A showcase of exceptional young talent at The Al Shira’aa Bolesworth Young Horse Championships saw outstanding young talent perform in both the Ashdale Sports Horses 4-year-old and the Dallamires Stables 5-year-old Championship Final. Competitors jumped throughout the week aiming to reach their respective finals, with top placings in the 5-year-olds offering the opportunity to gain the all-important qualification to the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken (BEL).
Beginning the first of the Championship classes, the highly anticipated 4-year-old Final saw 82 combinations coming forward for the challenge. Competing in the first round over 10 obstacles with 12 efforts, the class saw 34 clears taken forward to the second phase. Based on style and performance, the second round was marked by three renowned judges Bart Hendrix, Barry O’Connor and Angelie Von Essen, all looking to award marks based on rideability and jumping technique.
Winning with 101.5 points out of a possible 120, Chloe Reynolds and Domination F Z reigned supreme taking the 2021 Ashdale Sports Horses 4-year-old Championship title. Owned by Sally Jobson-Scott and Jackson Reed-Stephenson, the Dominator Z x Piano gelding displayed all the desirable qualities for top level sport. Backed as a 3-year-old before being turned away, the now 4-year-old is lightly competed with early highlights including winning the 4-year-old Championship at Bicton this year.
Piloted to perfection, Chloe Reynolds commented on the gelding: “He got better and better throughout the show, every time he went into the arena he grew in confidence, by the time he went into the presentation he walked in like a top Grand Prix horse, he already thinks he is the best! He’s an effortless, easy ride, the 4-year-old classes have been a perfect platform for his education. He really is the loveliest horse, big but gentle, he’ll go home now and back in the field”.
Barry O’Connor, Style and Performance Judge for the 4-year-old Final, said: “The presentation of 4-year-olds was an impressively high standard with just six points between the top five, which were all really good horses and future international class winners in my opinion. The winner Domination F Z showed some fantastic attributes for sport. He was scopey, quick in front with a good attitude, balanced canter, and many characteristics of his sire. This is quite a long track in a big arena, so a good forward canter was needed. This really tested the balance and the rideability of the horses.”
In addition to top placings a bonus pot of £2000 was shared between the 20 combinations in the 4-year-old classes who retained a clear record throughout the course of the show.
The Dallamires Stables 5-year-old Final impressed with 59 talented starters, all of which have already shown promise having delivered two double clears to qualify for the Championship. With the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses tickets on offer to the top four British bred youngsters, the competitive class asked all the relevant questions to ensure the very best horses go forward to Lanaken.
Tight lines and a stride out to the last secured Megan James and British Bred Labatt The Dallamires Stables 5-year-old Championship title. Bred by Edward Bleekman and owned by John Renwick the Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve x Orlando is full brother to Laura Renwick’s iconic ride Bintang II.
Based with John and Laura Renwick, Megan has enjoyed the impressive ride with regular wins including a CSIYH1* win at Keysoe earlier in the year. Combining natural balance with speed through the turns, Laura has likened Labatt to his brother.
Megan commented: “I have been so lucky to have ridden him since joining the Renwick’s, I really think he’s destined for the top. I’m hoping that we do make the trip out to Lanaken to the World Championships, it’s brilliant that from all the entries the top 4 finishes are British”.
With less than one second separating the top four, second place was secured by Lottie Tutt and Billy Legend (Cevin Z x Riesling Du Monselet), with third place going to Laura Renwick and Nfs Angelina (Arko III x Couleur Rubin) and finishing fourth was Millie Allen riding Be Magic Cornet (Cornet Obolensky x Cambridge). The bonus pot of £4000 will be shared to the 6 riders who produced faultless rounds all week.
Dominating the pony classes throughout the duration of the show so far, there’s no doubt that prolific young rider Tabitha Kyle has been on absolutely flying form. Following on from her first, second and fifth in Friday night’s Pony of the Year Show 148cm, Tabitha once again pulled it out the bag in the Bloomfields Horseboxes 138cm class, picking up first on Playboy Van De Zoetewei, second on Mister Proper and third on Another Barney. A certain star of the future, it’s been fantastic to support young talent in all areas at Bolesworth this week.
Ronnie Jones with Interstar B landed a highly competitive win in the Voltaire Design CSI2* 1.35m. Continuing his fine form, the 8-year-old gelding by I M Special De Muze comes fresh from a win at Herts County having secured their Grade C Horse of The Year Show (HOYS) qualifier ticket. Enjoying great success in the 5, 6 and 7 year old Championships, winning multiple titles across the country, including the iconic Big Star Final, this prolific combination are a true testament to the success of Young Horse Championships.
With his sights firmly set on a win at the HOYS, Ronnie commented: “He’s had some really good results, he’s so reliable making him a good winner who couldn’t try any harder. He enjoys jumping here and did well at the International earlier in the year, looking to the future we are working towards to a win at HOYS”.
It was a full throttle, thrilling Halliwell Jones BMW Ride & Drive in the International Arena against the clock. With the showjumping round first and foremost followed by a quick change over, the driver then took the wheel to pilot the remarkable BMW X5 through the cone course. Tight turns with foot to the floor acceleration, partners pitched their driving skills against the clock to the excitement of the crowd. Taking the title quite comfortably with eight seconds in hand was the dynamic duo of Ben Walker and Vicky Mitson, delivering a faultless round, keeping their lines smooth and direct all the way. Second place went to the partnership of Carron Nicol and Leo Lamb, with Jay Halim and Eoin Gallagher taking third (on Jay’s second attempt at the first fence!).
Tomorrow sees the final day of young horse action, climaxing with the 6-year-old and 7-year-old Finals as well as the CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix. With a sterling line up of combinations, don’t miss out on the live action, there is still time to secure tickets for the final day of sport at the Al Shira’aa Bolesworth Young Horse Championship. 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.