We’ve put together a list of hotels near Addington Equestrian and other accommodation options at a range of price points to help you make the most of your visit to the Buckinghamshire venue.

This year, Addington Equestrian is playing host to the Blue Chip Showjumping Finals (8–12 April), and the Winter Dressage Championships (15–19 April), as well as many other smaller scale shows. With such popular events drawing a large number of competitors and spectators, accommodation near the venue tends to fill up fast, so don’t hang around if you find something suitable. Accommodation is listed by driving distance from the venue (MK18 2JR).

Accommodation near Addington Equestrian by type

• Hotels near Addington Equestrian
• B&Bs and holiday lets near Addington Equestrian

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• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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At the recent Arena UK Winter Classic (27-30 November), 12-year-old Alex Leggott took on some of the country’s leading showjumpers and beat them to secure a coveted ticket to the Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships in April.

Riding his father John’s mare Blossom’s Billy Heinz, Alex found himself out in front of the likes of Jack Whitaker (who finished second with Lilli Langtry) in the Blue Chip Dynamic B&C championship qualifier. But he wasn’t done there as the talented young rider also netted a 1.30m open win.

Eight-year-old mare Billy Heinz was bought out of the Billy Stud auction as a four-year-old and was newcomers champion at last year’s Horse of the Year Show with Maisy Williams, before Alex took the reins back last month.

The new partnership has subsequently taken seven wins in six outings, as well as a string of top-three placings.

“They are absolutely united as a pair,” Alex’s father John said. “We thought she’d suit Alex more than [his older brother] Henry. She’s very much an in-the-hand ride and has a very quick brain. Alex’s autism also makes his brain incredibly fast so, between them, they’re on fire.

“She’s a very good horse and I’m very pleased with them as a combination. Alex still has his 13.2hh pony to jump – he won team gold at the Home Pony International with them recently – but the aim with Billy Heinz will be the children-on-horses team for the Europeans next year.”

You can read the full report from the Arena UK Winter Classic in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday 11 December.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

This year’s course for the WB Equiline star final at the Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships (9-13 April) caused some unexpected difficulties. Of the 114 starters, 53 failed to complete the first round, and there were 12 falls.

Faults were scattered all round the track but many of the problems related to two water trays, which contained water, especially the one at the final oxer.

Jassy Pyke was one rider who didn’t complete on either of her rides and took a tumble at the last after her horse refused.

“I really sympathise with the course-builder who had over 100 open horses and had to do something,” she said. “When I walked the track, I thought it was technical and up to height, which is what you expect with a championship course, but the issue seemed to be the water in the water trays.

“A lot of horses were jumping the first water tray but not the second, which was on a dog-leg, and when they came round the corner to it, the light was possibly glinting off it because it was indoors.

“You expect it to be big and technical but I thought there were too many traps.”

Blue Chip Championships star final: “Sometimes it just doesn’t go to plan”

Emma Sargeant finished second and third on two of her rides but was another to fall off at the final oxer on her third horse.

“If the horses were spooky at the first water tray, it seemed they were reluctant to come to the last,” she said.

Course-designer Nigel Jess said he had been surprised at the problems the course had caused.

“It was built to height and as a championship course but sometimes it catches you by surprise and just doesn’t go to plan. You don’t like to see a class going that way,” he said. “It was a bright sunny day, which might have contributed, light glinting off the water and catching the eye.”

A Fanta-Astic victory

Victory went to Louise McDonald and her former eventer Fanta-Astic, a well-decorated combination adding a sash to their collection as one of the 16 who jumped clear in the first round.

“It was a tough course, I was very much out of breath when I came out,” said 20-year-old Louise. “Everything was related and the water trays seemed to catch a lot of people out.

“He evented his whole life before I bought him and doesn’t really look at anything – and he’s good at distances.”

Louise and the 15-year-old gelding, who were Blue Chip diamond champions three years ago, were 0.41sec ahead of Emma Sargeant, who was second and third with Whisper’s Love and Ballyheerin Quintana.

“I didn’t think I would win it with the riders who were also in the jump-off but I gave it my best shot,” said Louise, who works for Paul Kelly and Kerry Grimster at PK Ponies, while Fanta-Astic is based with Tony Pearson and Patrick Troddyn at T&P Equestrian.

“I’m lucky with him that I have great support around me. He goes to the FMBs Therapy Centre treadmill in High Wycombe, which has really helped him a lot, especially because he’s a little bit older.”

• To read the full Blue Chips report, pick up a copy of Horse & Hound magazine, in shops from Thursday 17 April, and to stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Whether you’re competing in British Showjumping, or choosing the unaffiliated route, showjumpers who like to have a championship goal have a number of different options to consider in 2025. Whether you’re aiming for a prestigious qualifier or just looking to rack up points, there’s no shortage of showjumping championship opportunities to test your skills, whatever your level. Here’s a taste of what you could target – or enjoy from the stands – this season.

Showjumping championships to aim for in 2025

Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships

Addington Equestrian, Bucks

8–13 April

Level: from novice to JA ponies (80cm–1.20m) and novice to grade A horses (90cm–1.30m). There are 16 championship finals.

Qualification

• Top eight horses (subject to clear round) in each of the 280 qualifying classes through the winter go through to championships. There are a handful of qualifiers left in late February/early March, but make it an aim for spring 2026, with qualifiers starting again in October.

Visit: bluechipchamps.co.uk/qualifiers/

British Showjumping National Championships (BSNC)

Stoneleigh Park, Warks

5–10 August

Level: more than 40 classes to qualify for in junior, senior and para categories. From 90cm up to 1.40m.

Qualification (not an exhaustive list)

• 1.15m Members Cup championship (for riders not listed in gold league): two double clears between 1 June–31 May.
• National 1.30m open, 1.40m open and national B&C handicap championships: two double clears at the level qualify between July–June.
• Redpost Equestrian senior Foxhunter, senior newcomers, Nupafeed Supplements discovery championship and British novice championship – for horses who have won up to 700 (Foxhunter), 375 (newcomers), 225 (discovery) or 125 (British novice) points. First round qualifiers run between 1 May–30 April, with four double clears qualifying for second round. Second rounds run April to July. Top five plus treble clears (Foxhunter and newcomers) or dependent on placing per number of starters plus treble clears (discovery and British novice)
• National 1.05m championship (bronze league combinations): three double clears at 1m or above between 1 January–30 June.
• National 1.25m championship (silver league combinations): three double clears at 1.20m or above between 1 January–30 June.
• Pony bronze and silver league finals: the top 10 combinations in the regional leagues in each height category will be invited to the championships.
• STX-UK pony Foxhunter and Blue Chip Pony newcomers masters, for ponies who have won up to 700 and 500 points respectively: first round qualifiers as for horses. Second rounds run April to July with the top eight qualifying, and all treble clears.
• Pony discovery and STX-UK Pony British novice championship, for ponies who have won up to 300 and 150 points respectively: First round qualifiers as above. Second rounds run April to July with the top 10 qualifying, and all treble clears.
• Para classes (grade I–IV/70–90cm): open to all registered BS para equestrians (club and national). Riders must have competed in a para competition or attended BS para jumping training in the 12 months prior to BSNC. Riders may only compete in their graded height unless they request in writing to jump up a grade.

Visit: bsnationalchampionships.co.uk/

Horse of the Year Show (HOYS)

NEC, Birmingham

8–12 October

Levels: bronze and silver leagues, grade C, newcomers, talent seekers, Foxhunter, 128cm 138cm and 148cm

Qualification

• NAF bronze and silver league: eight regional leagues accrue points in classes; between 85cm and 1.10m for bronze and 1.10-1.30m for silver. League periods are 1 April–20 September and 1 October–31 March. The top 15 combinations in each, plus the top three in each of eight direct qualifiers, will go to the semi-finals; seven from each qualify for the respective final. For more details on these qualifiers visit: britishshowjumping.co.uk
• HOYS grade C: qualifiers run April to September yearly. Top three qualify.
• Events Through A Lens talent seeker incorporating seven-year-old final: qualifiers run April to September yearly. Top four qualify to HOYS including highest-placed seven-year-old.
• Redpost Equestrian Foxhunter and senior newcomers championship: first rounds as above. Second rounds run April–July with the top two horses qualifying for the final. The top four in the Foxhunter and newcomers masters at BSNC also qualify.
• 128cm, 138cm and 148cm (pony showjumper of the year) qualifiers run May–July yearly, riders must have obtained two double clears at 1m, 1.10m or 1.20m or above respectively to jump qualifiers. Top four combinations qualify to final; must jump clear in first round.
• STX-UK Pony Foxhunter and pony newcomers championship: first round qualifiers run 1 May–30 April, four double clears qualifying for second rounds. Second rounds run April to July with the top four qualifying for final.

Scope Festival

South View EC, Cheshire

Seniors: 17–19 August

Juniors: 21–23 August

Level: from 85m to 1.40m; horses and ponies

Qualification

• For the majority of classes, combinations or horses (dependent on class) need to record one double clear at qualifiers between 1 January–31 July.
• Qualifiers are listed at: britishshowjumping.co.uk

The All England September Tour

All England Showground, Hickstead, West Sussex

27–31 August and 3-7 September

Level: 90cm to 1.40m grand prix

Multiple rings run throughout the show, with chances to qualify for finals in the International Arena.

The Arena UK Major Showjumping Championships

Arena UK, Lincs

15–21 September

Level: British novice to 1.40m

A full range of national classes, with riders competing throughout the week to qualify for the finals, with the 1.40m grand prix the highlight on the Saturday night. Also runs puissance, six-bar, ride-and-drive plus entertainment and hospitality.

Amateurs

National Amateur & Veteran Championships

Aintree International EC, Merseyside

November, exact date TBC

Level: 85cm, 95cm, 1.05m, 1.10m, minor veteran riders and major veteran riders

Qualification

• For amateur and over-45yo riders who are not on the BS gold league, or silver league as horse/rider combination. Cannot have competed on any senior team in past 10 years or youth team in past five.
• Amateurs need to jump five double clears in any of the classes between 1 September to 31 August for direct qualification. You can qualify for second rounds with one double clear and then need to finish in top eight with an initial clear. Veteran championships by direct entry.

Sunshine Tour Championships

All England Showground, Hickstead, W Sussex

11–14 September

Level: fun championships series for novice, amateur and unaffiliated, with finals in dressage showing, showjumping and eventers’ challenge.

Qualification

• Combinations must be registered with the Sunshine Tour.
• Finish first to third in an open, unaffiliated showjumping or dressage class at a registered centre or club, from 1 January and 31 July.
• Finish first to fourth in an open, unaffiliated showing or eventers’ challenge from 1 November to 31 December at any centre or club; and from 1 January to 31 July at a registered centre or club. Submit evidence of results within one month of qualifying competition. Entries open 10 August.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The youngest rider and oldest horse in the Seaver Diamond qualifier at Leyland Court are heading to the Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships, having beaten 20 other combinations to take the win.

Issy James Wright and Calle, 13 and 25 respectively, finished over a second ahead of their nearest rivals, Patrick Brewer and Pentons Who’s Who, on 5 January to earn their ticket to the finals at Addington Equestrian in April.

Issy’s mother Kath James told H&H Calle came to them at the end of 2022, when Issy and her twin sister Daisy were 11.

“We were at the nationals and I was talking to Tracy Priest, who’s a good friend of mine, and who said the girls would be moving on to horses soon,” Kath said. “She was with her daughter Phoebe [Farman] and said ‘Should we give them Calle?’. Phoebe said ‘Yes, they’re lovely kids’; they were having a conversation and I didn’t have a clue which horse they were talking about! But they said they’d tried to retire him and he wouldn’t; he wanted a job.”

Kath said she was very grateful to be given the horse for her daughters but knew nothing about him until after she had picked him up.

“When I searched his name [in British Showjumping records] I saw he’d won £57,000!” she said. “He came third in the Queen Elizabeth Cup with Tracy in 2010, and won area trials, and when she passed him on to Phoebe, they jumped double clear in the youth Nations Cup final and won the gold medal. I said to the kids: ‘This horse is a superstar, he’s the king of the stable’!”

Kath said Issy took the rider over Daisy as the latter felt she was a bit small, and once the pair had got to know each other, they went to their first show together in June 2023.

“We went to a three-day junior show to do the children-on-horses classes, just to take it easy – and they had two wins and came second,” Kath said. “He’s so quick and nimble and careful, and so fast picking his legs up; I’d love to clone him and have a yard full of him as he’s just brilliant. He’s like an old man in his ways; you can imagine him sitting by the fire with his pipe and slippers, then when he knows he’s being ridden, he does his yoga move and stretches all the way down. He’s a real character and we love him.”

Kath said at Issy’s first senior BS show, aged 12, she was desperate to beat her mother.

