WARWICKSHIRE’s David Wingrove has won the Connolly’s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Second Round at Bicton Arena in Devon.
Wingrove’s trip down to the Bicton Arena in Budleigh Salterton was made worthwhile when he picked up a win in the hotly contested senior newcomers second round.
A total of 87 starters were vying for the two qualification spots on offer for the Championship final, which will be held during this October’s Horse of the Year Show, and spectators were treated to a great competition.
Following two rounds of exciting showjumping, just nine horses and riders were taken forward to the final jump off. Two combinations went on to secure not only a treble clear, but also the Championship Final places.
David, who is based in Leamington Spa, produced the fastest of those treble clears on board Excelibur P, a seven-year-old bay stallion owned by Sport Horse Centre Stud.
David had seen four riders go before him in the jump off and with faults being accrued all over the course, he knew that a clear round would put him with a shot of taking the win. David rode Excelibur P with great accuracy to cross through the finish with a treble clear in 41.44 seconds.
The only other treble clear of the class came from Katie Pytches from Loughborough, Leicestershire and she achieved this on her own 7 year-old bay mare, Jolie Fleur. Katie delivered her treble clear in 42.91 seconds to secure a top two placing.
With the top two taking the direct qualifying tickets for the Connolly’s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Championship Final at the Horse of the Year Show, the riders and horses that finished in third to fifth missed out on Championship qualification this time around.
Bicton Arena – Sunday 29th May 2016
Connolly’s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Second Round:
1st David Wingrove & Excelibur P – 0/0/0 – 41.44 seconds
2nd Katie Pytches & Jolie Fleur – 0/0/0 – 42.91 seconds
3rd Laura Mantel & Funnycan – 0/0/4 – 37.25 seconds
4th Jane Annett & Chacco Gold – 0/0/4 – 39.97 seconds
5th Daniel Moseley & Flavio – 0/0/4 – 40.92 seconds
The Horse of the Year Show 2016 will take place from October 5-9 at Birmingham’s NEC. The British Showjumping National Championships 2016 will take place from August 9-14 at the National Agricultural and Exhibition Centre (NAEC) in Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.
