competition news
Nigel Coupe & Golvers Hill on the way to a win in The Leading Showjumper of the Year Grand Prix.
Image courtesy of Julian Portch Photography
Nigel Coupe crowned the Leading Showjumper of the Year
Nigel Coupe hailed his horse with “a heart of gold” after completing a spectacular treble on the final evening at the Horse of the Year Show. Golvers Hill, a 14-year-old gelding who once competed as a working hunter at HOYS, took the Leading Showjumper of the Year grand prix title. John Whitaker had set a brilliant time of 38.88 seconds with Argento, which left Nigel no choice but to do it the hard way. Clocking 38 seconds exactly, Nigel landed the £13,200 top prize, with Robert Smith and Ilton finishing third. It proved a pulsating finish to a memorable five days of action in the Genting Arena, but it was Lancashire-based Nigel’s night following a finale to savour.
“It’s amazing,” Nigel said. “I first came here in 1986, and we won the leading pony class in 1987, and finally to win the big one here is amazing. He is a top, top horse. He has just got a heart of gold, and there is not a lot more you can say about him. You have got to have a go in the jump-off, but you should also pinch yourself a little bit. We work hard, and this year we have had an exceptional year. He is a horse that just doesn’t get fazed.” Despite being bumped to second in the grand prix class, John Whitaker took the Leading Athlete Award which was presented to the horse/ rider combination who had accumulated the most points throughout the show.
Nigel Coupe & Golvers Hill receive their awards after their win in the The
Leading Showjumper of the Year Grand Prix Image courtesy of Julian Portch Photography
Robert Murphy clinches U23 win
Sixteen-year-old Robert Murphy produced an incredibly quick double clear showjumping round to win the Aintree qualifying leg of the 2017 World Class Programme Under 23 British Championships.
From a field of 50 combinations, eight produced double clear rounds over the 1.45m technical course built by David Cole, to head through to a tense jump- off.
Robert from Lancashire, who won Team Silver with the British junior team at the European Championships in Slovakia earlier this year, was on board the nine year-old Newbridges Chablis, owned by Stacey Webb and Andy Brown. Their first entry into the Under 23 qualifiers, the duo eased into the jump-off and produced another superb clear, stopping the clock on 38.63 seconds to top the leaderboard. Georgia Tame and Team Z7’s
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Cash Up took second place on the night, just ahead of James Whitaker and Ian Whitaker’s Glenavadra Brilliant - with just 0.06 seconds separating the two. Chloe Winchester, part of the World Class Programme Podium Potential squad, finished in fourth with William Funnell’s Billy Cool whilst Yazmin Davis took fifth on Zanbowa Z, owned by Alison Davis.
Harry Wainright, Molly Andrews and James Winter all produced double clears to clinch top eight spots.
Tina Goosen, World Class Programme Showjumping Podium Potential Coordinator commented: “It was impressive to see such a large entry of riders competing in this class and many of them showed that they are very capable of jumping clear over this level of course.”
Final placings: 1. Robert Murphy with Newbridges Chablis, owned by Stacey Webb and Andy Brown.
2. Georgia Tame with Cash Up, owned by Team Z7.
3. James Whitaker with Glenavadra Brilliant, owned by Ian Whitaker.
4. Chloe Winchester with Billy Cool, owned by William Funnell.
5. Yazmin Davis with Zanbowa Z, owned by Alison Davis.
6. Harry Wainright with Pinheiro, owned by Diane Fairclough.
7. Molly Andrews with Wilando, owned by David Andrews.
8. James Winter with Cosmo Boys, owned by Elizabeth Winter FBHS.
The final of the Under 23 Championships will take place on the morning of Saturday 16 December 2017 at Olympia, the London International Horse Show.
Eventing entry fees to rise
Following consultations, entry fees and prize money in 2018 for British Eventing affiliated events will increase by five percent. Several areas where event’s running costs had increased over recent years, out of line with the rate of entry fee increases, included Business Rates which, in 2017 rose as much as 180% - 365% in the equestrian industry, medical cover and paramedics charges - up by 25%, vet fees between 17% - 40% and an increase between 10% - 26% for contractor costs.
Chairman of the BEOA Jan Cottam commented: “Over the last few years our sport has been costing more and more. On the whole, Organisers have absorbed their increases but this year we have seen a dramatic rise which has impacted on the ability to deliver the safest and best value competition.
BE also confirms that start fees will not increase in 2018.
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