“She said ‘I don’t want you to let me win’,” Kath said. “We walked the course and I said I was going to do this turn and that turn and she said she’d do the same. I went in and went into the lead; I was coming to the last line, taking a stride out and thinking ‘That was really childish to try to beat my own daughter who’s only 12, I should have let her win’, then she went in three horses later and absolutely blitzed me, beat me anyway – and her round looked a lot smoother than mine!”

The pair have since had great success, including placings at their first international competition, at Bolesworth last summer, and their Diamond win last weekend.

“She was over the moon with that,” Kath said. “I’m so proud of her; I’d have been happy just to qualify, it’s brilliant to have won the class.

“Calle is fantastic. We’re so lucky Tracy let us have him and it’s lovely as he’s jumped 1.60m tracks and now he’s having great fun jumping the 95cm/1m classes. I’ve seen videos of him jumping those courses in his prime and his technique is just the same now – and he loves it.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Meet the spotted, speed-demon, cake-loving showjumping superstar who’s just turned 21, and qualified for the Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships.

Grade A Caltra Minister and Abi Andrews won the Diamond qualifier at Duckhurst Farm, Kent, on 29 December, picking up their ticket for the spring finals by over a second, from 37 starters.

Abi told H&H she tried to semi-retire “Charlie”, also known as Turbo Spots, last summer, without success.

“I started winding things down last year and didn’t really ride him; he was a companion for a foal who’d just arrived, “ she said. “But he was just jumping in and out of fields, three to four times a day. The vet was there doing vaccinations and said ‘Why aren’t you still jumping that horse?’! So I started again, and he absolutely loves it.”

Abi bought Charlie in 2018 from Amy Ryan, with whom he had had great success including winning the speed derby at the Arena UK Major Showjumping Championships, and going to grade A.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have him in his later days; we started doing the amateur stuff straight away,” Abi said. “Then I got pregnant within about three weeks of buying him, and went to the Aintree amateur championships when I was six months’ pregnant. We came fourth in the final; I could feel the baby kicking before we went in. He’s the only horse I’d ever have dreamed of leaving the floor on when heavily pregnant but he took us both round.”

Charlie is known for his warp speed but Abi said he does not look the fastest; it is his tight turns that mean he is normally well out in front.

“He just needs to know the course!” she said. “If I don’t make a mistake, I don’t think there are many horses who could touch him at these heights. If I don’t interfere or panic, he’s the fastest there is; our only trouble is that he turns too tight – if he whips round too fast, I’m out of the side door. I’ve never seen a horse turn like him.

“At Duckhurst, he knows exactly where he’s going and like on Sunday, comes round so fast, I don’t do anything, just hold the mane. I need a strap with handles like on the kids’ Inky Dinky saddles, as he turns faster than I can!”

Abi said she has never yet been to the Blue Chip championships; as she is self-employed and has two children, it can be hard to get to shows that run on weekdays.

“But this might be one of the last ones I get to go to with him so I might try to give it a bash,” she said. “I think he deserves to go; he’s amazing at everything and I just need to switch off and leave it all to him.”

Ani said Charlie is “fully automatic”, and not just to ride. He loads himself, stands loose to be untacked and loves going to shows.

“As soon as I touch the box, his head starts bobbing up and down,” she said. “Not neurotic, just vibrating with excitement like a Ribenaberry because he knows he’s going out. He loves it, and he’s the kindest, most wonderful horse.

“He’s usually referred to as ‘coloured’ and his passport says skewbald but he’s a palomino blanket appaloosa, although there’s no appaloosa in his book so I don’t know where that came from. He’s my blonde bombshell flying machine.”

And he knows when he has done well too, Abi said, and earned his reward.

“At Duckhurst they normally have these beautiful big Victoria sponges, which are rather good,” she said. “I always get him something when he’s done well and once they’d run out of Polos so I got him a slice of this beautiful cake and now it’s become a thing; he looks for his slice of cake when he’s done well. And to be honest, I should get him one even when we haven’t done well as that’s always my fault. He’s just a superstar and I’m lucky to have him.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Successful and well-respected rider, producer and trainer, Ronnie Lee Jones, shares his thoughts on a successful running of the Blue Chip showjumping championships at a new venue and the importance of good sportsmanship

The new-look Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships, held at Addington Equestrian last week, give everyone something to aim for. The amateurs have a goal to work towards over the winter and people with younger horses can produce them through the qualifiers. Then for riders jumping grands prix, it marks the end of the winter season and a chance to see how they’re upping their game ready for the summer ahead.

My partner Alex and I have a really good group of 10 kids we’re training at the moment, so it was nice to have the horses and ponies together at the same show. I was able to walk the grand prix course with some of them, which gave them an opportunity to get a feel for the track and for distances.

The kids had their own finals to ride in – we had three in the novice and three in the discovery, and Daisy Newman and Pip Loveman came first and second in the Pikeur pony novice final. I was a bit sad that one of them had to lose to the other, as I wanted them both to win! But they were really happy for each other – we try to instil good sportsmanship in all those we train.

What was particularly nice was how generous the sponsors were. I thought first place might get all the goodies, but down the line they were giving stuff away. Being runner-up also meant taking away armfuls of caps, socks and plaques.

It was the first time a lot of the kids had been to Addington and it would be great if they could have some pony shows on their calendar – I’m sure they’d be well supported by riders and parents, who certainly appreciate a nice facility when all the family comes.

A great atmosphere

Fortunately, no atmosphere was lost in the move from Hartpury to Addington. There were the familiar Blue Chip lights and banners, as well as the tradestands down one side of the indoor arena. It would be nice to see the national championships at Stoneleigh take a leaf out of the Blue Chips’ book – that could be the best show of the year but in comparison, it does lack in atmosphere.

Addington is as good a facility as Hartpury, if not a bit more European. The improved outdoor rings and new surfaces are fantastic. The indoor arena surface was also kept well-watered and harrowed, which is important when you have classes with such big numbers. Not everyone liked it when it was first laid, but you could see in the grand prix how well horses were jumping off it.

Normally you’d expect the number of first-round clears to be in single figures, but 16 made it through. It was a technical course, so hats off to them for their arena management, but it’s pleasing to see we have a decent amount of horses on the circuit competing at that standard.

I just had the last fence down with Kaleche, who has had a break and is just getting back into it. I jumped the 1.35m on her the day before and she cantered straight past the first fence, I think she was half asleep. I just giggled to myself, patted her and carried on!

We’ll be heading to Chard International next, then Alex will go to the Nations Cup in Paris with Ted Bastion-Mason, who we train and who’s riding Alex’s stallion on the children-on-horses team. I’m still hoping to get on a Nations Cup team myself this year, but one of our trainees got there first!

● Did you attend the new-look Blue Chips? What did you think? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 11 April

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

At Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) last month, Lorraine Allan and her 13-year-old mare Somethin’ Else, suffered a “freak” fall when contesting the Events Through A Lens talent seekers inc. seven-year-old championship.

The German-bred Stairway x Cartano mare pulled off a shoe on take-off at an oxer in the first round, causing her to paddle through the fence, catching a pole between her legs and falling.

“What happened was just a freak thing,” said Lorraine, who is “nearly 60”. “I never thought in a million years I’d still be riding at this age, or that we’d get to HOYS, it was another dream ticked off the bucket list.

“I gave her a break to let her forget about it as I was worried it might have upset her.”

The pair made a remarkable return to the ring a few weeks later at Newbold Verdon Equestrian Centre in Leicestershire, where the pair soared to victory in a competitive Blue Chip Dynamic B&C qualifier.

“This was her first show back. She came back well up for a challenge,” said Lorraine, who has ridden the mare for six years, having bought her as a seven-year-old.

It has been a year of ups and downs for Lorraine as she missed two months of the spring season after suffering a stress fracture to her hip while running.

But Lorraine and the mare have stepped up considerably in recent months and she credits that, and her victory at Newbold Verdon, to some training from Derek Morton, who was at the show.

“He has been instrumental in making me more competitive and I’m getting braver,” she said. “He told me to take an inside turn today that no one else had taken – I thought it was a bit tight but she did it.

“I have the horses I’d liked to have had at 30 but couldn’t afford!” Lorraine said.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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Another major national final is moving from Hartpury College, Gloucestershire, to Addington Equestrian, Buckinghamshire – the Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships.

Hot on the heels of last week’s news that the British Dressage NAF Five Star Winter Championships and Petplan Winter Area Festival Championships were making the switch, the Blue Chip team has confirmed the same move.

“The organisers of the Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships are delighted to announce that the championships will be relocating to the impressive Addington Equestrian for the prestigious championship finals, which will be held from Wednesday, 3 April – Sunday 7 April 2024,” the team said in a statement.

The event has run at Hartpury for 15 years, and this will be its third move; it was originally run at Stoneleigh, then Solihull.

Show organiser Kelvin Bywater said: “This is an exciting relocation which will enable the event to expand and develop further in the coming years. We are looking forward to working with the team from Addington Equestrian to continue to deliver the friendly professional experience that is expected at the championships.”

The championships includes finals for horses and ponies at all levels. More than 280 qualifiers will be held between October and next March.

“The move will allow the event to continue to grow, giving more competitors the opportunity to become involved,” the statement said.

The timetable for the championships at the new venue will be released in January 2024.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

At the Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships at Hartpury Arena, Gloucestershire (12-16 April), Irish showjumper Anthony Condon achieved a tremendous feat by steering a pair of Shaw Farm Stud home-breds to a one-two in Friday’s grand prix, writes Sarah Radford.

Anthony topped the leaderboard with the Hales family’s mare SFS Mirage and stopped the clock just half a second slower on her half-brother SFS Vincomte.

“I’d be surprised if a half-brother and sister taking first and second in a grand prix has happened before,” he said. “It’s a great result for Shaw Farm Stud and their breeding programme.”

SFS Mirage and SFS Vincomte are both out of a mare called Illusion, who is by the stallion Magic Darco, who the Hales owned, and out of Nick Skelton’s mare Florida. Mirage is by Unex Barichello, a son of Heartbreaker, and Vincomte, who has competed to 1.60m, is by Vini Vidi Vici.

“I actually have four horses out of the same mare, the seven-year-old SFS Houdini [who was recently runner-up in the seven-year-old championship at Arena UK and is by SFS Aristio], and the five-year-old SFS Valente [a full sister to Vincomte], who is showing promise. It’s a very good mother line,” Anthony Condon said.

“As you can imagine, we really think Illusion is the best mum out there,” added Pat Hales. “She only competed to newcomers herself. She was very well bred and very careful but quirky, so as we didn’t have an outside rider, we decided to breed from her and that has proved to be immensely successful.”

Illusion’s dynasty continues as Mirage also has two offspring on the ground: a two-year-old filly called SFS Reflection and a yearling colt called SFS Conqueror, both by Vini Vidi Vici.

‘She’s been knocking on the door in recent weeks’

A total of seven combinations had made it through to the second round of Friday night’s grand prix, giving the gala crowd plenty of action to get behind, at a show already characterised by some ferociously competitive jump-offs.

Early in the draw, Anthony set an unassailable bar when he delivered a beautifully smooth and economical performance on 10-year-old SFS Mirage, round a flowing track from Nigel Jess.

Two more combinations jumped clear, Philip Miller with Don Royale and Rose Moss with Amina OL. Don Royale initially held the runner-up spot before being knocked 0.32sec down the leaderboard by last-to-jump Anthony and 13-year-old Vincomte.

“The jump-off was all about your turns and who could turn a bit tighter – I won it turning a bit shorter from the second fence to the third. Mirage worked very hard there and did well to jump it,” Anthony said.

He added that he had asked more of the greener horse Mirage in the jump-off to give her the experience against the clock.

“I already know Vincomte can go quite fast, so I asked a question or two more of her and she lived up to the task,” he said. “She’s been knocking on the door in recent weeks and she was ready to win one.”

Mirage is less familiar on the circuit than her older sibling Vincomte, who has jumped successfully at five-star level. Although relatively low mileage and still eligible to jump B&Cs, the mare has been placed in all the grands prix she’s jumped this year.

“She had a bit of time out as she had a foal when she was younger, but I think she’s a horse who will go on,” Anthony said.

Another consistent performer for Anthony this season has been Thomas and Sophia Kelly’s mare Ashdale Allstar, who just missed out on taking home a rug when she was second to Angie Thompson and Sanavisto in the Blue Chip Karma final. These two were recent rivals in the winter grade C final at Arena UK when the roles were reversed with Sanavisto standing runner-up.

“Angie pipped me right at the end, she’s been on fire all week!” Anthony said.

Don’t miss the full report from the Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships in this week’s magazine, in the shops Thursday 20 April.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Rescued from slaughter as a three-year-old, the lovely gelding Gameboy Des Terdrix Z has finally found his forte in life thanks to one lady’s empathy and perseverance.

The nine-year-old was left blind in his left eye following an accident as a youngster. He was bought by rider Anastasia Lewis in her native France as an unbroken youngster because nobody wanted him.

