Robert Whitaker takes Blue Chip Grand Prix

The 2006 Blue Chip Grand Prix has been won by Robert Whitaker and Lacroix 9. In a nail biting jump off at the Blue Chip Winter Championships at Solihull Riding Centre (28 March – 2 April), Whitaker was one of only three riders to finish with a clear round and completed the course almost 7 seconds faster than his nearest opponent.

Lynne Bevan from Abergavenny and Claire Robertson from Oakham scored the other two clears. Bevan was first to jump off and finished clear in a very respectable 43.03 sec. Robertson, partnering Retreats Uppercut was unable to match Bevan’s time and both moved down the leader board when Whitaker jumped a terrific round in just 36.24 sec to win. Guy Williams, Geoff Billington and Ellen Whitaker clocked up 4 penalties each in the jump off, relegating them to fourth, five and sixth places respectively.

Twenty-three year-old Robert Whitaker came close to winning the title in 2002 when he was second on Quinten II and was not far off last year when he finished fourth on Karina.

The Grand Prix was not the only excitement at Solihull last weekend. Ellis Belcher from London won Saturday’s Kitt-Kraiburg Junior Novice Championship on board Homewood Heidi. The pair were just a split second faster than runner-up Megan James (13) from Chelmsford, Essex on Charlene Nathan’s Sprite II.

The Kitt-Kraiburg Junior Discovery Championship was won by Abbie Goring from Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. Goring rode her gelding Rutalnds Rebel to victory against 81 starters, marking the pair’s biggest win to date.

Adam Valks from Northallerton, North Yorkshire won the Kitt-Kraiburg Junior Sapphire Championship for JC and JD ponies who have not won a total of £250. Adam rode Janet Valks’ 7 year old gelding Afon Lad, and was closely followed by Rosie Chinery from Halstead, Essex on-board G.E.C Delight.

The last class held at the Blue Chip Championships on Sunday was the Kitt-Kraiburg Junior Coral Championship, won by Hannah West from Stevenage, Hertfordshire riding McFly III. Joe Clayton was second on-bard B Minor.

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