The final Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round of this year took place on Sunday during the Welsh Home Pony at Wales and West Showground near Newport, Monmouthshire and it was Seamus Taylor who bagged the win and a Championship qualifying spot.
With a large field of eighty-six combinations coming forward to try and gain one of four remaining places in the sought after Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Championship Final, held at Horse of the Year Show in October, Course Designer Rafael Suarez had a big task on hand to reduce the numbers. He achieved this when whittling the field down to just five for the final jump-off.
Fourteen year-old Seamus from Ellesmere, Shropshire produced the sole treble clear of the class with Debbie Edgeley’s 11 year-old Irish bred gelding Priestown Tomboy, whom Seamus has ridden for the past two years. They produced their treble clear in 54.44 seconds. Izzy Goddard claimed the second ticket on offer with Strawberry Rojo, an 11 year-old British-bred mare owned by Jacqueline Goddard. They were the fastest of the four-faulters in the final jump-off, crossing the finish line in 41.18 seconds.
Red Morgan took third place with Demon Du Bary; they produced a time of 48.68 seconds but picked up four faults mid-way through the course. Tegan Rowlands and Brooklyn IV also fell victim to the same fence, they crossed the line in 53.46 seconds which was good enough for the fourth and final ticket.
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.
Wales & West Showground – Welsh Home Pony – Sunday 28th July 2019
Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round
1st Seamus Taylor & Priestown Tomboy – 0/0/0 – 54.44 seconds
2nd Izzy Goddard & Strawberry Rojo – 0/0/4 – 41.18 seconds
3rd Red Morgan & Demon Du Bary – 0/0/4 – 48.68 seconds
4th Tegan Rowlands & Brooklyn IV – 0/0/4 – 53.46 seconds
5th Megan Trott & Quay – 0/0/12 – 56.98 seconds
6th Drew Ross & Kengarth Sally Anne – 0/4 – 45.05 seconds
7th Evie Tighe & Daisy Duke – 0/4 – 46.86 seconds
8th Emma McCornick & Castletown Lady Ricardo – 0/4 – 47.60 seconds
NB: Qualifications will be updated pending grading of results.
Image: Seamus Taylor & Priestown Tomboy winners of the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round at the Welsh Home Pony International held at Wales and West Showground on Sunday 28th July 2019 [Credit: British Showjumping]
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.
The Horse of the Year Show 2019 will take place from the 2nd – 6th October at Birmingham’s NEC.