Louise Whitaker on form at South View
Saturday’s report
Louise Whitaker and Royal Deer extended their winning run still further, when the pair gained a second victory at South View Equestrian Centre’s Easter PremierShow.
Jumping midway in high class 15-strong jump off in the Fordyce & Curry Ladies Championship, Louise cut all the corners, and a storming run down the final line saw them home 1sec ahead of Jo McGlory and Di Lampard riding D’Magician and Abbervail Dream.
“We’re really on song at the moment, everything turn seemed to work out for us” said Louise.
A top-class field also went to post for the Fordyce & Curry Gentleman’s Championship, which was won by Andrew Davies riding Marie Edgar’s Limbo.
Sixteen came through to jump off over Peter Gillespie’s course and Andrew produced a series of brillliant turns to bring Limbo home ahead of South View specialists Scott Smith and Paul Barker riding Cabri D’Elle and Blue Chip Kildalton Lad.
Di Lampard took the top ticket to Solihull, when Pearl Moore’s Eperland Du Fouquet produced an immaculate second clear round to win the Blue Chip Pro B&C.
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Collecting the remaining tickets to the Blue Chip finals were Carl Edwards (Candy Lupe), Andrew Saywell (Arko and Leidy), Karen Bosworth (Will E Squeak), and Paul Barker (In the Black).
Friday’s report
Louise Whitaker took the top honours on the opening day of South View Equestrian Centre’s Easter Premier Show.
Taking on a top class field of 50 in the Scope Festival 1.35M Open Championship qualifier, Louise dominated the 25-strong jump off, the young Yorkshire rider securing first and second places riding Royal Deer and Livingstone.
Having been fairly restricted due to the FMD epidemic in recent weeks, Louise started back in great style last weekend, when both Royal Deer and Livingstone recorded wins at Arena UK.
Setting the standard with Livingstone in the hotly contested jump off at South View, Louise beat her own time with the economic Royal Deer, to claim the £300 first prize.
Finishing narrowly in arrears to take third place, was South View specialist Keith Shore riding Mike Thompson’s sevenyear old It’s Magic Max who were Newcomer finalists at Wembley last year. Show jumpers turned out in force to South View’s Premier fixture.
Other winners on the opening day were Giles Turner (Mavis Davies) who headed a one hundred starter URL/Stable Express 1.25M Open, Peter Murphy who topped the Ballaseyr Stables B&C riding Ivo, and the youngest competitor James Billington who won a strong Newcomer competition riding Virtual Village Frederick.
Also in action was James’s father Geoff, who hasjust returned from teaching in South Africa and California.
Geoff gave his Olympic ride It’s Otto an airing in the 1.35M Open competition where the pair produced an immaculate double clear round.
