Ross Hill riding W Tonix Hero conquers the EquestrianClearance.com Newcomers second round

This Saturday saw SouthView Equestrian Centre host their second EquestrianClearance.com Newcomers second round. This gave competitors another chance to qualify for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and the Cushionbed British Showjumping Scope Festival. With seventy three starters all trying their luck to pick up one of the two HOYS qualification tickets Course Designer Peter Gillespie managed to ask enough questions to get the field down to twenty two in round two. By the final jump off there were thirteen competitors fighting it out for the top two spots.

Drawn second to go in the jump off was Lanarkshire based Alex Barr riding William Stewart’s six year old bay gelding Sonas Dearg. Alex knew from this position he needed to put the pressure on the remaining competitors, and he did a good job jumping clear in a time of 35.76 seconds.

Following Alex into the arena was Ross Hill from Lincolnshire riding his own eight year old bay gelding W Tonix Hero. Having watched Alex’s round Ross managed to shave 0.58 seconds off his time coming home in what proved to be an unbeatable time of 35.18 seconds.

Alex Barr managed to hold on to second place until the second to last to go entered the arena. Sharon Quigley from Shropshire was partnering Charles Britton’s six year old bay gelding A Adermie 52. Using the advantage of being drawn near the end Sharon jumped a superb clear in a time of 35.59 seconds putting her into second place which she held on to.

Fourth place went to seventeen year old Rebecca Marsh from Warrington riding Ian Kellett’s nine year old chestnut gelding Venus III. Jumping clear in 40.08 seconds Rebecca secured another chance to try for the HOYS qualification at the Cushionbed British Showjumping Scope Festival.

The final Cushionbed British Showjumping Scope Festival ticket went to fifth placed John Daker from Shropshire. Riding his own eight year old chestnut gelding Artisan II John jumped a treble clear in a jump off time of 41.19 seconds.

The 2011 Horse of the Year Show will take place between the 4th and 9th October at Birmingham’s NEC. The 2011 Cushionbed British Showjumping Scope Festival will take place from Sunday 28th August to Saturday 3rd September at Stafford County Showground.

SouthView Equestrian Centre
Saturday 9th July 2011
EquestrianClearance.com Newcomers Second Round
1st Ross Hill riding W Tonix Hero – 0/0/0 in 35.18 seconds
2nd Sharon Quigley riding A Adermie 52 – 0/0/0 in 35.59 seconds
3rd Alex Barr riding Sonas Dearg – 0/0/0 in 35.76 seconds
4th Rebecca Marsh riding Venus III – 0/0/0 in 40.08 seconds
5th John Daker riding Artisan II – 0/0/0 in 41.19 seconds