“I was at my old boss’s stable and someone called and said they had a horse with a nice pedigree but blind in one eye,” says Anastasia. “They said, ‘If you want him, come and get him or he’s gone.’ It was me or the meat man.

“The market then wasn’t like it is now and I don’t think they could find anyone who wanted an unbroken horse who was also blind in one eye.”

Anastasia adds: “I’ve never regretted my decision!”

She and Gameboy Des Terdrix Z only started jumping last year as Anastasia has been busy with work – she works for racehorse trainer Paul George, doing everything from riding out to administration and running the stable management of the UK yard. But the gelding has developed into a fantastic showjumper.

“I jumped two classes last year and then he did the tour in Vilamoura, Portugal, last autumn, jumping the 1.10m classes,” explained Anastasia. “It was a bit hit and miss, but this year we’ve come back to the UK and jumped newcomers and Foxhunter.”

The pair stepped up to jumping their first 1.30m class in the recent Blue Chip Dynamic B&C qualifier at The Grange EC in Devon, winning with the sole clear round of the second phase.

“For his first class at this height I have no complaints!” says Anastasia. “I jumped the B&C at The Grange as I wanted to step up and it was the only class I could find above 1.20m. He was consistent at 1.20m so I thought he might be able to do more.

“We’re taking it as it goes and he has his own style, but he keeps taking me up a class every time.”

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Showjumper Phoebe Ewens surmounted a run of bad luck to finish first and fourth in the recent Blue Chip Championships Diamond qualifier (2 October) at Penderosa Equestrian Centre, Newport, with Daniel Bridge’s Quantum Trost and her own Romans.

Twenty-five-year-old Phoebe has endured several open spinal surgeries for degenerative disc disease — which is likely to give her just five years left in the saddle.

Recently, Phoebe has also had to retire her best horse with navicular, and the mare bought to replace him stumbled and damaged her deep digital flexor tendon.

After the retirement of her horses, Phoebe’s friend Daniel stepped in to offer her the ride on 18.1hh Quantum Trost (Quinn).

“He’s the nicest horse but I wasn’t sure it would work as I am tiny, but he’s a gentle giant,” Phoebe said. “He is so kind — my mum has had a hip replacement and she can handle him, he’s so easy to do.”

‘I’m just trying to do as much as I can, while I can’

Phoebe, who was told by the NHS that she could never ride again, said her spinal problems have made her more cautious of a fall and affected her confidence, but Quinn is helping her step back up the levels.

“After my previous surgery, it was supposed to be about 10 years before the back collapses again but mine only lasted two. The disease in my spine is very fast-moving. I am just trying to do as much as I can, while I can,” said Phoebe, can’t feel her fingertips or her right leg below the knee.

“Because of having to retire my good horse, and the impact of all of my back problems, I’ve lost my confidence,” she said. “I have been able to beg, steal and borrow horses before on loan and on lease, but they have never been horses that are easy. I can take Quinn back up the heights as he’s the first horse I feel I can go into a newcomers on and not be sick — I know the consequences of something happening to me.”

Phoebe’s fourth-placed ride was also returning to the ring following an injury.

“She did her check ligament just before Christmas and I’d been putting off bringing her to a show for ages as with my bad luck I didn’t want to upset the leg again,” Phoebe said. “My mum said ‘you’ve got to do it at some point’. I wasn’t even expecting a clear, so I am really pleased.”

You can read the full round-up of this week’s national shows and the Horse of the Year Show in this week’s magazine, in the shops Thursday 13 October.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

During last week’s Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships (6-10 April) we spotted a wealth of talented young horses who look set to take the showjumping world by storm. Here are six potential superstars, who really caught our eye – watch this space!

KIMBA CASTELLO: a competitive eight-year-old, also known as “Mr Grumpy”

Holly Smith lifted the Blue Chip Pro challenge trophy on Kimba Castello (pictured, above), for owner-breeder Kim Barzilay.

“Carlo” recently won a good string of four-star 1.40/1.45m classes on the Andalucia Sunshine Tour. “He’s been jumping well, now he’s back indoors but it doesn’t bother him; he’s competitive,” says Holly of the Castello Overcinge’s Z x Heartbreaker gelding, who will stay at 1.45m level for the time being.

“He’s only eight and always tries his heart out,” adds Holly. “We call him ‘Mr Grumpy’ at home – he’d never bite or kick but likes to pull faces. He’s straightforward and easy and is always pleased to see a jump.”

CSF KILKISHEN: a faultless auction purchase

Isobel Stenning landed the Voltaire Design winter novice title on CSF Kilkishen (pictured above), a Mylord Carthago x Lancer III seven-year-old, who was a chance buy from Goresbridge Sales. “This win is one of the highlights, especially as I’ve produced him myself,” says Isobel, 18. “He’s my first auction horse, we bought him on livestream. We’d only seen videos and the first time we met him was when he came off the lorry,” explained Isobel. “I can’t fault him. He’d only done one show in Ireland and he’s very laid back; I had to make sure we’d got enough power when warming up.”

RARITY: a “deceptively quick” mare, who wants to get on with things

A British-bred seven-year-old won the Joshua Jones discovery championship for rider Bex Mason and owners Suzanne Beddoes and Niki Caine. The Argento x Abdullah seven-year-old Rarity (pictured above) topped a 27-strong jump-off. “I didn’t think there was any room for improvement but she’s deceptively quick,” says Bex, who got the ride 12 months ago. “She previously evented but she’s buzzy and wants to get on with it. She’s also fussy in her mouth so I changed her into a hackamore; now she’s settled.”

MANZANITA: unfazed and flawless

Jess Botham took the Blue Chip Dynamic B&C title with Jane Starkey’s home-bred Manzanita (pictured above).

“This is only her second show since January – I’ve been competing in Spain for the past seven weeks and she’s spent time in the field,” says Jess.

Former eventer Jane started getting the Cevin Z x Gunner B eight-year-old fit five weeks ago, with Jess popping her around a Weston Lawns 1.20m before competing at the Blue Chip Championships. “She’s so level, doesn’t spook and jumped at Horse of the Year Show last year so I knew she’d be fine with the flowers and tradestand distractions,” says Jess.

DILLINGER NE: “worth getting up for in a morning”

The Blue Chip Karma performance final went to Mark Edwards riding Dillinger NE (pictured above), a seven-year-old Diarado x Carsimo gelding bred locally in Gloucestershire by Ros and Dennis Palmer.

“He’s still green against the clock – turning but not attacking the fences – but he’s easy and straightforward and improving; he’s worth getting up for in a morning,” says joint-owner Mark, who was originally brought the gelding to be broken in. “He won Keysoe International six-year-old grand prix in December having jumped 16 consecutive double clears – and he’s added to that since.”

GWEN STEFANI SHO Z: taking her first big show in her stride

Courtney Young landed the Blue Chip Joint RLF power championship on Maxine and Steve Locke’s Gwen Stefani Sho Z (pictured above). “It’s so unexpected, it’s her first big show but she took the atmosphere in her stride,” says Courtney, 19, who acquired the seven-year-old mare from Jamie Wingrove two years ago. “She’s always shown potential although she was green and spooky and used to run after landing over a fence. I let her roll in her own way and she now wears a titanium mask which has helped enormously.”

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

At the recent Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships (6-10 April), 12-year-old Emily Irvine landed a stylish victory in the Eskadron pony discovery championship riding Bureside Personality. But her mother Alison ended up £200 worse off after a pre-class promise gave her daughter an added incentive to win.

“My mum Alison promised I would get all the prize money if I won because she didn’t think we’d be that fast in the jump-off; that’s £200!” said Emily. “It was the first time Bureside Personality has gone against the clock and he was incredible,” said a delighted Emily.

Sixty-six competitors came forward in this class with hopes of gaining a rug, sash and taking the coveted lap of honour with 22 surviving round one to vie for the title. But Emily was the quickest, slicing corners on the Bureside Commander nine-year-old like a pro to push Grace Soden with Bonnie’s Girl into second place.

Emily got the ride two years ago on the handsome “Lionel” who was found in a shed in the middle of a field in Kent by Jack Burchmore, a now joint-owner with Red Perfect and Emily’s mother Alison.

“He was gelded late and didn’t start jumping until he was seven, I’ve produced him since and he absolutely loves attention – if you don’t cuddle or kiss him, he kicks the stable door until you do but he is the kindest pony and would actually like to live in the house,” said Emily, a pupil at Stonar School.

“The school is fantastic. The training is so good there and they give me all the time off I need for competing and training.”

Emily trains with Fiona Hobby.

“She’s so good and fills me with confidence,” added Emily, who now has Horse of the Year Show ambitions in the newcomers and Foxhunter finals with Lionel.

Don’t miss the full report from the Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships in this week’s Horse & Hound, in the shops Thursday 14 April.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Robert Smith reckoned he was hot to win the Blue Chip grand prix and duly pulled it out of the bag with the scopey Ilton to crown a cracking night on Friday’s Gala evening.

“I knew Ilton would be close, he’s older, experienced and won a good class in Peelbergen three weeks ago and when he’s on, he can win big classes,” said Robert.

Course-designer Nigel Jess used clever technical distances and rollback turns to test control, rideability and scope in his 13-fence track and clears proved hard to come by at first. However, six found all the right answers from the 41 entries to promise a cracking jump-off.

“The course is always good when you win but it was a tough track. I had a young inexperienced horse in it with Nonante and you had to be on point but I was pleased with her performance [five faults]. The standard was high, there were a lot of entries but he got the right result with six clears,” assessed Robert.

Nici Wilson opener on Guaranteed Quality finished on eight faults but Mennell Watson conjured up some clever riding to bring the diminutive stallion Whisper In The Wind home clear. However, the time looked vulnerable.

Upping a gear on the big-striding Ilton, Robert executed rollback turns without interrupting the pace and kept on a level stride to the final Blue Chip oxer, wiping 2.64 sec off Mennell’s time.

Adrian Speight gave him a good run for his money with Millfield Baloney but broke the beam half a sec in arrears.

It was down to the final two ladies – both in with a chance of the Andrews Bowen £1,000 bonus on offer to the top three riders of the Blue Chip Pro challenge trophy – winner Holly Smith and second-placed Yazmin Davis. But it wasn’t to be as rails fell for both.

Robert, who had missed out on the bonus by one with fourth place in Thursday night’s competition, has ridden the Dulf Van Den Bisschop x Calvaro Z 14-year-old for seven years.

“He’s a character, there’s no badness in him, just cheekiness and he’s actually a better horse outdoors in big rings,” said Robert, who carefully selects his classes with Maubeuge and other International meetings a possibility in the near future.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Holly Smith landed the Blue Chip Pro challenge trophy with Kim Barzilay’s home-bred Kimba Castello with an early round that held off all challenges at the Blue Chip Championships.

“It’s great to get a win at Kim’s favourite show with one of her home-bred horses,” said Holly, who is just back from a successful show at the Andalucia Sunshine tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain.

The Castello Overcinge’s Z eight-year-old Castello is out of Heartbreaker mare Jessica Du Warchet – a former grade A showjumper – and clocked up six wins on the trot in four-star 1.40m and 1.45m classes.

“He’s always competitive wherever he goes and he’s won plenty at 1.45m now and although he’s back indoors after jumping in the big outdoor rings in Spain it doesn’t bother him,” said Holly, who found subtle problems when riding the track.

Run as a single-phase class with 55 competitors coming forward over 12 fences designed by Paul Connor, questions surfaced as the class progressed.

“It walked fine but there were problems everywhere, especially the line to the last. You had to make up your mind beforehand whether you would take six or seven strides to the final oxer. I knew I’d get in an early turn and I had already made up my mind I would take the outside line and go on seven strides,” explained Holly.

The tactics worked a treat. The consistent pair claimed a 2.73 sec advantage to win and are now in line for the Andrews Bowen championship bonus worth a £1,000 to any rider placed in the top three of the Blue Chip Pro challenge trophy who goes on to win the Blue Chip grand prix at tonight’s (8 April) gala.

Also targeting the bonus prize at the Blue Chip Championships is Yazmin Davis, placed second on Zanbowa Z and Angie Thompson, who finished third with Steyburn.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Emily Morris threw her heart and soul over every fence and loyal mount Bean Cruising went with her to achieve a long-term aim and claim victory in the FMBs Therapy Systems star championship.

This class on the second day of Hartpury’s Blue Chip championships followed the same level of popularity as others, with 106 riders contended the first round over a 1.10m track – 27 returned to battle it out in the jump-off.

Emma-Jo Slater claimed an early lead with a neat but ruthlessly fast round on Kings Of Leon and, as challenges came and went and poles fell, remained on top of the leader board. Only five clears were recorded second time out, but Emma-Jo’s time proved vulnerable towards the end with Pippa Taylor’s Tequila Sunrise III edging ahead before Emily made a supreme effort.

