such a good boy and has come on so much recently. I was especially pleased with him in the Foxhunter Second Round as it was built quite big. He’s so chilled for a stallion and is a really affectionate boy.”
In second place was Lucy Capper with Robert and Nicola Capper’s Clonbolloge Lad, who rode the fastest jump-off round but just four faults at the last fence kept them in second place. Gabriel Colhoun and Claire Colhoun’s Elle Villenelle Z also rounded a quick jump-off round with four faults and slotted into third whilst Cate Kerr and Richard Hooper’s Inchmore boy were another to cross the finish in under 40 seconds, but four faults saw them pick up the final qualifying spot in fourth place.
Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round Results - South View
1st – Olivia Brightmore & Whatsapp Van Duyversputten– 0/0/0 42.17 seconds
2nd – Lucy Capper & Clonbolloge Lad– 0/0/4 36.97 seconds
3rd – Gabriel Colhoun & Elle Villanelle Z – 0/0/4 38.28 seconds
4th – Cate Kerr & Inchmore Boy – 0/0/4 39.09 seconds
COOMBELANDS - 14th June 2025
WINNER LOLA THULBORN AND FABREEKER V
At the third Pony Premier of the Summer, held at Coombelands Equestrian, 69 combinations stepped up to tackle course designer’s Ben Townley’s testing track. 25 provided initial clears which further reduced to 12 for the final decider against the clock.
Blue Chip supported rider Lola Thulborn, riding Fabreeker V, kept her cool from a mid-draw to ride a smooth, unflappable round on the seven-year-old gelding, owned by Remmi Bell, setting a standard that could not be beaten.
“Victor is only seven, he’s homebred by Remmi [Bell] and they just adore him,” said Lola. “This is his first attempt at HOYS qualifiers, so we didn’t have too many expectations and just wanted to build his confidence and to give him experience but he has exceeded all out expectations. It’s so great for his owners to see him doing so well and loving what he does.
“The track was well built with some tricky lines that got us thinking and there were a couple of distances where you had to make the decision to go shorter or longer. He was just so responsive and listened to everything I asked and jumped incredible, it really felt like we were flying,” added Lola.
Gabriella Douglas, riding Jane Douglas and Dawn Richards’ Farravaune Shannen, chased the time and slotted into second place, 1.82 seconds behind the winning pair. Portia Taylor-Wilson picked up third with Rebecca Clay’s Mirehill Mist, 1.05 seconds further off the pace whilst Ryder Clarke used his penultimate draw to maximum advantage to take home the final qualifying spot with Kelly Clakre’s Clounanna Benji Boy.
Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round Results - Coombelands
1st - Lola Thulborn & Fabreeker V – 0/0/0 33.43 (Fed on Blue Chip)
2nd - Gabriella Douglas & Farravaune Shannen – 0/0/0 35.25
3rd - Portia Taylor-Wilson & Mirehill Mist – 0/0/0 36.30
4th - Ryder Clarke & Clounanna Benji Boy – 0/0/0 37.30
CHARD - 28th June 2025
WINNER ELLA SPENCER AND ROUET ROUGE
Chard Equestrian played host to the penultimate Summer Pony Premier of 2025, again featuring the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round competition which saw talented young riders vying to secure their qualification to the final.
27 of the starting 79 riders cleared their paths to the second round, where the top 17 went on to face the final jump-off. Riders gave it their all and raced against the clock in a bid to cross the finish line in the fastest time.
Using the advantage of a later draw, Ella Spencer, riding Emma Spencer’s Rouet Rouge, determinedly completed the shortened course in an unbeatable time of 36.63 seconds, despite the eight-year-old gelding almost taking a dislike to the third-from-last fence.
“I knew with so many combinations that I would have to go three rounds, and it would be a fast jump off,” said Ella. “Luckily, he’s very fast and careful and I was able to use his big stride to my advantage. He jumped amazing and exceeded all our expectations. He’s so brave and will jump anything so I’m really looking forward to taking him to HOYS.”
Ella Kay, riding Maddie Maher’s Madoghill Goronwy (fed on Blue Chip Pro) slotted into second place, finishing exactly 1 second behind the winning pair whilst Lacie Williams took home third with Sarah Stoke’s Dancing Danny, just 0.37 seconds in arrears.
Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round Results - Chard
1st – Ella Spencer & Rouet Rouge – 0/0/0 36.63 seconds
2nd – Ella Kay & Madoghill Goronwy – 0/0/0 37.63 seconds (Fed on Blue Chip)
3rd – Lacie Williams & Dancing Danny – 0/0/0 38.00 seconds
NB: All results pending official grading.
Images: Phil Hillier (South View), LRG Photography (Coombelands), ESP Photographic (Chard)
