Posted: 8th October 2019 | Back to news feed
Third time lucky for Tabitha Kyle in the Hilton Garden Inn 128cm Championship
Leading from the beginning, 12-year-old Tabitha Kyle won the first showjumping class of the day in the Andrews Bowen International Arena to take the title in the Hilton Garden Inn 128cm Championship. The schoolgirl from Leicestershire showed experience beyond her years as she navigated her way around the jump off at lightning speed aboard nine-year-old grey mare, Coreys Princess. Setting the time to beat at 31.03 seconds Tabitha could do no more. The other five riders who followed, produced some fabulous rounds, although couldn’t do enough to catch her.
A special young talent, this is Tabitha’s third year competing at Horse of the Year Show and her last year on 128cm ponies, but she finally secured her first win. Having qualified nine ponies for five Championships at HOYS this week, the future is bright for this talented young rider. Tabitha spoke of her win: “It feels really good to finally get my first win at HOYS. My pony did everything she could in there; she’s really good at galloping between fences and then coming back to me for the fence. I’ve been riding her for four years so we know each other really well. I don’t generally get nervous, I just try and treat every round like any other. It felt odd going first, I usually like to go somewhere in the middle, but I put the pressure on the rest and had to just hope for the best.”
Hilton Garden Inn Birmingham Airport opened in September 2018. This conveniently located 178 bedrooms hotel is next to the passenger terminal and Birmingham International Airport and a short hop on the complimentary monorail over to the International Train Station with direct links into the city and a covered walkway to Resorts World Arena and the NEC.
Tabitha Kyle sets the record with a second win in the Aztec Diamond Equestrian 138cm Championship
Tabitha Kyle made her Sunday at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) a day to remember as she became the first ever rider to win both the 128cm and the 138cm title in the same year at the show. Riding the eight-year-old bay gelding, Playboy Van De Zoetewei, Tabitha had a tough time to beat by rival Rachel Proudley, who set the bar high on a time of 34.73 riding Buttons Two. Riding full throttle over the double and to the final oxer, Tabitha lay down the gauntlet as the clock stopped on 33.04 seconds.
At just 12 years of age, Leicestershire-based Tabitha rides with great composure, precision and skill, showing that the future of British Showjumping really is in great hands. With a smile as wide as she is high, Tabitha took to the arena for her second lap of honour in front of the crowd on the final day of HOYS 2019.
Speaking of her new record, Tabitha commented: “It’s been such a great experience to have won both of the Championships. He is only eight years old and we had him from Holland as a three-year-old, so we have literally done everything with him. My mum rode him until he was five and that’s when I started riding him. He was quite a nervous pony to begin with, and he still is around people, but once he gets into the arena he just focuses and knows what to do. I saw that Rachel had set a tough time to beat but I was determined to try and take the second win. My pony has quite a long stride and is very quick across the ground and thankfully it was just enough. He just loves to jump, and I’m really pleased with him.”
To have an enormity of pressure placed on her shoulders from such a young age, Tabitha remains unphased by the media attention and the show’s visitors even stopping her to ask for a selfie. “I’ve learnt a lot about myself, I don’t get pressured or nervous anymore at these big shows which really helps to stay calm.”
Listen to Tabatha Kyle's interview here courtesy of LloyBell Productions.
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