Vocally urging ‘Bean’ into a faster gallop to the final two fences with a daring turn into the penultimate plank, Emily secured the win by an incredible 1.05 sec.

“I’ve wanted to win this class for so long. I’ve been second and third in previous years and I couldn’t have gone any faster, she gave me everything and easily took a stride out to the last,” said Emily, who has ridden this sure-footed Mr Jumbojangles x Cruising 11-year-old since her British novice days and – apart from one occasion – always jumps barefoot.

Emily, who works for the MIND mental health charity, is aiming for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) silver league and, now she has come of age, the Veterans European championships.

“We’ve been jumping some 1.30m classes and the Veteran European championships would be a nice goal, although I’ll have to ask my husband to rearrange our summer holidays – they clash,” she said.

Read more from the Blue Chip Championships:

A locally bred horse makes his mark at Blue Chip championships

British-bred horses lead the way at Blue Chip championships

Breeder aims for Blue Chip glory with five homebreds competing

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

British home-bred horses claimed the lion’s share of the prizes in the Joshua Jones UK discovery championship in a shout out for British breeding during the second day of action at Hartpury’s Blue Chip championships.

Bex Mason riding Rarity for Niki Caine and Suzanne Beddoes claimed the title ahead of Emma-Jo Slater aboard Kim Barzilay’s Kimba Time, who is by Time Out M out of a mare by Heartbreaker.

A mammoth entry of 107 competitors initially bid for glory in this championship over course-designer Paul Connors’ 12-fence track with 27 returning to battle it out in the jump-off.

Emma-Jo set a sizzling target from second draw with the eager Kimba Time and held on to the lead despite several challenges. But Bex gave it her all and found slighter tighter lines with the seven-year-old Rarity to ease ahead by 0.84 sec and snatch the title.

“There was a tight inside turn and Niki said, ‘You can’t do that turn,’ but I told her I was doing it! I didn’t think I’d beat Emma-Jo, she was fast and there didn’t look any room for improvement but this mare is very quick even if she doesn’t look like it,” said a delighted Bex, who was making a winning return to this show. “I won the Blue Chip Karma performance championship with Van Curtis in 2019, the last time this show was held. You win once, you think it is a fluke, to win a second time in amazing.”

The Argento seven-year-old out of an Abdullah mare was previously with Mike Winter for eventing, but switched disciplines to showjumping and joined Bex in March 2021.

“She’s quite buzzy and fussy in the mouth – dressage wasn’t her forte, she wanted to be a jumper,” said Bex, who would like to focus on newcomer second rounds in the summer.

Read more from the Blue Chip Championships:

A locally bred horse makes his mark at Blue Chip championships

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Mark Edwards scored a win with a Gloucestershire-bred horse as he used his second draw to maximum effect to take the Blue Chip Karma Performance title during the second day of action at Hartpury’s Blue Chip championships.

Sixteen of the original 92 competitors gained access to the jump-off with Mark claiming two of the rides. And he was on a mission with Ros and Dennis Palmer’s home-bred seven-year-old Dillinger NE, securing the win by just a tenth of a sec.

“He’s easy and straightforward – still a little green against the clock, but he’s improving all the time. He’s very consistent, a good clear round jumper and he makes my life very easy,” said Mark, who now owns 50% of the gelding, who is by Diarado out of a Carsimo mare. The pair will aim at newcomer and Foxhunter second rounds this summer.

Georgina Hilton had to settle for second place on Newtowns Discovery B while Tallulah McKenzie Smith rode Hamilton Heidi III VDP into third. Mark also picked up fourth on second ride Royale Tale. He beat his winning time by 1.70 sec but a rail fell en route to drop them down the line.

• Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full report on all the showjumping action from the 2022 Blue Chip Championships in Hartpury in next Thursday’s magazine, on sale Thursday 14 April. Also inside will be our report from the FEI World Cup Showjumping Finals, as John Whitaker bids for his third title

Read more from the Blue Chip Championships:

Teenager and horse bought unseen take championship title

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Breeder aims for Blue Chip glory with five homebreds competing

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Isobel Stenning scored victory in the Voltaire Design novice championship with a flying round on the Irish-bred CSF Kilkishen at the Blue Chip Championships.

A dog-leg line in course-designer Paul Connor’s 12-fence track proved the downfall of many and just 17 0f the mammoth 105-entry posted first-round clears to return for the jump-off. Ami Measor claimed three of the rides and set a competitive standard on Mac Luidam. But it was not to be.

The lead changed constantly at the start as the first four riders risked tighter and tighter turns but Isobel used her fourth draw to devastating effect to win with 0.44 sec in hand. She pushed Molly Heaps and Carrickview Lily Lou into second place.

“This win is one of my highlights, especially as I have produced her myself,” said Isobel, 18, on the Mylord Carthago x Lancer III seven-year-old she purchased in a Goresbridge auction.

“We’d only seen videos and bid online and didn’t meet him until he came off the lorry,” explained Isobel, who found the chance taken paid dividends. “He has been absolutely faultless since then, he takes everything in his stride.”

This was Isobel’s only second visit to the Blue Chip Championships.

“I came here once before on ponies, this is my first time with horses,” said Windsor-based Isobel, who has recently started riding horses full-time. “I used to event and switched to showjumping when I was aged 15 and 16, now I’m taking every opportunity to crack on with showjumping and my career.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Courtney Young left her 21 jump-off rivals trailing in her wake to take the Blue Chip RLF Joint power title with a super-fast, daring early round on Maxine and Steve Locke’s Gwen Stefani Sho Z.

“This is my first Blue Chips Championships on horses and it is great to be back, it is one of my favourite shows,” said Courtney, who won the Blue Chip JC/JA and finished fifth in the Blue Chip Sparkle championship in 2017 with Fostymana VH Trichelhof.

Of the 85 competitors who tackled course-designer Paul Connor’s 12-fence Blue Chip power track, 22 returned but no-one turned quicker than second-drawn Courtney. She sealed the deal with a risky gallop to the final imposing Blue Chip oxer – a bogey for several chasing her time – but remained ahead to win by 0.53 sec.

Courtney, 19, who is based in Wickford, Essex, credits trainer Julian Mincher with her success.

“I’ve been training with Julian since last summer and he’s amazing, so much help and never puts any pressure on me and tells me to keep a nice rhythm and let the fences come to me,” she said.

The Belgian-bred seven-year-old mare Gwen Stefani was bought from Jamie Wingrove two years ago.

“She was very green and this was the first time she’d experienced a championship show atmosphere and I really didn’t expect to win but she took it in her stride,” added Courtney, who rides for Maxine and Steve Locke. “They are fabulous owners, I ride a lot of their horses.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Kim Barzilay and her Buckinghamshire-based rider Emma-Jo Slater have attended every Blue Chip Championships since 1992 but this year is extra special as Kim has five home-bred horses competing.

“It’s always nice to bring home-bred babies here to strut their stuff and this time we have three novices and two grade As who jump in Friday night’s (8 April) grand prix,” said Kim.

Holly Smith will jump the eight-year-old Kimba Castello (Castello Overcinge’s Z x Heartbreaker), and John Crippen will be in the saddle on Billy Twomey’s former five-star ride Kimba Flamenco (Je T’Aime Flamenco x Heartbreaker) in the grand prix. Emma-Jo rides Flamenco’s five-year-old full sister Kimba Je T’Aime, the six-year-old mare Kimba Time – half-sister to Castello, sharing the dam Jessica Du Warchet — and Kimba Forever (Fabrice Van Overis Z x For Pleasure).

Emma-Jo first competed at her first Blue Chip Championships in pony classes aged 13.

“She didn’t win until she was 17 in the winter novice and finished first and second. We always qualified a lot of horses and used to see if we could better the number each year but we didn’t have the horsepower to win consistently in the early years,” said Kim.

Emma-Jo has won most of the novice titles over the three decades but the one title that has eluded them so far is the Blue Chip Dynamic B and C.

“We haven’t got an entry in the B and C this year so that will have to wait but we are back in with a chance in the Star championship,” said Kim. “Emma-Jo has been on the gold league for the last seven years and there fore ineligible but this year she’s back in so we’ve brought faithful friends Kings Of Leon and Freule TN as well as Judy Ross’s Fleur Du Logis.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

He may not have emulated Best Mate or Frankel on the racetrack, but 10-year-old ex-racehorse Discours D’Un Roi looks to have found his forte over the coloured poles after an eye-catching showjumping win at Prestige Equestrian Centre in Gloucestershire recently.

The chestnut gelding and his rider Annabel McCourt picked up a ticket for the prestigious Blue Chip Winter Championship Finals in April thanks to a convincing victory in the show’s Voltaire Design winter novice qualifier.

“He’s very careful and jumps more like a warmblood,” said Annabel.

“He cost a lot of money – over £100k – and after he came to England he ran three or four times over here and was utterly useless, so we bought him!

“It was basically a case of, ‘Take him, he eats too much!’”

Discours D’Un Roi was bred in France by the stallion Vision D’Etat, out of a Sabrehill mare, and went into training with Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte. He made his racecourse debut as a three-year-old, finishing mid-field in two races on the Flat.

When he moved to France’s champion jumps trainer Guillaume Macaire, he managed to rack up a couple of wins over hurdles before being bought in 2017 by Sullivan Bloodstock Limited when he joined the stables of the legendary Nicky Henderson. 

The 16.3hh gelding made his racecourse debut in England in a handicap hurdle at Sandown Park with Noel Fehily in the saddle, but finished last of the nine runners. He did not fare much better when fourth in a five-runner hurdle at Ludlow, making “no impression” under Sean Bowen, and connections decided to call it a day after he was pulled up at Chepstow in October with Nico De Boinville riding.

But “Rio” has proved a great all-rounder for Annabel since she took the reins soon after.

“I have had him for four years now and he is a diamond,” explained Annabel, who is married to 1990 Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey Graham McCourt, who won the race on 100/1 shot Norton’s Coin.

Having won in showing classes, been hunting and team chasing and tried his hand at eventing, Rio was registered with British Showjumping last year on the advice of Annabel’s coach Stella Bunn, who believed it would be his forte.

“He placed sixth in the RoR [Retraining of Racehorses] champs at Stoneleigh and has won about £200, even though he’s not been out too many times, as he’s pretty consistent,” Annabel said.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Grandmothers are awesome for many, many reasons but few people can rely on one to help exercise their horse every morning – especially one who has reached the grand age of 83. Lucky showjumper Chloe Reynolds, however, has her very own Supergran, Jean Richardson, who has provided huge support with her horses. The 23-year-old rider gives her brilliant Nan full credit for a recent win at Chard Equestrian in Devon with the six-year-old Kiss By Malia.

Chloe Reynolds, who is based in Somerset, found early success with the mare, winning Bicton’s five-year-old championship in 2020, but she went on to become her 83-year-old Nan’s “pet” during the global pandemic last year.

“When we first went into lockdown we gave all the horses a bit of a break and around that time my Nan lost her horse and also moved to live with us, so she ended up riding her at home,” says Somerset-based Chloe.

“I had to take her back in the end as she’s a bit too good to be a pet!

“In the ring, Kiss By Malia is quite feisty but everywhere else she’s the quietest horse ever. My Nan is still riding her most mornings though and helps get her ready for shows.”

The pair came up trumps to claim the Blue Chip Joint RLF power qualifier at Chard Equestrian, where the 23-year-old rider also picked up two 1.40m open victories with her stable star Grenadier Volo, who is also returning to full fitness after suffering a mystery allergy a few months ago.

“He’s never been sick, sorry or taken a lame step in all the time we’ve had him,” says Chloe, who has produced “Uno” since a three-year-old. “We didn’t find out what was causing it and he seems fine now but isn’t quite at peak fitness, so we’re just building him back up.

“Every time he comes out he has a win and he always puts a smile on my face,” she added. “This weekend was probably the best he’s felt in a long time – he was bucking and having a celebration at end of his round. He loves what he does.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships is the latest major fixture to be lost owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2021 championships were set to take place at Hartpury from 4 to 10 April, but the impact of past and current restrictions means it is not possible.

“Following the recent Government announcement and confirmation that staying away from home will not be permitted until after 12 April at the earliest, it is with huge regret that we have to make the sad decision to cancel,” read a statement from the organisers.

“Losing four and a half out of six months of the winter competition season due to the two lockdowns has prevented over 260 qualifiers from being held and it is now no longer possible to re-allocate such a large number of qualifiers.

“We are bitterly disappointed for those who gained qualification and are now unable to compete at the finals, but this situation is unprecedented, beyond our control and the result of a worldwide pandemic.”

The statement adds that various options have been looked at, but it will not be possible to roll over any previous qualifications to future championships.

This is the second year the finals have been forced to cancel as a result of Covid.

Last year’s finals were moved from April 2020 to December, but that too was lost owing to pandemic restrictions.

