Paul Barker continues Northcote reign by bagging winter Grade C title at British Showjumping Spring Championships
Paul Barker had Ria Ginley’s Kannan nine-year-old Indekann HK (Dennis) right on the money to claim the leading spot in the penultimate class, the winter Grade C championship final, of the 2022 British Showjumping Spring Championships (24—27 March).
Paul and Dennis finished their winter Grade C championship jump-off on a time of 36.38, over 1.5 seconds faster than eventual second, last night’s 1.35m championship winner Robert Murphy, who was on board Chawton.
Ria bought Dennis as a fresh-faced five-year-old and she handed the reins over to Paul just under a year ago.
“Richard Howley and Morgan Kent from HK Horses bred him,” explained Ria, who only lives a few miles away from Paul in North Yorkshire. “I took him through novice level right up to 1.30m level, and then Paul took over the ride to jump the big stuff.”
“He’s a scopey and capable horse,” said Paul who has found favour on Northcote turf before, including in January when he scored a hat-trick of wins at the venue’s winter classic. “Today I tried to keep the horse level and tried to ride good turns back to the oxers.
“He had a double clear and stood fifth in the Grand Prix at Morris EC last week, so we thought he’d have a reasonable chance today.
“I’ll jump him alongside my other horse, home-bred Green Grass, for the rest of the season and they’ll both hopefully jump a few 2* classes.”
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At home Dennis is fondly known as “Dennis the Menace.”
“He’s lovely, but he looks for trouble,” added Ria. “He jumps in and out of the field regularly; he’s a true athlete, but is a really nice person.”
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Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.