Jessica Kurten wins British Open Show Jumping Championship

Jessica Kurten led an Irish one-two in this year’s British Open Show Jumping Championship. Although the German-based rider lowered a single fence on Galopin De Bioley, this was enough to keep her ahead of Billy Twomey, who jumped the sole double clear of the final on the good mare Anastasia.

The final round, contested by the top eight riders, was not without controversy after two officials blocked Swiss rider Markus Fuchs’s path to the triple bar. The resulting pole down with Ovation dropped the Swiss rider into fourth place, but Markus took it well.

“It’s one of those things. These guys do a great job and they went to sleep for a couple of minutes,” he said.

Jessica, meanwhile, is looking forward to the coming season.

“All the Irish horses have jumped so well and that’s good news for the European Championships and getting back into the Nations Cup Super League,” she said, after pocketing a £25,250 cheque here.

Earlier in the afternoon, Markus Fuchs showed everyone exactly how to ride against the clock when he took the British Speed Stakes on the Irish-bred Royal Charmer.

The day had also started well for last year’s Only Fools On Horses TV series when one of Jessica’s co-stars on the programme, Tim Stockdale, produced a fantastic round to take the £5,000 prize in the Winter A and B Grand Prix final with Fresh Direct Corlato.

Tim had to be at his best to hold off a spirited challenge from another popular pair, Helen Tredwell and Opportunity B.

Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full report from the British Open Show Jumping Championships, including fantastic photographs, in this week’s magazine (19 April, ’07)

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