Article continues below…

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 “We are determined to produce one of our best events for the horse world to enjoy”

Planning for the new qualification season, which starts in October, is under way with dates to be announced in the summer.

“A successful national vaccination program will allow us all to safely return to the type of sport, championship series and championship finals enjoyed in previous years,” the statement continues, thanking sponsors and officials for all their work and support.

Clare Blaskey, founder of Blue Chip Feed, added: “We sympathise with the bitter disappointment that cancellation brings and my team will greatly miss seeing you all. We are so looking forward to welcoming you to a super Blue Chip Championships next year.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The rescheduled Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships have been cancelled following the announcement of tighter Covid restrictions.

In a statement yesterday (17 December) the organisers said it was with “great sadness and disappointment” the event scheduled to take place from 28 December 2020 to 2 January 2021 at Hartpury Arena is off. The news follows the Government announcement that more areas in England will move into tier three, and Wales will go back into a national lockdown on 28 December. The championships had originally been due to take place from 1-5 April this year.

“While we have made every effort to ensure the success of the rescheduled event, we have been informed that following recent talks between Hartpury University and the local health protection team in Gloucester that any competitors residing within a tier three area will not be permitted to travel to Hartpury Arena unless it is for work purposes,” read the statement.

The statement said with the Government restrictions it had been left “untenable” to host a national final with such large areas of the country unable to participate.

“We are also conscious that the next Government announcement on tier change or lockdown would be due on 30 December, which could close the event partly concluded,” it read.

“When entries opened it was widely predicted that the tier system would continue the downward trend and that many areas in tier three would drop to tier two in the Government review on 16 December. This has not been the case and large parts of England have moved into the highest tier. With a national increase in Covid-19 cases we have a duty of care to all competitors, sponsors and officials to keep them safe and not to encourage the spread of this virus.”

The organisers said the support of the event’s sponsors and officials had been “amazing” and they could not have considered rescheduling without their “superb backing”.

“We all owe them a massive debt of thanks. Full refunds will be paid to everyone entered, minus the My Riding Life booking fee, the Stripe online payment fee and administration fee. These will be processed as quickly as possible,” said a spokesman.

Article continued below…

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“The team would be doing everything possible to ensure the Blue Chip magic remained”

“It was always a risk to attempt to reschedule the championships but please be assured that we have done our utmost to make this happen in the current unpredictable climate. We thank you for your support and we are bitterly disappointed not to be welcoming everyone to a festive championships.

“The team at Show Direct have worked so hard for months to try to make this happen. We had lots of surprises ready which we hoped would have made it a very special event and something to remember in a year that most of us would like to forget, but sadly circumstances are now once more, beyond our control.”

The spokesman added organisers will now focus on making the 2021 championships in April “extra special”.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Sarah Winterbottom describes her home-bred daughter of Geoff Glazzard’s Why Me as “a tough old bird, who does me proud and never lets me down”

TWO riders combined old and new partnerships to net both of the schedules’ Blue Chip qualifiers at The Grange EC, Devon, and Northcote Stud, Lancashire.

At Northcote, it was Sarah Winterbottom who dominated the Blue Chip Joint RLF power and the 1.25m qualifiers, riding Nediva Z, who she was competing for the first time in two years, and her prolific Dolly V (pictured top), who has come back from a nasty injury sustained while out in the field during the first lockdown.

Seven-year-old Nediva, by Nonstop, is owned by Amanda Wilkinson, who is currently out of action with broken ribs.

“I rode her for a while as a five-year-old, but she has only been out a handful of times in the past two years with her owner,” said Sarah. “She’s never gone against the clock before but she is very careful and has a lot of jump for a 15.2hh.”

Sarah also partnered her home-bred “baby” Dolly to a successful “sweetener” around the 1.25m.

The 10-year-old mare has notched up an impressive record in 1.30ms and stepped up to some 1.40m classes this year.

The grey daughter of Geoff Glazzard’s Why Me survived a serious injury during lockdown when she severed an artery on some fencing.

“She was sniffing the neighbours over the fence, pawed with a front leg and managed to get it stuck. If I hadn’t have been there she would have bled to death,” Sarah said.

“I had to wait an hour for the vet with her leg held up and by the time we transported her to the surgery, she’d lost so much blood the vets said it would have killed a dog or a human.

“She was in intensive care for a week but she is a tough old bird. She does me proud and never lets me down.”

“A proper winner”

AT The Grange, Rachel Vicary added the FMBs Therapy Systems star qualifier to the extensive tally of wins she has secured with Sparkling Indulgence. She backed it up with a first “career win” for six-year-old Cavalier Bravo in the discovery qualifier.

It was the third consecutive victory for 15.1hh Sparkling Indulgence, who started his career in ponies before measuring out.

“He’s like a pony on horse legs and he’s a proper little winner,” said 21-year-old Rachel. “Now he’s a bit older we limit what he jumps a bit more, although he’s very sound and still lives and breathes competing.”

The grey gelding is based with Rachel’s mother Mandy, who hacks him during the week.

Cavalier Bravo, who only recently started jumping BS, topped the discovery qualifier by an astonishing nine seconds.

“I say to mum that he’s the next Sparkling Indulgence – he’s quick and careful, whatever height you jump,” Rachel said.

H&H 5 Nov 2020

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The 2020 Blue Chip championships have been rescheduled for the very end of this year, it has been announced with “cautious excitement”.

The aim is for the annual winter showjumping championships, which should have run from 1-5 April but were lost to the coronavirus lockdown, to take place from 28 December to 2 January, at Hartpury Arena in Gloucestershire.

“Following discussions with British Showjumping and Hartpury Arena, and with the support of our very valued sponsors, our aim is to reschedule the Blue Chip Winter Championships 2020,” a spokesman for the event said.

Owing to current Covid-19 restrictions, the show will not run in the same format as normal. It will be behind closed doors, with a reduced timetable in one arena only, and no gala night — but organisers hope to offer a “suitable conclusion” to those who had qualified.

“Although very different, you can be assured that the team at Show Direct would be doing everything possible to ensure that the Blue Chip magic remained and that it still had the championship feel that we all love!” the spokesman said.

The organisers warned that the championships will only go ahead if this is possible safely and within guidelines in place at the time.

“While we are doing everything in our power to make this happen, we also need to be realistic that the current ever-changing situation may conspire against us again,” the spokesman said.

Continues below…

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“As always, safety for our competitors and officials will be of paramount importance.

“If we are not able to host the championships over the new year, then regrettably the 2020 finals will have to be abandoned. As it would create a very unequal final, it will not be possible for qualification for 2020 to roll over to the championships in 2021.

“However, we will remain positive that the covid-19 situation will allow us to proceed safely, and we will keep you updated with further information as it is available.”

The pony finals would run at the start of the show, so they would be finished by the end of the calendar year.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships, held last week (10-14 April) at Hartpury never fail to deliver on excitement, awesome partnerships and quality sport. To celebrate some of the many golden achievements over the four days, here is a selection of some of the worthy winners — and don’t miss this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (out Thursday, 18 April) for the full stories.

1. Good Lord!

15-year-old Neve Gill and the Irish-bred Connemara Lord French, who is described by his rider as a “dude”, win the Pikeur Pony Novice Championship in tremendous style.

2. So good they did it twice

Eloise Burden and Coolatooder Liath claim a double victory in the Voltaire Design Pony Coral Championship and the Blue Chip Pro Sparkle JC/JA — “She’s won things I never thought we would win,” says 15-year-old Eloise.

3. No fooling around

Katie Shaw and the 18-year-old Fools Business — so named after being born on April Fool’s Day by the great stallion It’s The Business — head the FMBs Therapy Systems Star Championship, regaining the title they won in 2017

4. Golden moments

The Voltaire Design Pony Sapphire Championship goes to Elysia Heagren-Bond riding Attyrory Golden Lady — the pony who is “taking me everywhere” says the 13-year-old.

5. A lot of love for Paris

Nicole Pavitt and her home-bred Paris 16, by Don VHP Z NOP, take top honours in the Blue Chip grand prix — “She wants to do well and I have to let her get on with it,” says the rider.

6. The Quay to success

Megan Trott and the 17-year-old Quay triumph in the Eskadron Pony Discovery Championship — “I’m so grateful to have such a wonderful pony,” says Megan.

7. Home-bred takes the honours

Vancurtis and Bex Mason deliver in the Blue Chip Karma Performance Championship — “It’s days like these that make it all worthwhile,” says Bex.

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday. Plus, don’t miss the full report from the Blue Chip Showjumping Championships in the 18 April 2019 issue.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

It was touch and go whether Chloe Ancill would make her Blue Chip championship debut in her final pony year, but against the odds she made it to the show and walked away with a win and a second place.

Chloe, 15, had qualified for the Pikeur pony winter novice final at Bury Farm in November, but just a month later on Christmas Eve her nine-year-old pony Priceless B was kicked near her stifle and needed 13 staples, box rest then rehabilitation.

“She had a week of box rest and then just hand-walking. It took another eight weeks of careful riding to rehabilitate her and as she had lost muscle and condition, we didn’t know if we could get her back to fitness in time for this show,” said Chloe, 15.

After consulting with the vet, Chloe used arnica and medical grade manuka honey to help with the healing. And it worked. The pair were back out jumping in mid-February and this was their first major show. They excelled, taking second in the Pikeur 85cm and winning the PRB Horseboxes 85cm.

“We took an early lead and were winning by three seconds for a long time, although in the end it was quite close,” said Chloe.

It didn’t go to plan in the Pikeur novice pony championship but Chloe was pleased just to get round.

“I think she got a bit excited after we’d finished second in the previous class but it is a bonus to be going home with £150 in my pocket,” she said.

Continued below…

Tales from Blue Chip Champs: diminutive pair delight the crowd on their debut

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‘Phoebe’ was only bought in September to give Chloe a good final pony year.

“Although we’ve missed getting our double clears for discovery and newcomers, we’re just glad to have our pony back. She’s gone from strength-to-strength,” said Chloe, who is aiming for the pony British novice final at the British Showjumping National Championships in the summer.

Don’t miss this week’s edition of H&H magazine, out 18 April, for a full report from the Blue Chip championships, as well as all the normal reports, news, features and interviews.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Others may have won the sashes and rugs, but the biggest cheer of the show was earned by Elizabeth Galliers making her debut at the Blue Chip championships.

The diminutive 11-year-old partnered Cottown Little Rupert and they jumped a double clear in the Eskadron pony discovery championship much to the delight of the crowd.

A mammoth 106 contended the discovery title and Shropshire-based Elizabeth was one of only two riders in the 128cm section to jump a first round clear to reach the 28-strong jump-off. And Elizabeth carefully guided Rupert into another clear round, verbally encouraged all the way round by the spectators who erupted into rousing cheers as she cleared the last. They finished in eighth place.

The nine-year-old Rupert was purchased two and half a years ago by Elizabeth’s mum Suzanne.

“He was up in John O’Groats and it was a bit of a gamble to buy him, but it worked out well,” said Elizabeth, who qualified at Maelor Equestrian Centre to get to the Blue Chip finals.

Continued below…

Tales from Blue Chip Champs: novice champion bounces back from terrifying field accident

The newly-crowned Voltaire Design novice champion is lucky to be alive, let alone competing following an accident in the field

Tales from Blue Chip Champs: 90-year-old owner’s ‘pride and joy’ wins national title

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The pair started off doing working hunter pony classes in the nursery stakes and finished fifth at the Royal International Horse Show. They only started showjumping last October starting at 70cm, but soon worked their way up with the help of trainer Vanessa Marmont.

“I have to keep the canter, good lines and not rush him,” said Elizabeth, who will focus mainly on showjumping this year with Rupert this year.

“He’s cheeky but he’s very loyal and level. He gets excited in the ring but he always tries his hardest and helps me out at the fences,” added Elizabeth. “He’s so easy at home I can ride him bareback but his party trick is taking off his headcollar – and if he has a friend with him, he’ll take his headcollar off as well.”

Don’t miss this week’s edition of H&H magazine, out 18 April, for a full report from the Blue Chip championships, as well as all the normal reports, news, features and interviews.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A full house enjoyed the Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships (10 to 14 April) gala at Hartpury last night (12 April) featuring the opening Kingsland Equestrian junior challenge, a Graham Fletcher lecture-demo and the feature Blue Chip grand prix.

Nicole Pavitt gave the crowd their money’s worth with an edge-of-your-seats round on nine-year-old chestnut mare Paris 16 to take the class in a seven-horse grand prix jump-off that had them yelling and gasping in equal measures.

Early riders left rails on the floor tackling course-designer Nigel Jess’s 13-fence first-round track and it was not until 12th drawn Rose Moss jumped a copybook round on the scopey African Affair that a clear round was found. Six more combinations eventually joined her, with Rose and Olli Fletcher jumping clear on two rides apiece.

