15 minute read
Showjumping
Burke’s fab four
Jessica Burke secures the Sussex Cup aboard Louisa Church’s nine-yearold “absolute weapon” Inpulss (by Dallas VDL)
Despite a week of “ups and downs”, former teacher Jessica Burke racks up a four-timer, and a former working hunter pony claims a Hickstead jumping title
All England September Tour, Hickstead, West Sussex
By ELEANOR JONES
“IT’S mad how sometimes everything just goes your way,” said Jessica Burke, after she had secured her fourth title in the first week of the All England September Tour.
The Irish rider, who was a fulltime maths teacher until 2019, took a hat-trick of young horse wins (see box, right), then topped it off by winning Sunday’s feature class, the 1.40m Sussex Cup, on the flying little nine-year-old Inpulss, owned by Louisa Church of Arion Stud.
The track had proved testing, with six clears from 38 starters, and among those falling foul of Ben Townley’s track in the first round was Jessica on Nikey HH, a nine-year-old who picked up a stride early at the open water, leaving Jessica on the ground.
“It’s amazing, the ups and downs,” Jessica said. “I was on my head with my first ride but Inpulss is an absolute weapon. I was a bit rattled and thinking of jumping the vertical [alternative option] instead of the water, but she was going, she’s fearless, and I thought, ‘I’d better go with her.’ She took me round today.”
Jessica said that as her fellow Irish rider Anthony Condon was two before her, on Queen Mary, she had time to finish her warmup and watch him.
“I know he’s quick on his horse so I saw all the numbers [of strides],” she said. “This mare’s very quick, so I thought if I kept with her, I’d be there or thereabouts and I just kept travelling.”
Jessica has been riding the Dallas VDL mare since the start of this year, enjoying international wins at Bolesworth and Deauville.
“She won the Cavan classic five-year-old title and when I saw her advertised, we went to see her the next day,” Jessica said. “I loved her straight away. She’s my type; fiery, brave, only a small mare, but she thinks she’s got all the scope in the world.”
Only five of the 37 starters went clear in the Hickstead 1.30m open championship.
Of those, it was Gemma Stevens (née Tattersall) who took the title, on Lisa Maynard’s Balou For Pleasure.
The tiny powerhouse of an eight-year-old stallion belied his stature with a ground-covering stride to beat Bethanie Knight on Julius 1 by almost a second.
“I’m chuffed to bits,” Gemma said. “I’ve only had him a couple of months. When he came he wasn’t fit, so we’ve built him up. He can be quirky – he likes to show everyone his tummy now and then! – but he’s very athletic.”
Gemma has put in a lot of flatwork as the pair have built their relationship, and they have now overcome a few poles down owing to “teething problems” to show what they can do together.
“He was super to qualify for this, and we jumped our first 1.40m the other day, and today he’s come up super,” said Gemma, adding that it is good to have another horse coming up behind her top showjumping mare, MGH Candy Girl.
“He’s only little but he’s got a massive stride, he’s brave and he wants to be careful,” she said. “It’s all work in progress, but he’s starting to trust me now and I feel he’s a really exciting one for the future; he’s going to be cool.”
The super-speedy Hannah Tiley and Capistelle JX threw down the gauntlet in the Stoner Jewellers 1.20m open championship, going in third of 18 in the jump-off and clocking a time no one could touch.
The feisty 11-year-old, who Hannah has owned for six years and on whom she has enjoyed success across the country, galloped from start to finish, turning and jumping like a cat to thunder home a second clear of Sam Ward on Di’s Girl.
“I just wanted to put the pressure on from the start and it paid off,” Hannah said. “It was horrible watching everyone else!”
The strong-willed pocketrocket 15.2hh Cador mare is “not the easiest at times”, Hannah said, such as her exuberant buck before the first fence.
“She lives out basically as she’s a bit wild at home, but she means everything to me,” Hannah said. “I absolutely love her, although possibly not to ride at home!”
