Robert Whitaker beats father John to Cock o’the North title at Great Yorkshire Show

Robert Whitaker pips his father John to the Cock o’the North title, local riders collect several spoils and a new course-designing team make their mark during the Great Yorkshire Show (13-16 July) at Harrogate showground

A WINNING RIDER born and bred in Yorkshire provided the perfect result for the partisan Great Yorkshire Show crowd at Harrogate. The cheers rang out long and loud for Robert Whitaker when Major Delacour produced the only triple clear to win the prestigious Ripon Select Foods Cock o’the North Championship.

“This horse is easy to ride, brave and careful, and he was spot on at every fence in every round,” said Robert, who has won this coveted title twice before, riding Ublesco and Finbarr V.

Course-designer Jason Abbs set a fair test for the 24 starters and the class developed into a real crowd pleaser with 11 combinations producing a zero score in the first round. Nine of those remained clear to contest the second jump-off, in which a skinny rail jumped downhill fell six times.

Drawn at the halfway stage, Robert Whitaker kept moving all the way and Major Delacour never faltered to post the first – and ultimately only – triple clear.

“I wanted to be quick, so we set off in a rhythm, maintained a good pace and we had a good shot to the skinny rails.

“We have done the county circuit to prepare and as Major has jumped puissance walls, I knew he was comfortable over bigger fences. I really could not have asked for more,” concluded Robert.

It proved a popular family affair when Robert’s father John Whitaker, also a previous title holder, finished second riding Unick Du Francport.

Even throwing in a few bucks along the way, the Zandor Z 13-year-old beat Robert’s winning time (45.67), but a brick slid past the point of no return at the first part of the penultimate double of Yorkshire walls for four faults (44.22).

“One brick was unlucky, but that’s showjumping and it might as well have been six,” reflected John.

“I am always more pleased when Robert wins, but I was trying to beat him,” added John with a wry smile.

Rounding out the top six on four faults were Harriet Biddick riding Galway Bay Jed, who cast a shoe in the first round, Conor McMahon (Calacas D’Aubigny), Keith Shore (Mystic Hurricane) and Paul Barker (Green Grass).

During the first round of this class, Guy Williams survived a nasty moment when his foot stuck fast in the nearside stirrup after parting company with Crispina Z at the first wall.

To her eternal credit, the horse stood stock still and speedy intervention by Simon Buckley and Joe Whitaker saw Guy freed quickly.

‘I had no great expectations’

LISA JONES and Diana P have enjoyed many showjumping successes during their seven-year partnership, but winning the International Stairway here at their local county show with the only double clear gave the popular owner and rider their biggest win.

While the pristine rings at Great Yorkshire were bathed in sunshine throughout the show, preceding torrential rain left the ground quite holding for the first couple of days. It affected some horses, but Diana P fairly skipped along.

“Diana has only just stepped up to this level and as Yorkshire tends to be one of the biggest tests, I came into the ring with no great expectations,” said Lisa.

The track included all the usual questions with a full-size water jump, a combination jumped uphill – the final part of which accounted for most faults – and the Great Yorkshire planks to finish, keeping clear rounds to a premium.

Just two combinations, Lisa and Diana P and John Whitaker riding Chankar Mail, maintained a zero score in the first round and they were joined in the (top five) jump-off by the fastest four-faulters Will Fletcher (Persimmon), Simon Buckley (Elia) and eventual fourth Mark Edwards (Montreuxs Tale).

After Stairway league leader Mark opened with another four-fault round to finish on eight, the pressure mounted on the leading two when Persimmon and Elia produced classic second-round clears for Will (51.66) and Simon (52.40).

John followed, but sadly for the supporting crowd, he slipped down to fifth when Chankar Mail lowered two of the last three fences.

Needing a clear round to win, Lisa returned with Diana P and she did not disappoint.

“She has a super brain, and she wants to win, but it has to be her way, so I have to subtly let her think everything is all her own work.

“It was a big test, and I thought the camber of the ring and the ground would play its part, but Diana never faltered,” said Lisa.

Riding a former eventer, Will felt safe in the knowledge that Persimmon (Percy) would not be unduly affected by the slopes or the going, and they came to Yorkshire in good Stairway form having won at the South of England.