Rose gave the riders something to chase with a competitive opener on the Billy Congo eight-year-old — and Nicole did just that with a breathtaking turn into a double one stride away and an indecisive approach to the final Blue Chip oxer.

“I saw a long one to the double and had to kick,” she said. “Phillip Miller told me it was a short six strides to the last and to go on five but once I’d landed over the [penultimate] vertical I couldn’t see five strides so hesitated and went on six.

“I’d put an extra stride to the last in Addington’s grand prix two weeks ago and was just pipped by Helen Tredwell, I’d never live it down if it happened again.”

Afterwards, Nicole said Paris 16 was “pure class”, adding: “Who says don’t have chestnut mares!” 

Continues below…

Showjumper Nicole Pavitt: ‘I kept falling off, which made me more determined’

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Here top showjumper Louise Pavitt, who competes up to five-star level and also has pony and junior European medals to

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Olli Fletcher finished in second place on Temple Rebus, just over a second and a half behind Nicole, with Rose and African Affair in third.

Nine classes are due to be jumped at Hartpury today, including the Eskadron pony discovery championship and the Pikeur pony novice championship. Competition wraps up tomorrow (Sunday) with seven classes to be jumped.

Don’t miss this week’s edition of H&H magazine, out 18 April, for a full report from the Blue Chip championships, as well as all the normal reports, news, features and interviews.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Devon Grimes scored her biggest win with victory in the Joshua Jones UK discovery championship at the Blue Chip Championships on Miss Silver Dollar, much to the delight of Yorkshire-based owner and breeder Peter Wilson.

“Peter is 90 years old and this mare is his pride and joy. He still looks after her even though he can hardly walk and his biggest regret is not being here to see her win; he usually comes to all the shows with us but staying away here would be too much for him,” said Devon.

Miss Silver Dollar – a now 14-year-old mare by the Irish Draught stallion Rebelara – had last jumped affiliated competition in 2012 at British novice level with Nicola Bell but spent the last four years out of competition and in the field as she was without a rider until Devon took up the reins six months ago.

“She jumped at unaffiliated level up to 90cm until four years ago and Peter just wanted to see her compete again. And this mare is so kind. She lives with Peter and although he has to cross a main road with her from the field, she goes at his pace and is so careful,” explained Devon, who regularly goes over to ride Silver Dollar.

“She is so calm and is so easy to do in every way, she’s the best I’ve ever had and stays level-headed despite racing against the clock.”

Continued below…

Tales from Blue Chip Champs: novice champion bounces back from terrifying field accident

The newly-crowned Voltaire Design novice champion is lucky to be alive, let alone competing following an accident in the field

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John Whitaker facing month out after Gothenburg fall

‘I’m just trying to take it easy for a bit, but the doctor said it would be four weeks before

Devon rides the mare in a short pelham with roundings and no martingale.

“It’s the same tack she has always worn, she goes well in it so there doesn’t seem any point changing it and she doesn’t need a martingale,” added Devon. “This is my fourth visit to the Blue Chip championships and I have never even been placed before, to win a sash and a rug is a big surprise.”

Full report from the Blue Chip Championships at Hartpury will be published in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 18 April

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Emma-Jo Slater’s newly-crowned Voltaire Design novice champion Kimba Kasino is lucky to be alive, let alone competing following an accident in the field.

The six-year-old home-bred owned by Kim Barzilay began his four-year-old career in showjumping uneventfully, but with promise – until after being turned out one day, he attempted to jump the gate out of his field.

“He caught himself on the latch of the gate, ripped his stomach open and was in an awful mess,” says Emma-Jo, who is based in Buckinghamshire as Kim’s long-time established rider.

A vet was called immediately and after some skilful stitching, managed to save the gelding.

Owner/breeder Kim explains: “It was my birthday and we were waiting to go out to dinner, but ended up all dressed up on the yard trying to save a horse standing there with his insides hanging out. And it was touch and go, we almost lost him.

“We were very late for dinner.

“The vet was fantastic as there were hundreds of stitches required and yet he now has only the tiniest of scars – it’s a miracle although recovery was steady and he missed a lot of last year. Perhaps it has made him careful, although he wasn’t careful when he jumped that gate and I don’t recommend it!”

Continued below…

John Whitaker facing month out after Gothenburg fall

‘I’m just trying to take it easy for a bit, but the doctor said it would be four weeks before

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Kimba Kasino is a product of Kim’s breeding programme – Billy Twomey’s top five-star ride Kimba Flamenco is another. Kasino is by Arkoniente – a stallion who traces back to the bloodlines of Arko III and Kannan – and out of the Heartbreaker daughter Jessica Du Warchet, a former top national grade A mare for Lisa Phillips, Ryan Prater, Bryony Ward and Emma-Jo.

“I have two Heartbreaker mares [Kimba Flamenco’s dam is Uttah Van Het Indihof, another former ride for Emma-Jo and the dam of Kimba Flamenco] and they have both produced the goods,” said Kim.

Full report from the Blue Chip Championships at Hartpury will be published in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 18 April

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

For five days (4-8 April 2018) Hartpury Arena in Gloucestershire hosted a jam-packed schedule for the Blue Chip Winter Championships — with winners coming in all shapes and sizes...

Don’t miss the full report from the Blue Chip Winter Championships in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (12 April 2018)

1. A strong and independent winner…

“She’s ginger, sharp in the ring but laid-back in the stable. She’s a strong, independent character who likes her own space,” says Alex Thompson on his grand prix winner Cathalina V.

2. A close call

Kerry Brennan’s winning run with Wellington came to an end at exactly the wrong moment after nine consecutive victories. The Andrews Bowen £1,000 bonus — on offer to one of the top three in the Blue Chip Pro challenge who go on to win the Blue Chip grand prix — was in Kerry’s sights after winning the Pro on Thursday night. “We were clear in the grand prix up to the final fence, but ‘Welly’ just rolled the first part of the double. I knew it had to come to an end at some point,” says Kerry.

3. Eyes on the prize

Ami Measor finally realised a dream ambition — to win a rug! “I’ve always wanted to win a rug — and the one time I won at Scope, there wasn’t a rug for that class. I’ve been coming to Blue Chips since my pony days and brought B and C winner Plucain since his British novice days, and it has taken us 10 years to finally win that rug!”

4. In the spotlight

Emma-Jo Slater’s five-year-old Blue Chip discovery winner Kimba Uttah coped with his first presentation ceremony despite the spotlights, music, rug and sash, although he put in the occasional ‘bunny hop’ bucks waiting for his rosette. “I wonder what goes through their mind. His face was a picture and he certainly looks confused as if to say — ‘Why am I standing still, I usually canter and jump in a ring?’ and ‘Why am I cantering round wearing a rug, rugs are my pyjamas when I go to bed!’” muses owner/breeder Kim Barzilay.

5. From the office to the ring

Blue Chip championship secretary Amanda Bywater managed to take time out to jump Triple Twist in the B and C Dynamic championship — and finished eighth on a double clear. “I’ve been so busy in the office — especially the last month until 10pm at night — she’s only done three shows since November. Even when we were warming up I was taking phone calls, but she’s so talented. She’s the calm one and takes it in her stride,” says Amanda. “Some thought the course was big — from where I was sitting it was ginormous but she just kept going, even when the saddle was slipping to the side in the jump-off!”

6. Fast and furious

“I would have been in trouble if we hadn’t have won, Di told me not to go too fast,” said Ryan Page after winning the novice title on Di Fairclough’s six-year-old stallion Varco II – “but he likes going at a faster pace.”

7. From humble beginnings

Blue Chip power championship winner Sophie Cornwell-Boote’s Vanilla Ice III didn’t get the best start in life. The home-bred filly bred by Sophie’s mother Jackie Cornwell was made an orphan at two days old – “We hand-reared her between us,” said Sophie.

8. Revision on hold

Alice Young claimed a ‘sick day’ away from revision for her GCSE’s to visit the Blue Chip championships, and promptly won the JC/JA Pro sparkle with Suzie Two Coats, her only pony. It marked their biggest win. “We had qualified for the coral championship on Sunday as well, but I can’t afford two days off with exams looming — I want to do well in A levels and go to University,” says Norwich High School for Girls student Alice.

9. A cheeky winner

Amateur and one-horse rider Catherine Mills works full-time as an accountant and only sees her Star championship winner Florian Van Orshof at weekends. “I live and work in Exeter an hour away from Florian in North Devon with my parents Maryann and Robert. They keep him fit for me, although it’s probably a good job Florian goes out and wins at weekends — he’s very cheeky and I’m sure my dad would sell him if he wasn’t a winner,” she says.

10. One to watch

Diminutive Catrin Griffith, 11, and her wonderful 14-year-old 138cm Brynsaeth Jake may have gone the long way round in the sapphire championship jump-off, but they cleared every fence and stole the hearts of the audience, commentator Matt Millin and the judges, drawing a huge cheer as they cleared the last fence.

11. Transport woes

Kerry Brennan uses a trailer when only travelling one or two horses to a show instead of the big lorry, and only attended the Blue Chip championships with one horse — Blue Chip Pro challenge winner Wellington M. “When we reached the show, we realised the trailer had a puncture, but Martin [Smith, stepdad] soon changed the wheel — and hitched the trailer in the air with ‘Welly’ still in it!”

12. Stepping up to the job

Ami Measor’s B and C winner has a rude nickname for a reason… “He does everything wrong in the stable, you cannot school him as he misbehaves so I just have to hack him out — but he’ll go in the ring and jump anything you put in front of him, it’s his saving grace.”

13. A hairy presentation

“Quick, put the rosette on, he’s standing still to do a poo,” said Harry Foulds to his mum Deana as his excitable pony Magic Moments IV spun around in ever decreasing circles during the Eskadron discovery presentation.

14. Collecting Blue Chip titles

Jessica Howard claimed a victory double in the sapphire and coral championships with Tinkas Gentleman Jim, two years after winning both novice and discovery titles on Rocky Robin I. “I haven’t quite won all five Blue Chip pony classes — we missed out on the JC/JA sparkle, but I won the JC section of this handicap last year on Rocky,” says Jessica, who was third overall behind two JA ponies.

15. A Blue Chip veteran

Emma-Jo Slater is a veteran of the Blue Chip championships stretching over more than two decades and has clocked up nine championship wins. She won her first championship aged 18-years-old some 21 years ago. That year — 1997 — she finished first and second in the winter novice with Vatches Red October and Ridgeside Amadaeus. Three of Emma’s championship winners have gone on to International fame — Billy Twomey’s London 2012 ride Tinkas Serenade won the 2006 star title, Lizziemary, a 5* winner for Billy and Israel’s Danielle Goldstein, won the 2013 power title and Kimba Flamenco, now embarking on his International career with Billy, headed the 2016 Karma performance championships. 2010 star winner Uttah Van Het Indihof is the dam of both Kimba Flamenco and Kimba Uttah — Emma-Jo’s 2018 discovery champion. Both were bred by owner Kim Barzilay.

Don’t miss the full report from the Blue Chip Winter Championships in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (12 April 2018)

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

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Last week saw the annual running of the British Showjumping Blue Chip Winter Championships at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire (30 March — 3 April). The competition was packed full with action, some of which Suzanne Jones documents here

1. Elton John is in the building – the four-legged Elton John II that is, jumping in Wednesday’s novice championship with Daniella Johnston.

2. Adam Taylor on Cedarmount Socks won the novice championship aided by Lemsip and paracetamol: “I’ve had flu for three days, even the horse helped me in there,” he croaked.

3. “He thinks about everything, if he was a person, he’d be a geek in glasses, he’s so Captain Sensible and studious, I’m sure he goes back to the stable and works how to do it better next time.” Emma-Jo Slater on her Blue Chip Karma performance champion Kimba Flamenco.

4. Julian Mincher’s Blue Chip B&C winner Eindhoven GH isn’t called ‘Diesel’ at home because he wins the diesel money. “He’s named after Vin Diesel because when I bought him as a two-year-old he was a trolley cob — short, wide and stocky. Luckily, he’s grown and blooded out now.”

5. No, you weren’t seeing double or had too much gin! There were two grey horses named Zilverster — both 12-year-old Dutch-bred mares — in the Blue Chip Pro challenge. Gemma Ellison’s Silverstone x Corland grade C mare and Yazmin Davis’ Guidam x Celano grade A Zilverster II.

6. April Fool! A series of pranks played on the walkie-talkie radios from 7am on Friday morning kept commentator Matt Millin and steward Frank Grunnill on their toes. Even show director Kelvin Bywater got in on the act. No, a refuse lorry hadn’t squashed Frank’s car despite the radio announcements, and Matt soon cottoned on that the clamp on his BMW was actually Frank’s caravan clamp. But when Kelvin claimed both Matt and Andrew Pollard had been sacked over ‘a serious situation’ Frank was temporarily taken in. However, the tables were turned again on Matt with Frank claiming he was walking out in protest of the sacking. Matt was totally taken in. In the end, a draw and truce was declared after much mirth.

