Latest from Horse & Hound in Geoff-luckett

Teenage rider and her ‘feisty’ chestnut mare beat their senior rivals to win LGCT London opener

Jennifer Donald — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 14:59:13 +0000

The Longines Global Champions Tour of London (LGCT London) kicked off on Thursday (10 August) with a brilliant British win for teenage rider Isabella Beecroft-Luckett with her “feisty” chestnut mare Dahar. The 15-year-old racked up a string of top placings at the show last year, but said it “felt amazing” to claim a winner’s rug and lead the lap of honour for the opening CSI2* 1.15mIG Equine Boutique two-phase.

Drawn late with the second of her two rides, Isabella steered the mare accurately round the tight bends and forward down the lines during the final section, just holding to the final oxer to nip home a whisker – 0.03sec to be precise – in front of long-time leader Tara Dow-Rein of Canada riding Hokyra Fortuna.

“Dahar is really good at turning and sitting up at the end to wait for the final fence which we did on that final line,” explained Isabella of her mother Claire Beecroft’s Dutch-bred Quasimodo Van De Molendreef x Voltaire mare, who previously jumped on children-on-horses with Olli Fletcher.

“She’s quite strong, but she makes up for it because she’s fast. She’s also so bouncy that she’s not great to ride on the flat – all she wants to do is get in the ring and jump fences.”

LGCT London: receiving instructions over the phone

Isabella’s mother Claire was in sole trainer mode while Isabella’s father Geoff Luckett was stuck at home watching the livestream – and phoning through instructions. The former international showjumper is on the sidelines after breaking his leg in a motorbike accident at home. It certainly paid off for Isabella, a former England mounted games team rider, who is in flying form at the moment.

Dahar was given to her when Isabella was 11 and moving from ponies to horses. The mare wasn’t necessarily the obvious choice with her fiery nature, but the pair have formed an incredible bond.

“I know her the best out of all of my group of horses, and it’s really nice to have a horse I know how to ride like her,” said Isabella.

Taking third in the opening class of the LGCT London was Ireland’s Aisling Byrne, a regular winner at this show, riding Celeste SPB Z, while Isabella’s aunt Imogen Beecroft took fourth on Chablis.

Superstar seven-year-old rider – who only started jumping during lockdown – wins 128cm final

Jennifer Donald — Wed, 04 May 2022 08:08:13 +0000

One young rider who really caught our eye with her natural talent at the Winter Pony Finals at South View Equestrian Centre (22-24 April) was Anya Dewey Clarke, who only turned seven in December.

Anya announced her arrival on to the showjumping scene with an impressive one-two in the Springboard 128cm final, heading the line-up with Mini Mouse II and collecting the runner-up spot with Brookhall Pavarotti.

Anya only started showjumping in lockdown, having previously made her competitive debut in showing, a discipline in which she still rides successfully, having scooped the mini show pony of the year title at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in 2021 (pictured below).

(Image credit: H.KINCHIN)

“She really took to the showjumping and now we’ve ended up with three showjumping ponies,” her mother Anna said. “She’s very dedicated and just loves all things ponies.”

Anya affiliated around a year ago and although she has quickly climbed the ranks, Anna did not expect her to have a shot at this title.

“Our objective was to just get round, enjoy it and learn from it,” she said. “We’re incredibly proud of her, she steps up to the occasion, never gets flustered and is quite cool and calm.”

Anya originally had a starter pony but quickly progressed, with Anna buying 15-year-old Pavarotti for her last summer and 19-year-old Mini in December.

“We got Mini from Geoff Luckett and she is the loveliest person to have around, I wish I could have 10 of her,” Anna added.

Anya also collected second place in the 10-year-old-and-under style and performance championship with Pavarotti, finishing just one point behind winners Charlie Simcock and the coloured 13-year-old Frigowny Fairqueen.

“As much as I was delighted with Mini, I was amazed with Pavarotti as we have had a few ups and downs with him – Anya had a little bit of a tricky patch going into second rounds where they jumped well in the first rounds but couldn’t keep it together in jump-offs, so I was delighted with his four clears,” Anna added.

You can read the full report from the Winter Pony Finals in this week’s issue of the magazine, in the shops on Thursday 5 May.

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Farewell to Geoff Luckett’s great showjumper Vantage

Horse & Hound — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:53:19 +0000

Vantage, Geoff Luckett’s prolific winner in the 1990s, passed away on 26 February aged 37.

The versatile gelding, owned by Winford Dawe, posted wins in Derbys, speed classes and Nations Cups. Career highlights include being on the winning Washington Nations Cup team and providing the only triple clear in the 1991 New York Nations Cup when Great Britain took 2nd.

“Those courses were probably beyond his capabilities, but he was a trier with a big heart,” said Geoff, who retired his faithful partner in 1997.

Vantage spent his retirement at Geoff’s Banbury base, babysitting youngsters in the field.

Quainton Stud grand prix

Suzanne Jones — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:15:02 +0000

Geoff Luckett registered his first win with Claire Beecroft’s Monline when he pocketed the £5,000 prize in the Mulberry Insurance Services Grand Prix at Quainton Stud (31 July).