“Percy puts everything into his rounds and as he loves a big grass arena I can get the best out of him,” said Will, who after lowering an early rail in the first round, picked up the pace to ensure a later jump-off position behind the two clears.

A magical winning double

TO record one win here is a great achievement, but Yorkshire rider Laura Stephenson enjoyed a magical winning double when her partner of 12 years Catherston Connor combined speed, accuracy, and agility to win the William Hanson Stakes and the Rudding Park Great Yorkshire Championship.

On the back of recent wins at Dean Valley and South View, the flying grey was truly in his element in this vast arena, and he matched his rider’s determination to pull off a series of tight turns consistently and successfully.

Even though they were well up on the clock in the three-strong jump-off in the William Hanson Stakes, Laura steered the acutest of angles to the final Yorkshire Planks, which Connor pinged over.

“In a small ring, Connor can lose time as he jumps so high, but in this arena, he covers the ground, but he can still turn back on a sixpence.

“I wanted to win and set my mind to do all the turns and angle fences, and everything paid off in both classes,” said Laura, who triumphed in the 2008 Cock O’The North Championship riding Sultano.

Set as the final 1.60m joker in front of the stands, the traditional Yorkshire planks played a huge part in the opening Badsworth Stakes Accumulator, in which riders had to risk galloping to them and clearing them to reap the reward.

Eight combinations did just that, with victory going to late drawn Adrian Speight and Millfield Baloney, who finished ahead of Mark Edwards riding Tinkers Tale and the pathfinders Kerry Brennan and Wellington M.

Having jumped mainly in Europe last season to keep ticking over, Adrian had “Louis” ready to bounce back after lockdown.

“It took a few outings to grind the rust off, but we are now enjoying the bigger shows.

“Louis is very rideable, and he has a great jump, but my arms were going like mad to push uphill for that joker,” said Adrian.

Saving the best ‘til last

THE irrepressible pair of Kerry and Wellington M made the most of the show being extended by one day and they saved their best until last to gain a decisive victory in the final Jon Doney Memorial Great Yorkshire Challenge.

Eight combinations came through to contest the jump-off, in which a typically determined round from Kerry saw Wellington M (40.14) finish ahead of Paul Barker riding Green Grass (41.56).

“Welly has enjoyed being a field pony during lockdown,” said Kerry.

“Work at home does not impress him, or get him fit, so it has taken a few outings to get him excited and he was certainly up for this today.

“This open track suited him, and after holding him to the double, I let him run down the final line, which he loves to do.”

For end-to-end action and thrills, the Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream mini-major whip attracted great crowd support, mainly due to Nick Brooks-Ward whipping the spectators up into a frenzy with his informative and amusing commentary.

Producing the winning round were Ella Kay (Kilcreene Apollo) and her partner Ben Hobday (Shadow Man).

Competing for the first time here, 10-year-old Ella oozed confidence and took charge during the course walk.

“I really wanted to win and as Apollo is very fast and careful and he looks after me I cut all the corners and jumped across the angles,” said Ella, who gave the same instructions to Ben.

“After Ella’s flying round, I felt the pressure, but followed instructions. Ella is a top trainer, I think I might book in for a lesson,” quipped Ben.

New course designer steps up

FOLLOWING the retirement of Bob Ellis after many years of service, it was all change in the course-builders’ corners.

Having worked under Bob and learned his Yorkshire Show trade for 10 years, Harrogate course-designer Jason Abbs has now stepped up to number one, with Ben Townley coming in to assist along with continued support from Kevin Millman.

“After the deluge, until the ground improved, we made a few concessions to get horses jumping with confidence,” said Jason.

“There is a fine balance between competitive sport and fairness to horses, and while course-designers cannot please everyone, I think the tracks did what they set out to do, and no-one said any course was unfair.

“There is always a great deal of pressure but having a good team behind me allowed me to focus on designing the next courses.

“The standout classes for me – and won by Yorkshire riders with the only double and triple clears – were the Stairway and Cock O’The North, and it was lovely to see those two great legends of showjumping, David Broome and Harvey Smith, walking the Cock O’The North course,” concluded Jason.

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This report is also available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 22 July

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