7. Jay Halim (pictured) celebrated winning the Blue Chip grand prix and taking the Andrews Bowen £1,000 bonus — awarded when he was second in the Blue Chip Pro challenge and winning the top-billed grand prix — in novel style. He posted a picture on his Twitter account taken in the stables after his win, wearing nothing but a strategically placed winning rug and sash, a pair of riding boots and a smile!

8. A very relieved little lost dog was extremely pleased to meet up with his owners after spending four hours in the secretary’s office before being claimed. Although there were plenty of cuddles and titbits handed out while he waited!

Continued below…

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9. Lauren Roach hadn’t planned on competing at this show, but when Pebbles Pullen suffered a bad fall in the Animo pony novice championship, she stepped in and rode Iceford Little Miss into second place in the Animo pony discovery final. “But I didn’t have my clothes with me,” she said. Mia Price generously offered the loan of all the gear, jacket, jodhs and boots, etc, although they were a little big for the diminutive and very slender Lauren. “I held the jodhs up with a belt but I had to swap the boots after the first round because they really were too big,” she said.

Read the full report from the British Showjumping Blue Chip Winter Championships in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine; out on Thursday 7 April

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships at Hartpury (8-12 April) provided us with some thrilling action and worthy winners. Here is the 2015 roll of honour.

1. Blue Chip Grand Prix: Nigel Coupe and Golvers Hill

Nigel holds off a two-pronged challenge from William Funnell (Billy Congo and Roi) to take top honours on Friday night.

2. HorseQuest UK novice champions: Heather Broad and Caretina II BFZ

“I’m so nervous, I shake,” says the winning rider.

3. Blue Chip Joint RLF power champions/Blue Chip Karma performance champions: Angie Thompson and Babette

The mare may be “quirky and tense in the ring”, but that certainly doesn’t stop her winning.

4. Joshua Jones discovery champions: Emma-Jo Slater and Nina Phin

This is Emma-Jo’s ninth Blue Chip championship

5. WOW Saddles star championship: Georgia Cabb and Quinara S

16-year-old Georgia is enjoying a successful debut year in seniors.

6. Blue Chip Pro challenge: Matthew Sampson and Amadeouse de Hurtebise

“He’s inexperienced against the clock, I was relying on my other two [rides], but I was too slow,” says Matthew, who bought the nine-year-old in Belgium.

7. Blue Chip Dynamic B&C champions: Julian Mincher and Dolanda

“I’ve been second 40 times over 24 years at this show,” says Julian, who notched up a championship winning double this year.

8. Halsall Electrical 1.25m champions: Julian Mincher and Dartbreaker

The Heartbreaker x Lux Z stallion, a winter grade C and Hickstead B and C finalist, now visits Twemlows Stallion AI services for semen collection.

9. Haygain Hay Steamers diamond champions: Michaela Huntingdon and Drumhowan Cavalier

“I’ve been every year since I was 12, it’s a brilliant show,” says Michaela.

10. Blue Chip pro sparkle JC/JA champions: Emily Ward and Ballybaloo

For the third year in a row, Emily holds her challengers at bay to take the JC/JA title with an Irish-bred 11-year-old she only meets at shows.

11. Animo pony novice champions / Animo pony discovery champions: Megan Taylor and Mr Bojangles III

“He just goes into cruise control,” says Megan, 14, who collected an armful of prizes for winning both championships, including a much-coveted blingy Animo numnah for the beautifully turned out Mr Bojangles.

12. HorseQuest UK pony sapphire champions: Lauren Roach and Westcoast Express

This eight-year-old mare, owned by breeder Paul Kelly from the west coast of Ireland ­ hence the name ­ is by the German warmblood Fairman and out of a 13.2hh pony.

13. HorseQuest UK pony coral champions: Sophie Bennett and Killy Colour Code

“Colour Code had jumped in a few Foxhunter classes when we bought him, but I hadn’t done much at all ­ he brought me on,” says Sophie, who comes from Jersey.

Don’t miss the full report from the five-day Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships in this week’s new-look Horse & Hound, out Thursday 16 April 2015

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Horse & Hound reporters brought you all the action from the Blue Chip Championships at Hartpury College (8-12 April) via our live feed below. Review what happened by scrolling through the updates, including pictures and video clips, below.

Live Blog Blue Chip Championships

Blue Chip Championships winners

Horsequest UK Small Open: Michaela Huntington and Drumhowan Cavalier

1.05m open: Ella Nutbeen and Blackmore Penelope Jane

Snowflake Equestrian Bedding 1.10m Qualifier 1: Emily Morris and Ultimatum II

Horsequest UK Novice Championship: Heather Broad and Caretina II BFZ

Halsall Electrical 1.25m Championship Qualifier 1: Beth Austin and Zeester

Blue Chip Joint RLF Power Championship: Angela Thompson and Babette

WOW Saddles 1.20m Open: Adrian Whiteway and Amor V

WOW Saddles 1.05m Open: Ella Nutbeen and Blackmore Penelope Jane

Animo 1m Restricted Winter Classic Qualifier 1: Brooke Hunter and Little Cruise

Joshua Jones UK Winter Discovery Championship: Emma-Jo Slater and Nina Phin

WOW Saddles Star Championship: Georgia Cabb and Quinara S

Blue Chip Karma Performance Championship: Angela Thompson and Babette

Blue Chip Pro Open Challenge Trophy: Matthew Sampson and Amadeus De Hurtebise

Animo 1m Restricted Winter Classic Qualifier 2: Emily Roberts and Jessies Sister

Joshua Jones UK 1.20m Open: Ella Nutbeen Slowley and Artisan II

Halsall Electrical 1.25m Championship Qualifer 2: Chelsea Skelton and Caramba

Snowflake Equestrian Bedding 1.10m Qualifer 2: Emma-Jo Slater and Simply Billie Bunter

Blue Chip Pony Grades JC & JA Competition: Daisy Mckinlay and Cranford Jack

Blue Chip Pro Sparkle JC/JA Championship: Emily Ward and Ballybaloo

Blue Chip Dynamic B&C Championship: Julian Mincher and Dolanda

Snowflake Equestrian Bedding 1.10m Qualifer 3: Emma Shore and Wee Welsh Lady

Halsall Electrical 1.25m Championship Qualifer 3: Sophie Cowley and High Flyer VII

Animo 1m Restricted Winter Classic Qualifer 3: Hannah Wanbon and Rockys Kid

Snowflake Equestrian Bedding 1.10m final: Emma-Jo Slater and Simply Billie Bunter

Animo 1m Restricted Winter Classic final: Hayley Lewis and Catoo van de Platello

The Blue Chip Grand Prix: Nigel Coupe and Golvers Hill

Animo Pony Grades JC & JD Competition CL28: Victoria Barrow and Filo Blueprint

Animo Pony Grades JC & JD Competition CL30: Alana Collett and InLterstat

Joshua Jones UK 1m Senior Open: Christina Faulkner and Gypsy Rose II

WOW Saddles 1.05m Senior Open: Shannon Wilson and Casallasca

Kingsland Equestrian Pony JC/JA Winter Challenge: Daisy McKinlay and Cranford Jack

Kingland Equestrian Pony Open Speed Challenge: Molly Davies and Cuffesgrange For Sure

HAYGAIN haysteamers Diamond Championship Round 1: Tia Leighton and Brooklands Power On

HorseQuest UK Pony Grades JC & JD Competition: Abigail Dorset and Dark Aurora

HorseQuest UK Pony Open Competition:

HAYGAIN hay steamers Diamond Championship: Michaela Huntington and Drumhowan Cavalier

HAYGAIN haysteamers Diamond Championship Champinship Round 2: Michaela Huntington and Drumhowan Cavalier

PRB Horseboxes Pony Grades JC/JD competition round one: India Arikan and Leagaun Wild Boy

PRB Horseboxes Pony Grades JC/JD competition round two: Charles Lenton and Cardewlees Gemini Gem

HAYGAIN haysteamers Diamond Winter Classic: Jordan Phelps and Rhyfeddol Free Willy

View all Blue Chip senior results

View all Blue Chip pony results

About the Blue Chip Championships

The annual Blue Chip Championships are being held at Hartpury Arena in Gloucestershire with a full schedule of competitions in both the indoor Championship Arena and the outdoor all-weather Kingsland Equestrian Arena. Classes range from 1m to 1.35m for horses with pony classes starting at 85cm.

The total prize fund has been increased for 2015 and show organiser Kelvin Bywater says: “We are extremely grateful for all the help and support given by our sponsors, without whom these championships would just not be possible”. As well as championship finals, there are also a range of classes at the show which riders do not have to qualify for and hundreds of riders of all ages are expected to flock to Gloucestershire to attend these prestious winter championships.

The show hosts a gala night on Friday with VIP hospitality options available. As well as watching the exciting Blue Chip grand prix, William and Pippa Funnell are hosting a masterclass focusing on preparing horses for competition and spectators can look forward to watching the Kingsland Equestrian Junior Challenge too. Visit the show’s official website for more details.

THE Blue Chip Winter Championships is a popular show at a fantastic venue. It runs like clockwork and there is something for everyone.

The grand prix was good and spectators could watch great riders such as Michael Whitaker, Billy Twomey and Tina Fletcher, as well as younger riders coming through. Unfortunately, we older ones got left behind!

The course was technical, especially the last dog-leg double of verticals to an oxer and an upright to finish. I told Michael Whitaker five strides then four, but he reckoned six and five. Afterwards he said he’d gone on my strides. It didn’t help him — he got a time-fault — but I’d better accompany him on an all-expenses paid trip to the World Cup final in France as adviser.

Riders were honoured to have our Olympic course-designer Bob Ellis building here. He did a fantastic job in London. The best team, Britain, won under pressure. But they only had to concentrate on themselves and each other and Bob had to consider everyone — from the world’s best to the less experienced.

I stood by him when the last horse jumped the last fence and I welled up, I could see the relief on his face. He got the right results without destroying any horse or rider. Our riders were rightly honoured at the Palace, but Bob deserved a knighthood, too.

I did the masterclass during Friday’s Gala night. Every other year Kelvin [Bywater, show director] makes the perfect choice — me! I never plan it and do it off the cuff. Although I have ideas, I prefer to play it by ear. And this year, they were a good crowd, listening and taking it all in.

A masterclass has to be show business and I like to ad-lib. Fortunately, I have a degree in bullshit!

The Blue Chip Winter Championships at Hartpury are always highly competitive. We celebrate those riders who have risen to the top at this year's show in our online gallery

Don’t miss our full report from the Blue Chip Winter Championships in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale 10 April 2014

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The Blue Chip winter showjumping championships at Hartpury College (3–7 April) delivered thrills and spills, joyous laps of honour and an entertaining gala night, across five days.

The Friday night audience were amused and informed by Tim Stockdale’s masterclass before settling to watch the feature class, the grand prix. It proved to be ladies’ night as the top three places were filled by the fairer sex, headed by Tracy Priest and Calle.

“I usually come second and honestly thought I’d be beaten” said Tracy (pictured top).

Sammie-Jo Coffin topped the Blue Chip pro challenge with daring, ultra-tight turns on Willem De Lux. “We trust each other” she said.

Holly Gillott and Dougie Douglas, current HOYS seven-year-old champion, deservedly headed the Blue Chip dynamic B and C. And Chloe Winchester, 18, registered her biggest win in the Halsall Electrical 1.25m on Zandokan H.

Tabitha Sleap took time off from A level studies to take the Blue Chip karma performance on the nine-year-old Zeitgeist M2S.

Ian Wynne won his first Blue Chip championship in the Tri-Zone star with season campaigner Don Douglas, and a delighted Claire Shepherd headed the Joshua Jones discovery on the five-year-old El Diablo Grande.

Emma-Jo Slater landed the power on the British-bred Lizziemary, and her Buckinghamshire neighbour Anna de Verteuil took the Horsequest novice aboard Amadeus.

Emily Ward headed both warm-up and Blue Chip pro sparkle JC/JA with Wizard.

“She’s so talented, she deserves her time in the spotlight,” she said.

Lucy Farrington gained her first sash of honour and winning rug with the Horsequest coral on the homebred six-year-old TGF Puzzle, while Charlie O’Conor made a winning return by taking the Horsequest sapphire on her 2012 novice champion Aughnacliff Boy.

Kellie Taylor claimed the Animo pony discovery from the front with the Welsh Section D Taffechan Dylan, and Windsor-based Olivia Skinner recorded her first championship win in the Animo pony novice on Pene Grimster’s homebred Colours Of Romeo.

For a full report on the Blue Chip championships, don’t miss this Thursday’s magazine. Coming soon: online gallery featuring all the Blue Chip champions

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Riders should be more vigilant and lock up their tack at shows, following a string of thefts at high-profile competitions.

