The Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round took place on Saturday during the Pony Premier Show at The College Equestrian Centre, Keysoe in Bedfordshire and it was Rachel Proudley who landed at the top of the leader board with Ashleigh Effard’s 17 year-old British bred mare Family Affaer II.
Eighty-one combinations came forward to take on David Cole’s track with the hope of gaining one of the four qualifying tickets for this year’s Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Championship Final at Horse of the Year Show that will take place in October. With five going through to the third round the pressure was on and all eyes turned to the clock.
Thirteen year-old Rachel from Whitby, North Yorkshire made the long journey down to Keysoe a successful one as she piloted Family Affaer II to victory in both the Pony Newcomers and the Pony Foxhunter Second Rounds. They produced one of two treble clears in the Newcomers and did so in the fastest time of the jump-off crossing the line in 38.37 seconds. Her closest contest came from Iwan Carpenter and the 7 year-old Merllyns Mermaid owned by Susan Carpenter. They were the only other combination to produce a treble clear and crossed the finish line in 41.08 seconds.
Abigail Leadbetter steered Anita Leadbetter’s Sean II into third place after picking up 4 faults in the final jump-off but producing a quick enough time to push Patrick Thurston into fourth with Kate Thurston’s Fantastic Fox who picked up eight faults. Gabriella D Ambrosio and Shannon Moonlight were the final pair in the third round, they picked up twelve faults and had to settle for fifth.
The top four combinations secured their place in the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Championship Final at Horse of the Year Show and the top eight took home the chance to compete in the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Masters at the British Showjumping National Championships.
The College Equestrian Centre, Keysoe – Saturday 8th June 2019
Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round
1st Rachel Proudley & Family Affaer II – 0/0/0 – 38.37 seconds
2nd Iwan Carpenter & Merllyns Mermaid – 0/0/0 – 41.08 seconds
3rd Abigail Leadbetter & Sean II – 0/0/4 – 45.90 seconds
4th Patrick Thurston & Fantastic Fox – 0/0/8 – 47.01 seconds
5th Gabriella D Ambrosio & Shannon Moonlight – 0/0/12 – 56.07 seconds
6th Izzy Goddard & Strawberry Rojo - 0/4 – 44.05 seconds
7th Charlie Rea Nelson & Hoofprint Caleb - 0/4 – 46.44 seconds
8th Talia Clarke & Eskers Apache - 0/E
NB: Qualifications will be updated pending grading of results.
Image: Rachel Proudley & Family Affaer II - Winners of the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round at The College Equestrian Centre, Keysoe [Credit: Hoof Prints Photos].
The Horse of the Year Show 2019 will take place from the 2nd – 6th October at Birmingham’s NEC. The British Showjumping National Championships 2019 will take place during the 6th – 11th August at the National Agricultural and Exhibition Centre (NAEC), Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.