Day three at the Al Shira’aa Bolesworth Young Horse Championship saw a strong contingent of exceptional young horses going head-to-head in the qualifying age classes in the iconic International Arena. On fabulous form with notable results posted from an unstoppable Laura Renwick, Joss Williams, Simon Crippen and Christopher Smith, the Championship finals promise to be a who’s who of elite sport horse breeding.
Dominating the 6-year-old classes with another fast win, speed specialist Laura Renwick aboard the talented Kosmos A will confidently go forward to Sunday’s Championship Final. The highly competitive class served as an exciting indication for the future with the top five separated by less than a second. Second place went to Christopher Smith and Messarado Blue, with John Crippen and Science Supplements Bp Ko Jax finishing in third. Providing all the questions riders can expect to see on the continent, the course was expertly designed with the horse’s future development in mind.
Posting textbook double clears with three of his 6-year-old rides, the future is looking bright for Christopher Smith. As well as second place, Christopher also collected honours for fifth place with Donna Van’T Gebergte Z and finished just outside of the placings aboard Knock Out.
Christopher Smith commented: “Messarado is naturally quick, a real trier, a proper winner in the making, she’s a homebred (Messenger x Indorado) making the results extra special. She was third in the 5-year-old final last year so showing some consistent form. Basically, she likes leaving the fences up”.
In the Castle Arena success was served to Bolesworth regular Jay Halim with Winning Moon, victorious in the Voltaire Design CSI2* 1.35m. Finishing half a second behind was Robert Murphy on High Quality and Ireland’s Anthony Condon with The Movie Star.
“Hitting form at the Dodson & Horrell Bolesworth International Horse Show earlier this year, Winning Moon’s results are going from strength to strength, proving to be naturally careful with a competitive edge, she is making my job easy. Although she is known affectionately as Granny at home due to her laid-back nature, she really is so different in the ring, she comes out switched on and ready,” said Jay Halim.
The best of eighty-three combinations, Faye Adams (GBR) and Demograaf jumped to victory in the Al Shira’aa CSI2*1.40m. Fresh from their National 1.30m Final win at the British Showjumping National Championship, they shocked the leader board with a late draw and a speedy round in the strong class, taking the win. Following in second place was Anthony Condon (IRL) with the successful mare on outstanding form Zira vh Kapelhof Z, then Angela Thompson (GBR) with Fremont Vdl and Humaid Abdulla Khalifa Al Muhairi (UAE) riding Tsunami De Hus of Al Shira’aa Stables in fourth.
With her sights set firmly on the win, Faye explained the round: “I went in so determined, he actually thrives off my determination. There was a tight turn from twelve to thirteen into a massive oxer that was really wide, which I knew if I just kept my leg on he would fight for it.
Demi performs so well here, but he doesn’t like the moat around the arena, which did mean I had to take the inside line from seven to the combination, which paid off! He is so fast, everything happens so quickly underneath you, but I never have any doubt that he’s not going to go. I can’t give Demi enough credit; our partnership means everything to me.”
The defining Al Shira’aa 7-year-old qualifier saw seventy-six combinations competing for a place in Sunday’s Final. Entering the arena just aiming for a double clear was Joss Williams aboard the fantastically fast Fourfields Darc Maxim. The very blood mare was predominately produced as an eventer, before starting her showjumping career with Chris Allman. Comfortable with an open forward canter, the ground covering mare took two seconds off the time to win, followed by Sally Goding and Spring Willow in second and Jack Ryan with Operette Van De Koekoek finishing third.
Delighted with the result Joss Williams concluded: “The International Arena really suits her, she loves a big open forward canter, and naturally set off in it. Today we just wanted to go for a double clear in both classes, didn’t think we would come and win!”
Celebrating the ever-increasing strength of UK breeding, a parade of British stallions took to the International Arena allowing spectators the chance to view the quality of stallions now on offer in the UK. The strong line up included three of Al Shira’aa’s impressive stallions including the World Breeding Final for Young Horses 2019 5-year-old silver medallist and reigning Bolesworth 6-year-old Champion, Chacco Bay (Chaccato x Heops), a popular choice for breeders with exquisite youngstock on the ground already.
Also joining from the Al Shira’aa stables was the exciting young horse SS Pegasus (Balou Du Rouet Z x Voltaire) and the athletic, Grand Prix performer Tsunami De Hus (L’arc De Triomphe x Argentinus), out of the full sister to the legendary Arko III. Proving popular amongst the crowd was Ashdale Goldstar (Big Star x Lux Z) and Ashdale Legend (Luidam x Lux Z), both coming forward from Ashdale Sports Horses. With all the ingredients to perform at the top end of the sport, the line-up of stallions proved a valuable insight into the future of British breeding.
Sami Kettle, Sponsorship Coordinator of Al Shira’aa Stables said: “It’s a really exciting evening at Bolesworth and it’s lovely to showcase our stallions to everyone. We’re delighted to show Chacco Bay, winner of the 6-year-old Championship last year, SS Pegasus, our young stallion proudly bred by the owner of Al Shira’aa and Tsunami De Hus, a proven and popular stallion for use. The Al Shira’aa stallions really are a great line up of stallions and we’re really excited to provide them to British breeders.”
There’s still time to enjoy the sporting action live at the Al Shira’aa Bolesworth Young Horse Championship this weekend. General admission tickets are available for the weekend sessions and can be purchased at www.bolesworthyounghorse.com, adult tickets retail at £15.00 and £7.50 for children, which is inclusive of free parking. Children under three can enter for free and well-behaved dogs are welcome too. A limited number of tickets can be purchased on the gate which will incur an additional £5 parking fee, however pre-booking is advised to avoid disappointment. For British Showjumping Members, a discounted rate ticket price of £10.00 is available on pre-booked adult tickets. To enjoy the sporting action from the comfort of hospitality, please visit https://www.bolesworthyounghorse.com/hospitality/ for further information and to book.