Posted: 20th June 2016 | Back to news feed
A Flying Start for Sarah Billington
Sarah Billington got the final day of this year's Bolesworth CSI **** International off to a flying start when she won the Am-A grand prix.
The class, sponsored by Andrews Bowen, reached a thrilling crescendo as the top three finishers were separated by just 16 hundredths of a second.
But it was Cheshire-based Sarah, wife of international showjumper Geoff Billington, who came out on top after clocking a jump-off time of 41.37 seconds with eight-year-old bay mare Uforia JX.
Newcastle-based Kerstin Deakin continued her impressive Bolesworth form by taking second place on Sunsolde in 41.51 seconds, and Ashlee Harrison finished third aboard Toupie Du Quesnoy.
"I was 10th to go in the jump-off, and I didn't think I had done enough because I knew there were quite a few fast ones coming behind me," said Sarah, who has had the mare from a two-year-old.
"But that would definitely be one of her bigger wins."
Kerstin, meanwhile, described herself as being "thrilled" with Sunsolde, and Ashlee, who was first to go in the jump-off, added: "I didn't think I had done enough, but she has only just come back from injury and it was only her second show in eight months. She is a lovely mare."
The early action at Bolesworth on Sunday also included the five-year-old championship final, sponsored by Childeric Saddles, which produced an impressive victory for Sophie Hillier, riding Stoney Raikes Gindy, who triumphed by almost three seconds following a jump-off that saw Samuel Wall (Harriet) second and Carmen Edwards (Twinning Hill) third.
Gudrun fizzes to victory at Bolesworth International
Gudrun Patteet continued a run of Belgian success at this year's Bolesworth CSI **** International when she won the speed and handiness four-star class, spnsored by Mumm Champagne.
Less than 24 hours after her fellow Belgian rider Francois Mathy Jr won two Bolesworth classes, Patteet came up trumps on Sea Coast B52 FZ - and it was Mathy Jr who had to play second fiddle in the International Arena.
The competition sees time added for fences knocked down, but Patteet jumped clear in a time of 53.65 seconds to take spot from Mathy Jr, riding Casanova de L'Herse on 54.83 seconds, with the United States' Laura Kraut and Andretti S third, just ahead of Sweden's Angelie von Essen with Cream Sheridan.
"I know Francois is really fast, so I had to go quickly, but I enjoy these classes with my horse as she is really fast," said Gudrun, who is based in Flanders and was making her Bolesworth debut this year.
"She is only eight-years-old, so still a baby, really, and is one of my up and coming horses.
"I know with her that if I go for it, then she is really fast. She is a small horse, but she has a really big heart and is so careful.
"I was a bit unlucky on Saturday, having had the last fence down in classes on two separate occasions with my other horse, so it was nice to get the win today."
In Bolesworth's Castle Arena on Sunday, the two-star 1.40-metre final, sponsored by Your Horse, was won by Ireland's Richard Howley on Calmond.
Howley' jump-off time of 43.19 seconds aboard Calmond proved too fast for the rest of a sizeable entry, with Matt Sampson second on Cristobal 21 in 43.77 and Emma Stoker third on Townhead Campus.
Hendrix Hits the Right Note at Bolesworth International
Dutch showjumper Michel Hendrix hailed the "biggest win" of his career ater landing the Bolesworth CSI **** International four-star grand prix on Sunday.
And his audience raised a glass to the appropriately-named Baileys after Hendrix guided the 10-year-old gelding to victory by more than three seconds in the jump-off of Bolesworth's headline class, sponsored by Equerry Horse Feeds.
Thirteen combinations went through from round one, including the solitary British clear - defending champiom Yazmin Pinchen - and four managed double clears, but no-one threatened Hendrix's time of 43.88 seconds as he won a top prize of £19,500.
Colombia's Roberto Teran came closest, clocking 47.11 seconds aboard Brilliant du Rouet, while Cheshire-based Paul Kennedy was third on Cartown Danger Mouse, with Pinchen claiming fourth on Ashkari.
"It was an absolutely great win," 29-year-old Hendrix said.
"My horse is jumping really good lately. We were very close a few times in past grands prix, and finally today it happened. That would be our biggest win.
"It was a tough course. When I walked it, I thought it was big enough.
"The triple combination was quite fair, but the last line was very difficult. In the end, I took seven strides to the last double, and he cleared it very well. There were no issues with the rain - the footing is so great here.
"I have had the horse about 18 months and built him up from 1.30-metre classes. He is an unbelievable fighter in the ring, very careful and scopey.
"Baileys has been very consistent here this week. I knew that Laura (Kraut) was to go after me, and she is very fast, so I thought I had better give it a go, and it worked out well."
And Kennedy added: "I am absolutely delighted. The horse is a 10-year-old home-bred. My parents were here today, so it was a special day.
"It is almost a local show for us, with being based only 15 minutes down the road, and once again Nina Barbour and the team here have done an amazing job."
Pinchen apart, the most encouraging British performance was by Nick Skelton and his London 2012 Olympic team gold medal-winning ride Big Star.
Although Big Star knocked down the penultimate fence in round one, there was more than enough to suggest they are returning to prime form as the countdown to this summer's Rio Olympics gathers pace.
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