Riders do battle for HOYS tickets at Scope Festival

As the Cushionbed British Showjumping Scope Festival championships gather momentum, it was action all the way as six more finals drew to a thrilling climax in Bingley Hall at Stafford County Showground.

Danielle Farnsworth and Elite K gained their Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) ticket when they topped the Horse & Hound Foxhunter Masters.

“We aimed for a good double clear and got it,” said Danielle who only meets up with Mark Williams and Jane Noton’s mare at shows.

Also qualifying for Birmingham were next placed Mathew Boddy (Zuccero), Robert Maguire (Beckham IV) and Scott Smith (Quintus 66).

Yorkshire rider Alex Gill and Amman Valley Santino won the Blue Chip Feed Balancer junior masters. This class also offered tickets to HOYS and they went to Toy Story III (Emily Hawcroft), Future Role (Hannah Tiley), Demi Watson (Bramblebrough Alan) and Joshua Hutchins (Charlie XIII).

Anglesey-based Christie Pritchard and Whitehorn Girl found all the short cuts to win the Mandy Hall National pony 1.15m members cup title.

“She just settles into a rhythm and jumps from anywhere,” said Christie, who finished ahead of Millie Allen riding Tinka’s Pearl.

Millie gained adequate compensation for this defeat when she clinched first and third places in the Equibox & Animo UK children on horses championship riding her British children on horses team ride Trueleva and Bonfire III.

Louise Saywell produced one of the best rounds of the day riding Spirit T to win the George Babes young riders B&C championship.

“There were some tricky lines, but she is such a trier,” said Louise, who was nursing an injured shoulder.

The final stages of the Katherine James novice championship drew more than a few sharp in takes of breath as clear rounds became progressively faster. Riding Columcille Colleen — a horse more used to hunting and team chasing — for the first time indoors, Jenna Watson really did ride a racing finish to take the honours.

Championships results: Tuesday 31 August

Mandy Hall National 1.15m members cup. – 1, Whitehorn Girl (C Pritchard); 2, Tinka’s Pearl (M Allen); 3, Salvador IV (B Robinson). Blue Chip Feed Balancer pony newcomers masters. – 1, Ammanvalley Santino (A Gill); 2, Vesuvius (J Inwood); 3, King Mac (E Ward). Equibox & Animo UK Children on horses. – 1 & 3, Trueleva & Bonfire III (M Allen); 2, Cree Cruiser (L Robinson). George Babes young riders B&C. – 1, Spirit T (L Saywell); 2, Willerton (G Whitaker); 3, Wings Sublime (J Buxton). Horse & Hound Foxhunter masters. – 1, Elite K (D Farnsworth); 2, Zuccero (M Boddy); 3, Beckham IV (R Maguire). Katherine James 1.0m novice. – 1, Columbcille Colleen (J Watson); 2, Skinners Zed (K Grimster); 3, Little Bee II (B Walker).

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