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October 2015
October 2015 • VOLUME XV NUMBER 9
Show reports and News from across the region Getting ready for Autumn: Top tips inside
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British Showjumping News Please contact Fiona on 01892 863062 or email fiona@localrider.co.uk to submit your British Showjumping News to Localrider Monica Ballard and My Amazing Grace won the Dodson & Horrell 0.85m National Amateur Second Round
Monica Ballard Dominates
Dodson & Horrell National Amateur Second Rounds
M
onica Ballard from Sittingbourne in Kent enjoyed a successful Sunday at Coombelands Equestrian in Pulborough, West Sussex on Sunday 13th September as she secured victory in both the 0.85m and 1.10m Dodson & Horrell National Amateur Second Rounds. Qualifying for the Dodson & Horrell National Amateur Championships at Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool (18th – 22nd November) was very much at the forefront of each competitor’s mind, so they were focused on securing one of the twelve direct qualifying places on offer in each class.
Amazing five second lead
In the Dodson & Horrell 0.85m National Amateur Second Round, Monica got the jump-off off to a blistering start on board her own 17-year-old bay mare My Amazing Grace. Drawn first to go in the jump-off, the combination produced their second clear round in just 26.10 seconds and this was to prove good enough for a five second advantage. Hannah Cole from Hitchin, Hertfordshire took second place and she partnered her own 16-year-old grey gelding O’Macca. They produced their double clear in 31.15 seconds. Third place was taken by Deeann Smith from Horsham on her own 13-year-old bay mare Veronique H, after they delivered a double clear in 33.86 seconds.
Monica Ballard and Anemoon Van De Kapel won the Dodson & Horrell 1.10m National Amateur Second Round
Olivia Painter and Caretino Honey, second 1.10m second round
Monica’s good fortune continued into the afternoon when she scooped victory in the 1.10m second round on another of her own rides, the nine-year-old chestnut mare Anemoon Van De Kapel. Third to go in in the jump off, Monica delivered yet another fast double clear, this time crossing the finish line in 31.09 seconds. Olivia Painter from Westerham in Kent finished in second after producing her second foot perfect round on her own 11-year-old bay mare Caretino Honey. This combination stopped the clock in 32.58 seconds. Third went to Southerly Roberts from Hook, Hampshire and she rode her own 10-year-old bay mare Tinx, jumping clear in a time of 33.65 seconds.
Deeann Smith and Veronique H, third 0.85m second round
Pics by LRG Photography
1.10m Second Round
Southerley Roberts and Tinx, third 1.10m second round
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Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping at Spruce Meadows in Canada
Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos Just a week before it was all a dream…
Scott Brash wins the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping and €1,000,000 bonus
Pictures courtesy of Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, Andreas Steindl and Kit Houghton
S
cott Brash has made history by becoming the first and only rider to win the three equestrian Majors consecutively, claiming the pinnacle of equestrian sporting achievement: the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping title and a €1,000,000 bonus. In a sport with top-level competition all year round, winning just one of the three Majors is a goal that motivates all riders. However, to dominate top sport consistently takes a truly unique horse and rider partnership – a legendary one that will remain etched in the annals of the sport. Riding his formidable horse Hello Sanctos, Sussex-based Scott Brash started his Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping campaign by winning the Rolex Grand Prix at the greatest indoor show in the world, CHI Geneva in December 2014. In May 2015, he then went on to claim the Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen, the title to which every rider aspires. The final part of this Grand Slam challenge came with his third victory in the CP International presented by Rolex during the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ in Canada on Sunday 13th September. The build-up to the grand prix was dominated by warm weather and a buzz of excitement from the large crowd who knew they could be watching history being made. But conditions changed on the day of the
CP International presented by Rolex and the riders were faced with wet conditions and a drop in temperature. Forty horse and rider combinations started the competition with twelve going through to the second round. As Scott Brash had posted the fastest time in the opening round, he had the benefit of watching his fellow competitors jump round what course designer Leopoldo Palacios described as “the biggest course on the circuit”. The tension inside the Spruce Meadows International ring was electric as the huge crowd went silent each time a new partnership entered. Poles dropped and faults accumulated, and for a while it appeared that a single time fault from Brazil’s Pedro Veniss and the 2013 Grand Prix winner, Pieter Devos, would be enough to take them into a jump-off. With Scott Brash the last to go, he knew that a clear round would win him the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping and the record bonus. As he has done on so many previous occasions riding Hello Sanctos, he rose majestically to the challenge and went clear barely touching a pole throughout his winning round. Scott Brash said: “Winning one of the equestrian Majors was an incredible achievement, to win two was a dream come true, but to go on and complete the Rolex
Grand Slam of Show Jumping is beyond belief. I have a very special horse in Hello Sanctos, and some amazingly supportive owners in Lord & Lady Harris, and Lord & Lady Kirkham. This close partnership has enabled Hello Sanctos and myself to achieve success that will never be forgotten, and I would like to thank all those who have played a part in making this happen.” The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping was launched in 2013 by the three Majors as the ultimate challenge in equestrian sport. The shows have a natural synergy and a mutual respect for their respective achievements and heritage. Select riders, including Rolex Testimonees Rodrigo Pessoa and Eric Lamaze, have won all three Majors; however, this is the first time it has been achieved consecutively. Arnaud Boetsch, Communications & Image Director of Rolex SA, said, “On behalf of Rolex, we would like to congratulate Scott Brash on winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, the ultimate prize in equestrian sport. In winning this unparalleled challenge, Scott Brash has proven that he is the one of the finest riders of his generation. His achievement will go down as one of the most remarkable in the history of the sport, and will be talked about for years to come.”
What kind of horse is Sanctos when he is at home? “He’s a very clever horse, so I think he knows that he’s good. He knows he’s the king of the stable. But he’s very laid-back and relaxed at home, does everything at his own pace. So, everyone has to go at his pace. He loves being at home, loves relaxing, loves hacking out. But when he enters the arena, he comes alive.” OCTOBER 2015 Localrider 43
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