Last month, competitors called for better security after around £16,000 worth of tack was stolen at the Blue Chip Championships at Hartpury.

Gloucestershire police said nine lorries were plundered on 13 April. It was the second year running that lorries were burgled at the showjumping fixture.

Then at the Welsh Masters (19-22 April), the Animo tradestand was broken into and stock stolen. So far, nothing has been recovered.

Wales and West Showground’s James Broome says riders need to take more responsibilty. “While the Animo incident was unfortunate, it was a one-off.

What we need to be more worried about is people eaving tack unattended,” he told H&H.

“People must lock stuff up and be more security conscious. What’s the point in having a tack locker if you’re not going to use it?

“It’s often specialist gear that’s being taken. This suggests it’s people who are at the show, which makes it harder for showgrounds to tackle.

“We have stepped up security, but the first thing people do is blame the shows. They need to take responsibility, too – there’s only so much organisers can do.”

He also warned that tack locker keys can be similar, so extra precautions, a padlock for example, should be used.

There were also reports of handbag thefts at Belton and Arena UK recently.

Insurer NFU Mutual said tack theft is the most common theft claim made under its horse and rider policy. The company paid out more than £243,000 for stolen tack during 2010.

Nicki Whittaker of NFU Mutual said: “Tack, car keys and purses are commonly stolen. It is unlikely anyone would question someone walking around carrying a saddle.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (24 May 2012)

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Competitors are calling for better security after around £16,000 worth of tack was stolen at the recent Blue Chip Championships at Hartpury, Glos.

Some riders were unable to compete as a consequence.

Gloucestershire police said nine lorries were plundered during the the break-ins, which happened on the gala night, Friday, 13 April.

It is the second year running that thieves have targeted boxes at the show.

Brian Frost, whose son Jordan was competing, lost almost £1,500 worth of equipment from his locked lorry, including a Whitaker saddle, stirrups, stud girth and a wheelbarrow.


“I lost less than others, but I’ve taken an issue with [the organisers] Show Direct,” he told H&H.

“The gates were left open and the lights were turned off at 11pm. It’s a wonder more tack wasn’t stolen.

“There was the least security I’ve ever seen, even at some of the smaller shows – it was very disappointing.

“My son missed out competing on the Sunday – we had to go home early as we didn’t have the tack and didn’t feel safe,” he added.


Bobbie Martin-Pope, who was grooming at the championships, agreed the show needed better security.

“People were checking their tack lockers and finding everything gone. I was astounded, especially after last year,” she said.

“It was all the expensive tack that was taken – Whitaker and Prestige saddles. It’s the worst show I’ve been to, security-wise,” she added.

But Kelvin Bywater from Show Direct said security had been increased since last year.

“There was a theft in 2011 that involved tack being stolen from three horseboxes during the Friday gala evening, so additional security measures were taken this year,” he said, but declined to say what.

“This is a reminder to all to ensure equipment is insured and kept secure,” he added.

Anyone with any information about the thefts is asked to contact Gloucestershire police, tel: 01452 728199.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (26 April 2012)

If your lorry was broken into at a show, would you be insured? For all your insurance needs, contact KBIS

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Showjumping enthusiast and showing judge Mary Allison makes an annual visit with friends to the Gala night.

The Blue Chip Championships gala night at Hartpury has such a warm, friendly, welcoming atmosphere, and socialising with friends and acquaintances, old and new, is a big part of my evening. Our meal was excellent — roast beef, fresh salmon, salads, a choice of sweets and cheese. I confess I had a little bit of everything. I’ll be good tomorrow!

Tina and Graham Fletcher were excellent choices for the masterclass lecture demo. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The whole thing was interesting and educational and entertaining, too. Tips us mere mortals wouldn’t think of became immediately clear in a ‘Why didn’t I think of that’ moment. They instantly made a difference. It’s the sort of thing that will help a lot of people — and the audience’s applause showed they appreciated their knowledge as much as I did.

I’m afraid the ‘Leaping Leprechauns’ wasn’t my thing, even if they jumped 1.60m on their own two feet! The junior challenge — pony riders jump against the clock ,then negotiate an obstacle course on foot — is getting a bit ‘old hat’ now. Wheeling a barrow of balloons takes too long. I’m sure it could be improved, but I haven’t got any suggestions!

Initially I thought the grand prix wouldn’t be a great class as so many riders are abroad, but it turned out to be one of the best classes I’ve seen. A couple of partnerships considered outsiders jumped good rounds, and the jump-off was exciting to watch.

I was thrilled to see Mark Bunting winning another big class in such good style. I’ve known him since he was a young boy.

All in all, I had a very entertaining and pleasant evening. I’m looking forward to next year already.

Mary

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Hartpury College has been signed to host the Blue Chip winter showjumping championships and the NAF Five Star winter dressage championships for the foreseeable future.

The Gloucestershire venue has housed both championships since 2008, prompting Hartpury Collge and show organisers Show Direct to sign a new long-term agreement for use of the college facilities.

“I look forward to the long-term development of both events at Hartpury Arena. This wonderful facility lends itself to creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for both competitors and spectators,” said Kelvin Bywater, director of Show Direct.

“The aim with both events is to provide top quality competition at all levels, with the feeling of being at an international show.”

The 2011 winter showjumping championships will run from 6-10 April and will include finals at all levels from 240 qualifiers around the country, over the winter season.

The dressage championships will follow on, from 13-17 April, and will be the culmination of the British Dressage winter and music qualifiers and the Petplan area festival championship finals. Para dressage classes will be included for the first time in 2011.

“The winter dressage championships have gone from strength to strength, which is possible thanks to the fantastic facilities at Hartpury and the team at Show Direct,” said British Dressage chairman Jennie Loriston-Clarke.

The Hartpury facilities available for both shows include the indoor main arena, outdoor arena, warm-up facilities, seating for spectators, the panoramic restaurant and permanent stabling.

“We’re delighted that Hartpury will remain the venue of choice for the winter showjumping and dressage championships,” said Hartpury equine events director, Janet Plant.

“We’re very proud that the championships wish to make such good use of the outstanding facilities we have, allowing competitors of all abilities the opportunity to compete in the very best surroundings.”

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An ecstatic Natasha Dean claimed the Blue Chip pony coral on Sequoia True Legacy on the final day of the Blue Chip Championships.

“I’m always second, I was second in the HOYS Foxhunter last year,” said Natasha, “but I’ve finally done it.”

She had two chances in the 14 pony jump-off, and used first ride Amman Valley Santino as pathfinder. “It was luck of the draw that my faster pony was late to go,” she said.

Chantelle Duggan captured the Blue Chip pony sapphire on the inexperienced King Mac.

Course-designer Steve Renouard reduced the initial 72 starters to 22 for the final jump-off, with Chantelle, 16, holding onto her midway lead. The pair had finished second in the previous night’s pony discovery.

“He can be spooky and worries away from his stable-mates,” said Chantelle, 16. “This is only his second show staying away from home.”

The talented pony, currently jumping at pony Foxhunter level, will target pony newcomers second rounds this summer.

Blue Chip Championships results day five

Blue Chip JC/JD.– 1, Hot Prospect II (A Brown); 2, Little Madam II (Z Henshall); 3, Pirums Figaro (B Allman). Blue Chip pony sapphire ch.– 1, King Mac (C Duggan); 2, Raisa Cestanii (C Wilson); 3, Thelma’s Gift (I Rae). Blue Chip pony 1.05m– 1, Buzz B II (E Jones); 2, Dolmar (H Teal); 3, Guilder’s Zico (J Rees). Blue Chip pony coral ch.– 1, Sequoia True Legacy (N Dean); 2, Raisa Cestanii; 3, Zara’s Last Star (J Baugh). PRB Horseboxes pony nov.– 1, By Chance IV (A Brown); 2, Kolbeach Holly’s Dancer (M Taylor); 3, Baronsway Lad (A Dunlop). PRB Horseboxes pony discovery.– 1, Wise Choice III (J Baxter); 2, Suttonwoods Fancy That (O Martin); 3, Irish Dream (S Stratton). PRB Horseboxes pony speed 90cm.– 1, Eva’s Will (R Gunn); 2, Kerry’s Boy (A Dunlop); 3, Miss Purdy’s Promise (L Baugh).

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Early mornings and late nights look set to be the norm at the five-day showjumping extravaganza that is the Blue Chip Championships at Hartpury College.

The beginning of the show was brought forward to a 7am start with a marathon 136 contending the first class, the Woof Wear 1m. Michaela Russell was eventually declared the winner on Unique XVII some four hours later.

Nigel Thorpe galloped to his first title victory in the Blue Chip Joint RLF Power championship on his six-year-old mare Harmonie D. “I’m always second. I thought I’d change that today,” he said.

Spinning back to oxers and urging Sting M ever-faster, Danielle Joliffe had lead the way from the front, but amateur rider Nigel edged ahead after taking out a stride to the last. It was no mean feat, as 25 reached the jump-off from 81 starters after tackling Steve Renouard’s 11-fence track.

Hayley Webster made the ferry journey from the Isle of Wight worthwhile with victory in the Woof Wear Novice Final with Trish and Paul Ansell’s Neutral Tint. Steady at the start, Hayley made two crucial cuts inside fences at the end of the track to secure the title in a seemingly unhurried fashion in a jump-off of 31.

“I didn’t think we were that fast but he has a big, ground-eating stride” said Hayley.

Blue Chip Championships day one results

Woof Wear 1m. – 1, Unique XVII (M Russell); 2, Flash Diamond II (A Strawson); 3, Sting M (D Joliffe). Woof Wear nov ch. – 1, Neutral Tint (H Webster); 2, Zula Maeva (M Russell); 3, Calcourt Illicit Liaison (R Lewis). Blue Chip Joint RLF Power ch. – 1, Harmonie D (N Thorpe); 2, Sting M (D Joliffe); 3, Beechfield Klassik (E Slater). Devoucoux 1.05m. – 1, Alice Springs V (M Townshend); 2, All Rise (K Grimster); 3, Carnival Dream II (L Biddlecombe). Nedz Bed 1.15m winter classic qual. – 1 & 3, Pimosa & Rumors Gucci (H Rees); 2, Trendsetter Teranimo (R Keevil). Halsall Electrical 1.25m qual. – 1, Classic Vision (S Hedges); 2, Arazona (C Webley); 3, Easter Tracks (B Smith). Horse Health nov winter classic qual. – 1, Stirred Not Shaken (L Bubb); 2, Cosmic Savannah (E-J Slater); 3, Sienna’s Supreme (G Wright).

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Ruairdh Bothwell made a productive visit to Myerscough Arena, Lancashire (21-23 December) by taking two tickets to the Blue Chip Finals. His ride, Teloma, notched up a winning double in the Blue Chip Karma and Winter grade C competitions.

Eleven clears came through to the Karma jump-off, where Ruairidh pipped Alan Birch riding Amaryllis Van Het Klauwenhof.

Just three contested the final round of the Winter grade C qualifier and, with the advantage of last draw, Ruairidh sacrificed speed for accuracy. Teloma produced the only double clear to win from Neil Martin riding Quandros VW Hoeve.

Welsh rider Tom Lloyd took the Blue Chip Dynamic qualifier with Ulf Van De Kampanje, while the top Winter B and C ticket went to Morgan Kent and Sonora II. Amanda Derbyshire and Cermit also qualified.

Corinne Collins and Pembridge Victor headed the 48-strong Blue Chip Power competition.

Read this report in full, plus reports from other top show jumping shows, in today’s Horse & Hound (17 January, ’08)

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Equenox Novice: Amanda Cole on Caloundra Van De Koekoek

Elevator Discovery: Georgie Bray on Quota PPZ

Blue Chip Star: Charlotte Graham on Bonfire II

Blue Chip Power: Emma-Jo Slater on Simply Billy Bunter

Blue Chip Performance: Corinne Collins on Labuleska

BSJA Winter Grade C: Billy Twomey on Allegro

Blue Chip Pro A and B: Geoff Billington on Cassabachus

Nedz Bed 1.25m Winter Classic: Derek Morton on Skerne Skyetality

Blue Chip Pro Sparkle JC/JA: Stephanie Gunn on Blakt’s Jordi

Blue Chip Dynamic B&C: Geoff Luckett on Robin

Blue Chip Grand Prix: Robert Whitaker on Lacroix

Kitt-Kraiburg Junior Novice: Jessica Flood on Honisa Sioned

Kitt-Kraiburg Junior Discovery: Emily Hilton on Lishmar Stormy Boy

Kitt-Kraiburg Junior Sapphire: Chad Fellows on Tex Two

Kitt-Kraiburg Junior Coral: Abbie Squires on Kingstong

Read Horse & Hound’s full report from the Blue Chip Championships at Solihull in today’s magazine (26 April, ’07)

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