Great day for spectators and riders at first JumpCross Eventer’s challenge
By Justine Thompson
Event diary
27 June 2009 10:44
A DELIGHTED Angus Smales went home £2,500 richer after capturing the inaugural Lincoln JumpCross Eventer’s Challenge - a new fixture on the summer calendar.
Held at Grange Farm, Wittering, the JumpCross headquarters, the event attracted more than 30 leading event riders chasing the £5,000 prize fund.
Robin Dunlop designed an innovative and thought-provoking course, which tested both horse and rider chasing the time yet leaving the poles standing.
Riding the 10-year-old bay gelding, It’s A Jackpot, owned by Patti Bulman, a delighted Angus punched the air as he crossed the finish line clearing the Lincoln Joker.
Having recently set up his own yard at Fleckney in Leicestershire, Angus is currently competing 12 event horses and said the prize money would be ‘put to very good use.’
“JumpCross is a new sport to me and I will certainly be coming back, it is great fun and really tests both the horses and rider,” said Angus.
“The organising team must be thanked for all their hard work on the ground, it was perfect and all credit to Robin and his team.
“The competition was very tough with Olympic medallists, Badminton and Kentucky winners taking part, so the win was just great.
“JumpCross is easy to understand, is exciting and great for spectators, it would make brilliant TV coverage.”
Clayton Fredericks and Mr Miller captured second place, the eight-year-old grey gelding owned by Eckhart Seiwert proving a useful member of Clayton’s team.
“He came to me to ride and also with the intention he would be sold, but he is a very good jumper and this type of competition really suited him,” said Clayton.
“I really enjoyed the competition and looking back, maybe set off a bit fast in the first round. The sport has a great feeling about it and I’m already looking forward to next year.”
Another grey, the 10-year-old Step in Time and Irish rider Mark Kyle laid claim to third place. Now Advanced, he was bred by Mark’s father John and the pair led the competition after the first round only to lose out in the final stages.
The event was sponsored by horse-care product manufacturers Lincoln.
Results
1 – Angus Smales, It’s A Jackpot
2 – Clayton Fredericks, Mr Miller
3 – Mark Kyle, Step in Time
4 – Paul Sims, User Friendly
5 – Julia Crowson, Rookie
6 – Oliver Townend, ODT Sonas Rivatio