Rebecca Middleton took Saturday’s 1.20m amateur championship on her own Last Thoughts, holding their lead from first in. Rebecca bought the nineyear-old gelding from William Funnell in 2019, taking him from jumping 90cm.
“It was amazing – I burst into tears when I found out I’d won!” she said. “We have just grown together. William and Roger from the Billy Stud have been a big support, so I couldn’t have done this without them, him, and my husband.”
WHITAKER WINS IT
THOMAS WHITAKER “went in to win” in the Hickstead novice championship and did just that, setting a blistering pace on seven-year-old Sandyhill Candy.
It was a “catch ride” for Thomas, although he has been riding John Walker Smith’s gelding “on and off” for a year.
“Nicole Pavitt’s done all the work with him and done an amazing job, but she’s had an operation on her collarbone, so I got the catch ride today,” he said. “I went in to win, that’s for sure!”
Thomas said the horse’s big stride, manoeuvrability and speed was what secured the win, including a gallop to the Hickstead planks followed by a super-tight turn to the last line.
“He’s a big character and the more you give him, the more he gets stuck in,” he said. “He’s a fighter, that’s the best way to describe him.
“That’s my first win [in the International Arena]; I’ve been second many times, so I’m delighted.”
Nicole Lockhead Anderson is no stranger to winning at Hickstead, and she added another title to her collection in the TDA Telecoms seven-year-old Star of the Future final, on her own
Emerald Irish Cruise, from first to go in the jump-off.
“I had to take risks as I knew some behind me would go fast, but she likes to go quick so she makes it very easy,” said Nicole. “She’s amazing – every time she comes out, she wants to win.”
Vicky Lovegrove took the Hy Equestrian 1.10m amateur title on Ruth Dowie’s 10-year-old Berlin stallion, Bonaparte Z.
“He is the most laid-back stallion ever, so chilled with a lovely temperament,” said Vicky.
Georgia Darlington saved the best for last in the Spidge Photography 1m championship, taking the title from last draw on her own 16-year-old Lisas Dream.
“I’ve had her for six years and we started doing working hunter pony classes originally. She’s had two third placings at Horse of the Year Show,” said Georgia.
“I’m now out of the class on age so she’s been showjumping and has been doing really well, and loving it!”
The second week of the tour runs from Wednesday, 7 to Sunday, 11 September. H&H
GEMMA STEVENS ON BALOU FOR PLEASURE
“He’s brave and he wants to be careful,” says Gemma Stevens of Balou For Pleasure, on whom she takes the title in the Hickstead 1.30m open championship for owner Lisa Maynard Hannah Tiley puts the pressure on from third draw with Capistelle JX in the 1.20m open championship, holding on to victory
FOUR!
AS well as the Sussex Cup, Jessica Burke won the five- and the six-year-old classes in the Billy Stud Auction Star of the Future championships with Billy Candle and Billy Be Boss (pictured) respectively, and shared the honours with 11 other horses in the Nexgen four-year-old final, on her own CHF Carraigdown Louis.
It was only the second time Jessica had ridden the Billy Congo six-year-old, whom Hickstead director Lizzie Bunn bought in the 2020 Billy Stud auction.
Jessica paid tribute to the team at Arion Stud, where she is based, and the “incredible team of horses”. “Then to be asked to ride for the Billy Stud,
TALKING POINT with another incredible bunch of horses and team; everyone made my job very easy this week,” she said. “When you ride good horses, it’s a lot easier as your confidence is up, and that’s a big thing.”
Slater notches up the wins
One team returns home with a full house of red rosettes, while former eventer Paul Sims is on a tremendous roll
Emma-Jo Slater enjoys a successful show with multiple victories, including in the 1m novice championship with Kim Barzilay’s five-year-old Kimba Je T’aime, a full-sister to five-star horse Kimba Flamenco
By SARAH RADFORD and JENNIFER DONALD
Scope Festival, South View, Cheshire
OWNER-PRODUCER Kim Barzilay and her rider Emma-Jo Slater are long-term supporters of Scope. They had a phenomenal show with wins in four qualifiers and three championships, as well as just missing out on a fourth.
