RHS SHOWJUMPING

RHS JUNIORS

Broughton-in -Furness based Sophie Wicks made it two in a row when she reclaimed her 128cm title this year with a double clear on her little chestnut, Camizion, fresh from a Grand Prix win at Bolesworth, the weekend before.

Michael McColm was the only other home on a zero score with his strawberry roan Greenbarrow Desert Rose. An accurate rider on a pony ridden in minimal tack this pair took the longer route home but kept galloping but then watched as Sophie opted to turn in after an upright back to the first two parts of the combination which proved to be the winning move when she finished four seconds in front.

She did have an anxious wait especially when Eleanor Archibald galloped round on Pondhead Dexter going the longer option but faster to rub one fence out in exactly the same time.

Sophie, who moves out of 128cm at the end of the year was also seen in the money in the Liz Fox JC/JD Final.

This class provided the most exciting jump off overall when seven went against the clock. Jenna Ross had a couple of blips with the up and coming novice pony Glenlole Jazzy Lady, Sophie this time on Robe Silver Lady and Rachel Proudley on Jet III both hit a fence leaving four to race against the clock.

Rachel was first to record a clear with a good but slightly steadier round on Icarus W before things really hotted up.

Under instruction not to go too fast between the first two fences JC/JD points winner Emma McCornick set off with the scopey Castletown Lady Ricardo, losing a stirrup part of the way round was to cost them a turn inside to the penultimate upright although they landed after the last delighted to go into the lead.

The lead was short-lived when Shaunie Greig entered with her HOYS qualified Teagan Arla Rose. No stranger to fast jump offs they set off at a blistering pace, turned tight to the combination then inside to the upright before galloping down the last to blast almost five seconds off the time and leave no one in any doubt she was taking the trophy home.

Megan Morris wasn’t far off with Norbet also finding the turn to the second last but even with a fast and flowing round they were just two seconds adrift for runner up position.

Regular visitor to Scotland Rachel Proudley was not letting anyone have the 138cms trophy she won last year with Buttons Two jumping the only first round clear over a track set by Shaun Sands that looked straightforward enough but caused a lot of problems.

Ciara Miller and all her connections could not contain their delight cheering loudly when she landed over the last fence in the 148cms section clear only to groan when they realised she had picked up a time fault for being just six tenths of a second over the time allowed. Spot The Okehhurst, a 16yr old spotty gelding had gone slightly deep to a double of uprights in an otherwise faultless display round an imposing track but after a nail biting wait while they watched the rest of the competitors fault they were announced the very deserving winners enjoying every second of their lap of honour.

Babes is the young master

RHS SENIORS

Graham Babes had call to celebrate when he found out he had been asked to represent Great Britain again as part of the Young Rider European Team heading to Zuidwolde, in Holland, in a couple of weeks’ time.

It then seemed fitting that he should claim the crown of Young Masters' champion with his team horse, Boucheron.

Graham took two through to the jump off to go against another four riders to vie for the new Cameron Poe trophy donated by Aimee Bell in recognition of the wonderful partner she sadly lost a few months ago.

PJ Williams opened with a fabulous round on Master Calvaro who has been in form the last few weeks winning at Newmilns recently. Sailing round with scope to burn the clock said 38.25 as they crossed the line.

Two horses later and Ashton Dakota freshly home from a successful trip to Bolesworth ridden by Mark Turnbull managed to drop this to 37.37.

Graham then had his first attempt with the grey Challenger but the first fence fell in a slower time.

Swapping straight onto last year’s runner up Boucheron Graham very calmly warmed the horse up while the crowd waited then watched as this cool character kicked on turning tight to the final line and flew to the last to knock half a second off Mark’s time.

Nicky Williams was last to go on Gary Frew’s Elo III. The first half of the course looked amazing with Nicky forming a great partnership with this horse. A rub at the first part of the combination saw the pole bounce up but it did look like it would stay then at the last second slipped off the cup accompanied by a groan from those watching appreciating the challenge.

Graham then had to settle for runner up spot in the Willie Sheret B and C where it was the turn of Drem-based Ailsa Black to take home the trophy on board her Scottish-bred Zara Zing. Winner of the Talent Seekers here last year and with two HOYS tickets already won this summer they stayed on form to record the fastest time from second draw having to sit and watch as others chased her including Graham this time on Glencoe who came closest to catching her from seventh draw but still fell just over a second short.

Nicky Williams was seen again on Elo III, finishing third.

Nine also came through to the jump off in the Andrew Hamilton Novice Final in which Ailsa must have thought she’d done enough when near the end she steered her up and coming Endyana EH Z round over a second quicker than any of the others.

Penultimate rider Douglas Duffin was never going to settle for a lower place taking as tight a line as he could with the flashy grey Mylord Carthago son Garthago whom he qualified at Howe back in March. This pair were fast and forward shaving under two tenths of a second from Ailsa’s time to take the title.

What a year Lucy Stewart has had! She won at HOYS in October and has since won almost every amateur final and qualifier there is to win in Scotland this year. At every show throughout the year the amazing Cancun is seen galloping to a red rosette with this their seventh win this month alone so it was no surprise to see them carrying the trophy home for the Airth Castle Amateur final.

Just under a second in arrears was Chloe Templeton on her ever-speedy super little mare Vurelise.

Mark Turnbull graciously praised his partner Savannah Roper for her fabulous round in the Mini Major when in an exciting main ring class supported by the crowds as well as the riders families they scorched round to record the fastest time overall.