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!
Blue Chip Winter Championships 2019
Class 29 Winner 1074 - Lord French and Neve Gill Pikeur Pony Novice Championship 0 90
(Image credit: www.hoofprintsphotos.co.uk)
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
Blue Chip Winter Championships 2019
41 - Voltaire Design Pony Coral Championship 1 10m0039 - Coolatooder Liath and Eloise Burden
(Image credit: www.hoofprintsphotos.co.uk)
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
Blue Chip Winter Championships 2019
10_Done - FMBs Therapy Systems Star Championship 1 10m
0772 - Fools Business and Katie Shaw
(Image credit: www.hoofprintsphotos.co.uk)
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
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4. Golden moments
Blue Chip Winter Championships 2019
38 - Voltaire Design Pony Sapphire Championship 1 00m
Winner 0026 - Attyrory Golden Lady and Elysia Heagren Bond
(Image credit: www.hoofprintsphotos.co.uk)
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 & Paris 16
(Image credit: www.hoofprintsphotos.co.uk)
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
Blue Chip Winter Championships 2019
Class 31 Winner 0620 - Quay and Megan Trott Eskadron Pony Discovery Championship 0 95m
(Image credit: www.hoofprintsphotos.co.uk)
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
Blue Chip Winter Championships 2019
Class 11 Winner 1112 - Vancurtis and Bex MasonBlue Chip Karma Performance Championship 1 25m
(Image credit: www.hoofprintsphotos.co.uk)
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.
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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.