A new acquisition, six-year-old You Two Touchdown, headed the pathfinder 1.10m championship, also finishing second in the SwnY-Mor blue riband 1.20m.
Kim bought the 17.1hh gelding from Misha Pitt earlier this year, and believes he is a “special one”.
“I must have had a bit of a lazy year five years ago as we didn’t have any home-breds to bring in this time, so we had some space,” Kim said.
“Misha bought him from Ireland and competed him to newcomers, but broke her back falling off another horse. She said she’d like to see Emma and I produce him, so we tried him for a few weeks and then bought him.
“I’m very excited about him and I think he’ll go all the way.”
Kim’s home-bred Kimba Je T’aime, a five-year-old full sister to Kimba Flamenco who jumped to five-star with Billy Twomey, won the 1m novice championship.
“She’s very, very careful but she’s not very big – whereas he is 17.1hh, she is 15.3hh,” Kim said.
“Her mother Indie has stopped having foals now as she’s 25. We have a three-year-old, two-yearold and a yearling but none of those are fillies, so she’ll probably stay with us to breed from.”
Every horse on the lorry won a class, with Kim and Emma-Jo also bringing along some “old faithfuls” to ensure some prize money. Among these was Freule TN, who pipped her stablemate, the sixyear-old Kimba Time, by over one second to win the Charles Britton 1.05m open championship.
“She’s the one who can always pulled some bold moves to win the Charles Britton 1.15m open championship.
“I had Emma-Jo in last draw [who had eight faults on Freule TN] so I knew I had to be quick.
KELLY CONNOR ON LACARA II
be trusted to help pay the bill!” Kim said.
While entries were lower than in previous years, averaging around 30 a class, the competition was just as tough.
Kelly Connor (Lacara II) She is always so fast, she makes you up your game and I am pleased I managed to steal one of the titles off her!” said Kelly, who was the only rider to make a turn inside the red fence.
“She’s very careful but not the fastest horse in the world, but I knew I could turn back tight and trust her to clear it.”
Lacara was bought as an unbacked three-year-old by Kelly’s best friend Denise Stewart, and she took over the ride on the 13-year-old mare three-and-a-half years ago when Denise had a baby.
“She has jumped more clear rounds than any horse I have ever had. She’s done a lot of bigger classes this year, including talent seekers, so she’s dropped down a level for this, for a bit of fun,” added Kelly, who travelled five hours from Kirkcaldy in Fife.
Another rider to beat the bar set by Emma-Jo was Tony French, who topped her 46.46sec time in the Swn-Y-Mor blue riband 1.20m with 45.61sec on Origi DW.
“My instruction to Tony at the
Slater notches up the wins
Henry Squibb tops the children-on-horses championship aboard Alothain De Blondel, whom he only sat on three days before the show
Tony French (Origi DW) heads the Swn-Y-Mor blue riband 1.20m
gate was, ‘You’re going to have to be tighter to the double than possible, inside to the water and fast everywhere, no in betweens!’” his partner Danielle Ryder said.
The eight-year-old Diamant De Semilly gelding is owned by Judy Price, who also owns home-bred Priceless Dream, who finished in fourth place.
“He didn’t jump at Bolesworth, where we concentrated on the young horses, so we picked another championship show for him,” Danielle added.
SIMS IS LIVING THE DREAM
A BOLD pathfinding round from ex-eventers Paul Sims and Dream Roller set an unassailable target in the Scope Recycling Lives ladies and gentlemen’s championship, earning this partnership their first 1.40m win.
Keith Shore’s endeavour with Leila Van Het Lindehof could only get within 2.31sec of Paul’s time, while Joe Trunkfield and Grennanstown Sarco Luxhill were a further 3.55sec behind.
