Hartpury College in Gloucestershire hosted the keenly anticipated British Eventing Championship Jump Training and Jumping & Style (JAS) Championship sponsored by Baileys Horse Feeds on 18th and 19th February. Both Championships Series run through January and February, are open to BE members and non-members and are a great way to train and compete before the season gets into full swing
Jump Training Championships
In the Jump Training competition riders gain invaluable feedback from BE Accredited Coaches on their show jumping skills in a three phase training competition:
- Phase 1 Involves a course walk in small groups with a BE Accredited Coach
- Phase 2 Riders receive a guided warming up session prior to the competition, again with a BE Accredited Coach
- Phase 3 The competition phase; whereby riders jump one round, get feedback from the Coach and jump again
Both of the rounds of show jumping are given marks for style, effectiveness of riding and the quality of the horse's jump and its paces. Any show jumping faults over the two rounds are then included to produce a final score.
The Jump Training Championships were held on 18th February and proved well worth the trip for 32 year old Rebecca Brady from West Yorkshire who won the JT80 Championship on her five year old Hawallie VDL
The final combination into the arena they added nothing to their impressive style score of 10.5 to take a huge win over second placed Tegan Wood and Knockmanus Dusty. The pair finished on their style score of 16 with Sophia Marston and Meiklekims Secret completing the top three on a very close score of 16.5.
While Rebecca was the last in, it was the first rider that took the JT90 Championship, 14 year old Kate Prendergast and her own 14 year old Kilpatrick Cassius. Kate is a big fan of the BE winter series saying that “I got all double clears at BE last year, I find the winter training really useful and it’s great here to get help in the warm up and feedback between your rounds.”
Katie Stephens-grandy took second place on Mr Music with their style score of 20, one point ahead of third placed Anna Bruce and Huckleberry I.
The final JT100 Championship was won by Jane Bettles, 43, and Claudia Nacke’s 12 year old Gold Rush IV. A style score of 12.5 kept them just 0.5 penalties ahead of Jenna Good and Trewithian Hawkeweed who despite a very low style score of just nine added four show jumping penalties to finish on a total of 13. Emma Dainty and Sun City II secured their third spot with a style score of 14.5.
Jumping & Style Championships
The next day the 2017 Jumping & Style Championships proved equally popular with more than 250 combinations contesting the 2017 Championships across six levels of competition providing an indoor arena Eventing experience with a combination of show jumps and cross country fences.
Combinations are judged on style as well as technique; the style mark is converted to penalty points and added to any cross country or jumping penalties for the final score.
17 year old Flora Insley lifted the title in the BE90 Championship on her own six year old Doire Mhianaigh Rocky thanks to their style score of just seven penalties.
Jenna Good and Trewithian Hawkeweed enjoyed a successful weekend adding the BE90 Open JAS Championship to their runner up prizes from the Jump Training 100 the day before. Jenna, 14, and her own eight year old gelding finished on their style score of just seven penalties, some five penalties ahead of their closest competitors.
The BE100 Championship was won by Izzy Hall on a total of 12 penalties, made up of 10 for style and two time penalties collected from the cross country round. The 13 year old, who earlier in the day finished in third place in the BE90 section, was partnered by the pint sized skewbald gelding Uncle Monty.
A bountiful weekend for Natalie McGoldrick saw her take both the BE100 Open and Novice Championships on her own Tricky Johnie. Clearly not living up to his name 34 year old Natalie piloted the 10 year old gelding to a style score of just eight penalties in the BE100 Open and went four penalties better in the Novice Championships to win on an incredible style score of four.
The Novice Open wrapped up the 2017 Championships and it was a win for 32 year old Laura Walkden and Cointreau WV. Despite one time penalty in the cross country, the 10 year old gelding impressed the judges to clinch the win on a total score of 15.
The Novice and Novice Open sections were streamed live from the Championships and the whole show can be watched again for free on BETV. The video below by Harvey WetDog also gives a unique perspective on the top four of the JAS Open Novice Championship going head to head
