Ponies jump for Blue Chip tickets
Pony riders arrived at The College in force for three chances to qualify for the Blue Chip Championships, reports Penny Richardson.
The first day’s star was Megan James, who took first and second places in the Kitt-Kraiburg Discovery home to Essex. Megan won the class on Spot Noodle ahead of Orchids Gentle.
Jamie Cotton’s flying visit from Worcestershire on Sunday morning was rewarded by Kitt-Kraiburg Junior Novice victory on the 14hh part-bred Welsh gelding, Forever Star Turn.
There was another good entry in the Kitt-Kraiburg Junior Sapphire, but the 45 starters found the course tricky and only 12 were clear. Stephanie Platts won the class on Kosmic Kiltannon.
A brilliant jump-off effort by Michael Whitaker brought him victory on Insultech Portofino in the $75,000 Budweiser World Cup qualifier, the highlight of the Syracuse Invitational Tournament, reports Nancy Jaffer.
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Just five of a field of 35 made it into the jump-off, with Michael the only foreigner to qualify.
Michael’s victory qualified him for the $50,000 Animal Planet Sporthorse Cup, which combines a speed class, a four-bar and finally a one-round test.
Michael rode Insultech Quidame Des Hayettes Z in the first phase, finishing second to Leslie Burr Howard. In phase two, Michael was again second, this time with Insultech Up To Date, but the stallion had two down in the final phase. This left Michael fourth overall.
Read these reports in full, including photographs, plus reports from Exeter EC, Medstead Grange, Prescott, Sands Farm and a round-up og international action in tomorrow’s Horse & Hound (16 November, ’06)
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