BSJA Area 12 2 Day Show at Todburn EC, Northumberland
June 6th & 7th 2009
The first Area 12 outdoor show of the season kicked off at Todburn Equestrian Centre by kind permission of Ian and Elaine Carmichael. Heavy rain had enhanced the going on the outdoor surface which made for some excellent junior competition on the Saturday morning.
The first 2 junior classes, the Starter Stakes and the Small Pony Open went to young Northumberland rider Charlotte Ash and her new ride Doneen Abby who is in good form having taken the 128cm class recently at Rowallan.
The Junior British Novice class was won by Grace Maher and Jelly Tot TJ, with Brooke Johnson taking the 2nd and 3rd spot with Forget Me Not Shakira and Hookey Rifka.
BSJA NE Junior Academy member, Rachel Harriman took the 90cm Open/Pony Discovery class with style on her lovely bay mare Osborne Briallu Mair.
The Independent Asset Management Junior Progressive Championship Qualifier/Blue Chip Feed Balancer Pony Newcomers 1st Round/1m Open was won by Sophie Faddy and her long time ride Rocktops Roan Robbie who made very light work of Keith Balbach’s course, giving the fences feet rather than inches to spare! Freddie Moore put up a spirited challenge on the coloured Jumping Jigsaw to take second place.
The senior Amateur classes then began with Keith’s technical tracks seeing numerous faulters. In the 90cm Amateur qualifier the line from the top of the arena to the entrance gate caught many a combination as they seemed to gather momentum down the three fence line.
This highly competitive class was won by the ever consistent Celissa partnered by Stanley based rider Stephen Pitt. This fabulous 7 year old mare, bought 18 months ago in Belgium has now amassed winnings of almost £1000. By the Dutch son of Alme ‘Jokinal de Bornival’ Celissa is currently in 2nd place in the 1M League Table for the NE & North Yorks. region. Sally Johnson took second with her Mum’s hunt mare Lady Geraldine with Leigh-Ann Lewis in 3rd on Hey Wilhelmina.
The 1m Amateur class saw 6 through to the jump off where once again the down hill line caused difficulties. With no clears in the jump off the class went to first drawn Sonya Roe and her TB gelding JA’s Malacoff who made good use of every available shortcut and angle on the course to shave off valuable time. Celissa as ever wasn’t too far away and took second place with Sally 3rd on Gilkhorn Firkin.
Keith Balbach proved to be a hard task master again in the 1.10m Amateur qualifier with only JA’s Malacoff clear in the first round and the only qualifier in the class to take first place.
Sunday dawned with heavy rain once again. Well it wouldn’t be an Area 12 show without it frankly! It didn’t deter the DLT Photography sponosored British Novice competitors who donned their wet weather gear and persevered. The class was won by Leigh-Ann Lewis and one of her 2 Dutch mares by the Balcormo Stud’s stallion Dramiro. ‘She’s a Diamond’ now 13, has made a successful return to show jumping following an eventing career, qualifying for both the 90cm and 1m Amateur second rounds. Leanne McCafferty took 2nd with Before You Know It and Chris Bilcliffe 3rd with Potlands Solimar.
The Katherine James 1m Novice/Discovery qualifier went to UKCC Coach Level 2 Leanne McCafferty and her home produced Affinity. Second went to young rider Sabina Smith with Dark Incantation, followed in 3rd by Leigh-Ann Lewis and She’s a Diamond.
Local Northumberland rider and trainer James Taylor won the Sandicroft Stud 1.05m Adventurer qualifier with a steady double clear on the rangy chestnut Nepsys. The lovely coloured Rosemallen Red Alert and Chrissie Cameron took 2nd and Sam Nurse with the homebred Poledancer 3rd.
Once again good Dramiro stock proved their worth when Leigh-Ann Lewis’ 6 year old mare Hey Wilhelmina was back in the ribbons winning the Newcomer with the only double clear in the class. Having just moved up to this level this was her second double clear and win at this height. Rosemallen Red Alert took 2nd place with the diminutive bay Hot Pepper and Lauren Spiers making the long trip from the borders worthwhile in 3rd place.
The Smarter Transport Training National 1.15 Members Cup Championship Qualifier class saw a very popular win for Sally Johnson and the onward bound Gilkhorn Firkin, at 15 years of age showing no lack of enthusiasm for his job. She narrowly pipped Jonty Stevens with Pauilliac-O by 2 tenths of a second into 2nd place. Jonty and his string had been competing at Allerton Park in the Newcomer 2nd round where he and Alter Ego were placed a very credible 9th from a starting field of 60. Pauline Dodds and the athletic Bob Cat took 3rd after a typical exuberant round from the attractive bay gelding.
Finally in the last class of the day, seven combinations contested the 1.20m Open/Foxhunter class which was won by Jonty with the Grade A, 11 year old, Dutch mare Pauilliac-O. ‘Pepo’ who is owned by Sarah Basset who owns Liege Manor Equestrian centre in the Vale of Glamorgan has found great form recently with Jonty securing regular placings in the large open classes following a 2 year enforced break following a suspected suspensory injury. Melissa Gair and the highly consistent big grey gelding Bowes Calvaro took second place and Pauline Dodds once again with Bob Cat took 3rd.
The full results appear on the 'RESULTS' webpage. Equestrian Plus article.
Clockwise : Sophie Faddy with Rocktops Roan, Rachel Harriman with Osbourne Briallu Mair, Sally Johnson with Gilkhorn Firkin and Charlotte Ash with Dooneen Abbey.
Clockwise : Jonty Stephens with Alter Ego, Sonya Roe with JA's Malacoff, Lianne McCafferty with Affinity and James Taylor with Nepsys.
Clockwiset :Leigh-Ann Lewis with She's A Diamond,.Leigh-Ann Lewis with Hey Wilhelmina, Grace Maher with Jellytots TJ and Stephen Pitt with Celissa.
Would all competitors please support our only sponsor for the weekend, DLT Photography. Many thanks go to Dave for covering every competitor over the 2 full days.
View your photographs by clicking on this link DLT Photography
