Arena UK Festival of Showjumping 2014
by Baron Halpenny, LincsMag Editor.
Date: 01 October 2014
Arena UK, located near Grantham, hosted its annual week long Festival of Show Jumping at the end of September. Over 60 classes, including The Star of the Future GP and The Young Riders GP, along The Six Bar Challenge and The Speed Derby, attracted a host of top names to compete alongside up and coming riders
It truly was a family affair for the Whitakers, spanning the generations, competing throughout the week and taking home a good share of the prize money.
With the relaxed atmosphere you could also hope to bump into other top names such as Tim Stockdale, Geoff Billington and Robert Smith, great for the autograph collectors.
Lincolnshire riders were also in the prize money with both Anna and Sophie Strawson, amongst others.
Jade Wilson-Ayres Memorial Trophy
Of particular local interest and with a poignant note, was the Jade Wilson-Ayres Memorial Trophy, where the winner receives a beautiful rosette.
Family and friends made sure the memory of Jade, who was a horse-mad teenager, lives on every year in the form of this Memorial Trophy Grand Prix
Jade, from Wyberton near Boston, was 19 when she fell from her horse in 2009 and fractured her skull from which she sadly died during a third operation to save her.
This year the Trophy was won by Suzanne Posnett riding KARMIJN (374225).
The Puissance
On Friday evening the indoor arena was packed, alive and buzzing as people crowded in to watch talented riders take on the formidable Puissance Wall. It really was neigh impossible for any spectator not to be gripped by the tension of the event as the competition progressed through all of the permitted 5 rounds.
The first round consisted of four jumps including the Puissance Wall, which had a starting height of 5 ft 7 (1.70m), and managed to bring the twenty competing horses down to twelve. For Round 2 in the jump-offs, there remained a spread fence followed by the Wall which was raised to 6ft (1.83m), with only ten of the twelve clear coming forward to jump.
Both round 2 and 3 saw the loss of another two riders each, leaving just six to tackle the wall in round 4 at a height of 6ft 6 (1.98m). As the excitement built, round 4 concluded with just three horses clear, but only two riders as Joseph Clayton had shown exceptional skill in bringing both Noctambule Courcelle and Rockim through to the final round.
The competition ended with the Wall at 6ft 8 (2.03m) defeating all three combinations with the final result Joseph Clayton, taking joint 1st on Noctambule Courcelle and Rockim and David Simpson taking 3rd place on Paladin de Laume.
The Major Open Grand Prix Final
The Major Open Grand Prix Final event has the largest prize pot - £60,000 - in the UK and drew some of the best riders in Showjumping.
The course was cleverly laid out by Lincolnshire based Course Designer, Di Boddy, assisted by Neil Foster and tested the skill of both horse and rider, producing a thrilling night of equine sport with ultimately Robert Bevis on Courtney 6 taking the 1st prize of £20,000.
The results were as follows along with prize money won.
1st, COURTNEY 6 ridden by ROBERT BEVIS owned by Robert Bevis - £20,000
2nd, LOLA V ridden by JOE WHITAKER owned by Steven Whitaker - £16,000
3rd, ARGENTO ridden by JOHN WHITAKER MBE owned by Clare Whitaker - £10,000
4th, AVOCA VALKYRIE ridden by CHLOE WINCHESTER owned by Gillian Winchester - £7,000
5th, GLOBAL VANT BRAUNERTHOF ridden by DAVID SIMPSON owned by David Simpson - £3,000
6th, ARENA UK LANDO (379948) ridden by ELLEN WHITAKER owned by Norman Oley - £2,000
7th, BASIC ridden by GUY WILLIAMS owned by Diana Cornish who won £900.00
8th, CASH AND GO ridden by ANTONIO MARINAS SOTO owned by Antonio Marinas Soto - £700
9th, VENNOOT II ridden by JOSEPH DAVISON owned by Richard Davison - £400
10th, PEITER VI ridden by LOUISE SAYWELL owned by James Hughes - £400
11th, HANDYMAN (387914) ridden by DAVID MCPHERSON owned by David Mcpherson - £400
11th, VIK II ridden by LANCE WHITEHOUSE owned by Francesca Whitehouse - £400
13th, CALCOURT FALKLUND ridden by LAUREN EDWARDS owned by Beverley Widdowson - £400
Facebook Picture Albums
To see pictures from the Arena UK Festival of Showjumping 2014, visit our Albums on our Facebook site:
Arena UK Puissance 2014
Arena Uk Major Open Grand Prix 2014
Arena UK Festival of Show Jumping
