Eventing show jumping

A good number of clear rounds in the CIC3* competition, but the CIC2* show jumping proved a challenge for many

Jackson Bovill rode an accomplished round on Visionaire in the CIC3* show jumping. (Image: Libby Law Photography)

Eventers were out this morning to show jump in the drizzle at HOY, so now there is just the challenging cross-country tomorrow morning, before the Eventer of the Year is announced.

In the CIC3* class in the Land Rover main arena, there were plenty of faults in the first half of the field, then the clears came thick and fast with 11 of the 22 combinations eventually adding nothing to their dressage scores.

Unfortunately for overnight leader Sarah Young and Leo Degas, one rail came down to drop her back to fourth and let Jackson Bovill into he lead when he jumped a lovely, accomplished clear round on Visionnaire. He goes into the cross-country with a narrow lead from Samantha Felton on Ricker Ridge Pico Boo: just 0.3 of a penalty separates the two.

Samantha Felton rode three horses for three clears. Here she is on Ricker Ridge Pico Boo (Image: Libby Law)

Jackson prepared for this show jumping by entering in the 1.35m speed class on Wednesday, which was also in the main arena. While they were not placed, having rails, it was obviously the ideal preparation. He was also rapt with his dressage yesterday, recording a personal best score at this level. This is the fourth time they have competed at 3* level, their first attempt was at this event last year but unfortunately their competition ended in the main arena when Jackson parted company with Visionnaire after an awkward jump which Jackson blames himself for. He’s had some more successful completions at this level since and has every confidence in his mare’s jumping ability.

Other clear rounds went to Donna Edwards-Smith on DSE Tangolooma, South Islanders Emily Cammock (Shaw Lee) and Brent Jury (SE Hedging), Dannie Lodder (Balmoral Henton), Sarah Dalziell-Clout (Benrose Super Star), Diane Gilder (Your Attorney) and Ashleigh Mckinstry who has moved into third place on Pioneer Brass Monkey.

Ashleigh McKinstry is in third place on Pioneer Brass Monkey after jumping clear (Image: Libby Law Photography)

Samantha Felton would take the ‘star rider of the day’ prize (if there was one), with three horses in the CIC3* and three clear show jumping rounds. As well as lying second, Sam sits in sixth place on Ricker Ridge Escada and 12th on Ricker Ridge Rui, who is having his first start at this level and looked impressive in the show jumping.

Sam gives plenty of credit to her team of coaches. “I have great coaches around me and they are all on the same page. Clarke [Johnstone], Jeff [McVean] and Jock [Paget] give me lots of help and advice and they are all really clear in their explanations.”

Like most competitors, she hasn’t been able to have a proper look at the cross-country yet. “I’ve seen there’s a couple of new portables, but in general from the little I have seen it is much the same as before.”  Normally by now the course would have been walked numerous times, especially when you have three starters in the three-star! Does this make her nervous about tomorrow’s test, especially with the gloomy weather forecast?  “The first year it did, but this is year three, so I know the drill. We’ll have a look a bit closer at lunchtime and then hopefully get a chance to have a better look tonight or tomorrow morning.”  As to the weather? “We go in the wet. We go in the dry. We turn up and deal with it. We are eventers!”

We caught up with Jackson Bovill after lunch and just after he had walked as much of the course as he could. “It’s an attacking course, the lines are bold and of course it is well built.” He thought it was a lot harder than last year, with course-designer John Nicholson changing a few combinations and adding in more questions.

“The last combination on the polo field is a really good question and came as a surprise at the end of the course,” said Jackson.  He intends sticking to his game plan, whatever the weather. “It will be the same for everyone. I’m about to go off stud shopping – I’ll need big studs!”

CIC2*

There were not so many clear rounds in the CIC2* show jumping; only six out of the field of 37.  Four of those were the leaders after dressage: Bundy Philpott on Tresca NZPH, Donna Edwards-Smith on DSE Cluny, Jessica Woods on Just de Manzana, and Nick Brooks on For Fame. Abbey Thompson on Rockin It and Louise Mulholland on Mr McTaggart were the other two, moving Abbey up from 27th after dressage to 16th place and Louise from 18th to sixth.

 

SOURCENZ Horse & Pony Magazine
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