Posted: 18th June 2018 | Back to news feed

Julie Sparkles at Bolesworth International

 American Julie Welles overcame a rainstorm of tropical proportions and a testing course to claim an impressive victory at the Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show on Saturday. And there was a connection with reigning Olympic showjumping champion - British star Nick Skelton - as Julie won the two-star grand prix, sponsored by Boodles.

 Julie is based at Nick's Warwickshire facility, riding his partner Laura Kraut's superb 14-year-old mare Nouvelle. "Laura has kind of let me show her and get her back going again, so having her helping with the horse has been so nice," Julie said. "She is a very experienced horse. She has done Nations Cups and some of the biggest grands prix. "It's nice to be able to ride horses like that. They know what they are doing - you just have to point and shoot. This was my third 1.45-metre class with her.

 A 15-minute deluge caused the class to be temporarily halted, before 17 combinations came back for round two and Julie delivered a second successive clear round, with her second round being completed in 39.40 seconds. Britain's Will Edwards also kept all the fences up on Shw Candies B to take second place in 39.66 seconds, with Ireland's Max O'Reilly Hyland finishing third aboard Ahmed du Calvaire and Harry Wainwright fourth on Pinheiro Beech.

 "It was a really long class, with the rain putting a pause in it, but you just get on with it," Julie added. "There is always a bit of pressure going into a second round, I think. You want to repeat what you did in the first round, only go a bit faster. "I came here the first time when Bolesworth was a national show way back when, and I can't believe how much it has evolved. "It's amazing what it has turned into. I never thought riding around on those two grass fields all those years ago that it would be like it is now." 

 

International Flavour Arrives at Bolesworth

 There was a true international flavour at Bolesworth on Saturday as United Arab Emirates rider Hamed Ali Al Kirbi took his place on this year's roll of honour. An impressive display on Uxmal d'Ysieux saw him land the two-star 1.40-metre jump-off class, sponsored by Hunters Gin.

 

A time of 38.63 seconds won the day from Ireland's Matt Garrigan and Cantino 56, with Sienna Charles - daughter of London 2012 Great Britain showjumping team gold medallist Peter Charles - taking third, ahead of Paul Barker and Dalton W. British riders enjoyed a clean sweep of podium places in the amateur B two-phase class, sponsored by Horse and Country TV. Bobbie Heath and Floretta proved to be the only combination that broke 30 seconds in the jump-off phase, posting a time of 29.59 seconds to edge out Megan Broadway and Capello II, with Julie Slade and Billy Gogo taking third.

 Saturday's Bolesworth action opened with the 128cms grand prix, sponsored by Pony of the Year Show, and it produced a win for Poppy Deakin with Munsboro Plunkett in a jump-off time of 33.06 seconds. It proved five seconds quicker than the rest of the field, as runner-up Noora von Bulow closked 38.18 seconds on Sparkel, whole Izabella Rogers and Whitney Lass took third.

 Over in the Castle Arena, an exciting 148cms Pony Championship, sponsored by RAF Recruitment, saw victory go to Eleanor Hall-Mcateer and the vastly experienced Tixylix. The pony, previously ridden with great success by Jessica Mendoza and Eleanor's older sister Jodie, showed its star quality as the combination's jump-off time of 39.01 seconds denied Scottish challenger Shaunie Greig a second win of the week following her success in Friday's pony grand prix. Shaunie, on Casino Royale V111, had to be content with second place this time round, with Hannah Barker and Ammanvalley Santino taking third.

 

Matt and Reece Rev it Up at Bolesworth

 Matt Sampson and Reece Oliver lived life in the fast lane as they won a spectacular Bentley Manchester ride and drive race to the finish at the Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show on Saturday night. The competition witnessed horsepower at its most exhilarating through a relay race with a difference.

 

Matt delivered a blistering showjumping round against the clock before leaping from his horse and sprinting into the back seat of a £135,000 Bentley Benteyga, driven around a coned course by Reece. Their time of just over a minute left all their rivals trailing in the pit lane, and it was a star-studded field.  

Bolesworth show president Nina Barbour showcased her showjumping skills in partnership with rally driver and singer Rick Parfitt Jr, while the crowd also witnessed the driving skills of newsreader Alastair Stewart - christened Doreen from Driving School by the commentators - and Olynpic gold medallist Peter Charles. It was a competition that captured the imagination, and one that certainly revved up the audience.

 

Scarlett maintains her title in the Mini Major Class 

 There was entertainment galore in the ever-popular Mini Major class, sponsored by Archco Developments, which paired adult showjumpers with the younger generation of pony riders in a fancy dress relay competition.

 And the pre-class favourites Laura Renwick and Scarlett Lomas-Cox delivered the goods, using all their extraordinary powers as Super Woman and Wonder Woman, respectively, to win in 52.66 seconds. It was the second year running for Scarlett to win the class, and she had a dream partner in Laura, who is renowned as being among the sport's quickest riders.

 Chloe Aston and Noora Von Bulow were runners-up, just three hundredths of a second behind, with Michael Pender and Madeleine Kerrigan taking third.

 

Thrilling Finish as Paul Kennedy Wins Equerry Grand Prix

 Paul Kennedy led an Irish grand prix one-two as this year's Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show reached a thrilling conclusion on Sunday.  Paul, who is based in nearby Shropshire, captured the £30,000 Equerry Grand Prix top prize aboard 12-year-old Cartown Danger Mouse to deny his countryman Billy Twomey and Kimba Flamenco victory by just nine hundredths of a second.

 

Decorated British Olympian - 62-year-old Yorkshireman John Whitaker - finished third with Cassinis Chaplin, while John's nephew William Whitaker was fourth on Ilusionata van 'T Meulenhof. Billy, twice winner of the Liverpool International Grand Prix, looked to have done enough as the five-day show reached a pulsating crescendo, but last-to-go Paul had other ideas as he guided his home-bred mare to victory in masterful fashion. There were hard luck stories as well, but the day belonged to last-to-go Paul, who thrived under intense pressure and claimed a truly outstanding success, punching the air as he crossed the finishing line in a time of 38.56 seconds.

 "I am absolutely delighted. It is a really good feeling," Paul said. "It is certainly a day I will never forget. "To be honest, I didn't feel the pressure so much. I was very calm. I have a really good team, and they had it all worked out what to do, and as I was coming into the arena I knew exactly what I had to. "This win has to be right up there at the top in terms of my career."

Billy, meanwhile, added: "Credit to Paul. His mare has been jumping well all the show, and he was probably the favourite today. "I thought the course-builder did a really good job. The course was difficult enough, and it made for a really good grand prix, very entertaining for the crowd. "My horse is absolutely going in the right direction. Hopefully, he is going to be one to look forward to."

 Third-placed John was delighted by the performance of Cassinis Chaplin, stating: "Well done to Paul and Billy. My horse jumped great. The last few weeks, he has really improved, stepped up a gear and jumped really well." The grand prix brought the curtain down on another memorable Bolesworth, and Paul paid tribute to show president Nina Barbour and her entire team.

 "This is a very local show for me - I am just down the road in Whitchurch - and it is an absolute credit to Nina and the whole team. "They haven't had it easy over the last few years, but they keep going, they get better every year, and for us riders to come to a place like this on home soil in front of a home crowd is amazing."

 

 

 

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