Ryan Prater set an early the target on the ever-improving Vahagn De Lozana. Ellen Whitaker then snatched the lead with a dash to the final vertical, but Geoff used Monline’s long stride and scope to pinch a further 0.5sec.

Geoff also featured in the £1,000-to-the-winner Bank of Scotland Speed Grand Prix when setting an early target aboard Chris Moyce’s Pjort. They dropped to eventual fourth place after Carron Nicol used her late draw to bring Hollywood to the fore. William Funnell was second on Cortaflex Machiavelli, while Lee Williams slotting Linaro 18 into third.

Read this report in full, plus reports from other top show jumping competitions around the country, in today’s Horse & Hound (9 August, ’07)

Thame Spring show jumping

Suzanne Jones — Wed, 09 May 2007 11:37:20 +0000

Geoff Luckett headed the first Area Trial of the season at Thame with Chris Moyce’s Pjort. Some 2.5sec in arrears, Caroline Webley was runner-up on Joan Willetts’s Barrister QC, ahead of Tracey Priest’s Purper, with William Funnell’s rides, Cortaflex Amber Du Montois and Mondriaan, fourth and fifth.

After being placed sixth in his first ever Area Trial on Clyde Cruiser, 17-year-old Joe Clayton took the honours in the first Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) grade C qualifier with Saveur. Rowan Willis slotted Selina S into second place, ahead of Paul Crago and Midnight Man.

Read this show jumping report in full, plus reports from other top jumping shows, in tomorrow’s Horse & Hound (10 May, ’07)

Gift rides: Geoff Luckett on Cruise Control

Horse & Hound — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 10:19:37 +0000

For Geoff Luckett, a trip to ride RIHS working hunter champion Cruise Control means a 5min drive from his Warwickshire base. Like Louise Bell, the horse’s owner, he lives just outside Edge Hill. A regular on British teams and the Nations Cup circuit, Geoff was the leading British rider at HOYS this year.

The 10-year-old Cruise Control, aka Rusty, is by Irish show jumping sire Cruising and Louise has had him since buying him as a four-year-old in Ireland from Austen Quigley. He is also Louise’s hunter and regularly follows the Heythrop and the Warwickshire.

“He’s Mr Perfect,” says Louise. “I call him the ‘banker’, as he always comes home with the money. He isn’t bad at dressage either — he can do two time changes and half-pass.”

“Oh help,” responds Geoff, “he isn’t going to confuse me is he? I’m a show jumper and I only do walk and canter.”

Assured that the horse is “push button” Geoff confirms that, “the nearest I have come to showing is sitting in this kitchen”.

Rusty is tacked up and ready to go. Geoff stands back and takes a look. “Big, isn’t he?” he says to Louise. “16.2hh,” she replies, which elicits the response, “in your dreams”.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Agreeing to differ, Geoff is given a leg up. (He has brought his own close-contact jumping saddle, as he refuses to be seen in a “girly” showing saddle.) He and Rusty get acquainted as they cross to the arena. To begin with, walk or canter are the preferred paces.

“As I said, I don’t really do trot but as I’m schooling him for you I’ll give it a go,” says Geoff graciously.

Once he has the gears sorted, he really opens the horse up round the edge of the arena and Rusty enters into the spirit of the occasion with a few squeals and a couple of little bucks for good measure.

“I really like him,” says Geoff as they settle down and jump a small fence. Rusty jumps it beautifully. So tidy is he in front that he is one of the few horses who genuinely needs a stud guard.

After the first couple of jumps Louise raises a couple of fences and builds Geoff a course.

“You could go straight out and win a decent class with this horse,” he concludes. “Can I have him for a show on Wednesday?” The request is refused.

“It is nice to see him jump with someone else, though,” she says, “Isn’t he fab?”

Geoff comes down to the large brush that takes pride of place in the middle of the arena.

“This is our most jumped fence,” says Louise. “We school all the hunters over it.” Rusty jumps it beautifully — so well, in fact, that next time around a rail is added to the back. Again, Rusty soars over it.

“If I’d come across him as a youngster, I would have bought him for his attitude and manners alone,” says Geoff. “The jump is a bonus and he’s so easy you would nearly jump him with no hands. You could definitely jump him while you were on the phone!”

Geoff finishes off with an extended trot round the arena.

“Are my hands in a showing position?” he asks Louise, tongue-in-cheek.

“Yes,” she says. “Do you know, I might even employ you!”

This feature was first published in Horse & Hound (21 December, ’06)

Latest from Horse & Hound in Geoff-luckett

Teenage rider and her ‘feisty’ chestnut mare beat their senior rivals to win LGCT London opener

LGCT London: receiving instructions over the phone

Dahar was given to her when Isabella was 11 and moving from ponies to horses. The mare wasn’t necessarily the obvious choice with her fiery nature, but the pair have formed an incredible bond.

“I know her the best out of all of my group of horses, and it’s really nice to have a horse I know how to ride like her,” said Isabella.

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From HOYS mounted games to Global Champions Tour victory: a week in the life of this talented 14-year-old

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Farewell to Geoff Luckett’s great showjumper Vantage

Quainton Stud grand prix

Thame Spring show jumping

Gift rides: Geoff Luckett on Cruise Control