“I knew there were a few fast people behind me,” Paul said. “I took the inside route to the double and then saw one of my eventing strides to the third-last! The fence seemed to be getting further and further away from me but I kept kicking and we were a mile off – I don’t know if another horse would have done that.
“He just gives his all every time he goes out and he’s ultra-careful, I have so much belief in him.”
This is Paul’s first season of switching fully from eventing to showjumping and he has qualified three horses for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), as well as having had a brilliant run with 11-yearold “Roly”, the only horse he retained from his eventing string.
The Diamond Roller gelding, who evented to two-star as a six and seven-year-old, is co-owned with Karen and Pete Littler and took his biggest win to date in the three-star 1.50m grand prix qualifier at Bolesworth.
“We won a 1.50m but we’d skipped a 1.40m win! I have had quite a few placings but this is the first time he’s won one,” Paul said. “He’s had a lot of firsts this year, he’s qualified for HOYS in the talent seekers and won his first rankings class. He’s been on fantastic form all year.”
NEW COMBINATION TAKE THE WIN
SIXTEEN-year-old Henry Squibb looked to be making a strong transition to horses, picking up three of the top four places in the children-on-horses championship.
He had only sat on his winning ride Alothain De Blondel three days before the show, while he has partnered second-placed Diatencona PS, a seven-year-old mare, for six months. Fourthplaced Major Delacour is also a new acquisition, having been bought less than a month earlier.
“I was riding Alothain De Blondel for my trainer John Renwick. He’s an extremely new ride for me but it couldn’t have gone any better,” said Henry, who also headed the qualifier with the 12-year-old gelding.
“I was still learning and adapting at every jump, even in the warm-up. He suits my style of riding though and is always going forward and taking you to a fence, which makes it a lot easier.”
Mia Newman took a surprise victory in the 148cm championship with Ohwow, having lowered the first fence in the first round only to find no other combination completed on fewer than eight faults.
“I walked it and I thought it was a fairly straightforward track, although everything came up quite quickly and the double and combination were long – you needed a lot of power to jump the back bar of the oxer out,” she said.
“Everyone was having the back bar but my pony jumps oxers really well. He jumped all the difficult bits, it was just a normal oxer at the first he rubbed – I didn’t even think about the fence as I didn’t think it would be a problem!”
Mia, 16, has ridden the buckskin Dutch-Irish gelding for the past four years. The
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
FALTIC HB IS BACK
THE Longines Global Champions Tour grand prix of Rome was won by Germany’s Christian Kukuk riding the Beerbaum Stables’ 10-yearold stallion Mumbai.
Ben Maher finished less than a second behind for the runner-up spot on his World Championship team bronze medal-winning ride, Faltic HB.
GRAND PRIX TIE
AT Spruce Meadows, Canada, two riders shared the spoils for Sunday’s grand prix.Ireland’s Paul O’Shea (Imerald Van’t Voorhof) and British rider Matt Sampson (Ebolensky) both stopped the clock on 38sec after a sevenway jump-off.
DERBYSHIRE WIN
AMANDA DERBYSHIRE and Wonder If (pictured) were in the money at the Hampton Classic, USA, winning Friday’s grand prix qualifier.
“She’s the most awesome horse,” said Amanda.
partnership will now head to HOYS for the pony showjumper final, and hope to qualify for the London International Horse Show as they are currently third in the gold league.
Several victorious combinations from the national championships repeated their success here, collecting additional titles.
Ella Kay headed the 128cm championship with Red Alert II, while the 138cm went to Bella Wild and Shaman Sundance.
Ellie Koscinska collected another 1.15m title with Ganty Wills Girl, while Taylie-Rae Owen not only headed the Graham Heath 128cm with Harwickview Yen Man but also the Cats and Pipes 138cm with Hatterall Inka. H&H
