SATURDAY, August 27 saw the start of Hagans Croft’s four-week show jumping event entitled ‘Show jumping Summer Blow Out!’. These events are a fun way to finish off the summer, with some fun-filled classes on offer including pairs relay, accumulator including joker fence and chase me charlie classes.
The day started off with the cross-poles class, where a great turnout of young riders took on the course of 12 fences. It was amazing to see such confident riders and obliging ponies having so much fun, made even better when everyone in the class received a rosette and an ice-cream from Hagans Croft’s container cafe for all their efforts.
The course was adjusted to upright fences and to a height of 50cm; this time ponies and riders rode fences nine to 12 against the clock, so the competition started to hot up! First place went to Rachel Price and ‘Sporty’, who received a tub of emerald balm and a colourful rainbow rosette. Second place went to to Harris and ‘Sully’, organisers were delighted that this pair did so well at their first competition at Hagans Croft.
Next on the schedule was the 60cm class, where a few more fillers were added to the course and back bars were added to some jumps to make oxers. This did not hamper anyone’s efforts, as a total of five competitors went through with a double clear round, therefore it was down to who completed fences nine to 12 within the fastest time and that was Ella Rose Sands in a time of 34.4 seconds on her trusty stead ‘Rosie’. The pair were delighted with their prize and rosette, especially as this was their first time competing at this venue. Well done!
The 60cm Pairs relay saw lots of cheer and encouragement for those riders taking part; it really brought some excitement to the day, as competitors jumped through fences one to eight and then got back to their second team mate to either pass the whip or high five them to do their round of jumping.
There was only nine seconds in it between the top two placings, but everyone can be assured Erin Doherty and Aoife Davis galloped into first place on their super speedy ponies ‘Titch and Arizona’.
Another new class up for grabs on the day was the 70cm accumulator class with joker fence. Each fence was awarded points and, if each competitor cleared the fence in question, points were added – however, if the fence was refused or a pole knocked down, then points were deducted off the maximum 90 points for the class. As the course was jumped, competitors needed to figure out whether they should play it safe and jump the last fence – fence number 12 or take a risk to try and gain the maximum number of points (24 points) for jumping the joker fence. The joker fence was a rustic skinny brush fence, which was built 15cm bigger than the course height, so in this case with it being the 70cm class, the joker fence was built to 85cm. Some competitors took the risk and it paid off – one of those competitors who scored a perfect score of 90 points in a super fast time was Melanie Talbot and ‘Calypso’, who claimed a very well deserved first place. Victoria McCurdy-White and ‘Temple Bui’ tactically assessed the course and figured out that in some cases it’s better to play it safe and jumped fence 12 successfully, receiving a total of 87 points, earning them second place on the day!
There were no entries for the 75cm pairs relay, so it was on to the next class – 80cm accumulator with joker fence, the same rules applied, with the joker fence built to 95cm this time. Two competitors completed fences one to 11 clear, both deciding to take the risk and take on the joker fence. Their risks paid off, as both competitors went clear, achieving the maximum points allocated for the course – 90. Therefore it was down to who completed the course in the fastest time and that was Charley Hanna and ‘Far Hill Captain Harry’, followed by Ted Geary and ‘Twilight Dancer’ in second place. Very well done to both horses and riders.
Placings did not change in the 90cm class, as Charley and Ted were the only competitors to finish clear, therefore is was first for Charley Hanna and ‘Far Hill Captain Harry’ and second for Ted Geary and ‘Twilight Dancer’.
The atmosphere turned tense for class nine, chase me charlie, with a total of seven competitors. Competitors jumped a warm up fence and then came to a parallel, which kept getting higher each time it was successfully jumped. Once horses and riders got over 1.10m, the fence got 5cm higher each time – cheers and clapping could be heard as the final two competitors jumped 1.25cm successfully to be awarded joint first. Well done to Kirsty Clingan riding ‘Todd’ and Charley Hanna riding ‘Far Hill Golden Angel’.
Normal service resumed for the last two classes of the day, 1m and 1.10m. Kirsty Clingan and ‘Todd’ were the only double clear of the 1m class, so there was no denying them first place; with Charley Hanna and ‘Far Hill Golden Angel’ receiving first place in the 1.10m class. Congratulations to both competitors on a very successful day out!
Hagans Croft would like to thank everyone who supported their Show jumping Summer Bow Out event and thanks are extended to all the stewards and arena party for making the event run so smoothly.
There are three more weeks of this particular event, with rosettes and a treat for all those competing in the cross-poles class and, in each of the other classes, rosettes are given for first to sixth place, with first place receiving a small prize. This event is pre-entry only, with entries taken via Hagans Croft’s website: www.haganscroft equestrian.co.uk or you can download and enter through the Hagans Croft App. Entries close each Thursday at 8pm prior to Saturday’s event and start times are posted online on Thursday evenings. Photographs can be purchased online from Black Horse Photography.
To find out more about the league, please contact Gillian on 07849 106453 or go to the website: www.haganscroft equestrian.co.uk
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
