Riders do battle at Blue Chip Championships

Riders nationwide descended on Hartpury College, Glos for the 20th anniversary year of the Blue Chip showjumping championships. Their aim was simple, to compete for coveted championships titles.

Caroline Barnes moved Steve Barnes’s Miss Porsch O into top gear to take the Blue Chip Joint RLF power championship. It was no mean feat, as 23 of the 61 starters reached the jump-off, and they were all in it to win it.

“I watched the first [competitor] go, but reckoned the winner would be four sec faster,” said mid-drawn Caroline, who cut the time predicted exactly. “I paced outside while the rest jumped, I couldn’t watch.”

Sam Wall and Harvey Lee’s handsome What A Boy II clinched second.

Devoucoux star champion in 2010, Emma-Jo Slater was again in the spotlight a year later for the TAG66 novice title. On this occasion she partnered Kim Barzilay’s Spot Of Business, a son of Geoff Glazzard’s famous It’s The Business.

“It was his first time doing a lap of honour, and at first he wouldn’t canter with the rug on” said Emma-Jo.

A hot jump-off was predicted as 27 of the initial 61 gained clears, but Emma-Jo secured the top spot with an early draw.

“He’s inexperienced against the clock and I thought I’d be beaten” she said.

Results

TAG66 nov ch. – 1, Spot Of Business (E-J Slater); 2, What A Boy II (S Wall); 3, Benevita (J Mincher). Blue Chip Joint RLF power ch. – 1, Miss Porsch O (C Barnes); 2, Ayrton IV (C Shepherd); 3, Zeero B (M Bunting). TAG66 1m. – 1, Roaringwater Bay (E Hart); 2, Cheri Amore (C Purves); 3, Escapa VA (J Pyke). Devoucoux 1.05m. – 1, Coral Drum (S Hedges); 2, Zarlon (O Johnson); 3, Torpedo (S Garlick). Nedz Bed 1.15m winter classic qual. – 1, Willow II (J Wickham); 2, Electrick Lux (B Mason); 3, Pimosa (H Rees). Halsall Electrical 1.25m qual. – 1, Blackberry Way (J Mincher); 2, Millfield Lord Luis (B Thompson); 3, Thornfield Murray (L Skelton). Blue Chip nov winter classic qual. – 1, Ghune Van Het Keizeshof (J Mincher); 2, Blitzergo (B Vernon); 3, Magic Louvo (K Peates).

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