A cold but competitive day at Grange Farm

Competition report

A slightly revised course at the JumpCross competition at Grange Farm caused various problems and needed careful, accurate riding. With several new fences to negotiate including a treble with the final element, being narrow and set on an angle to the second part required controlled riding to jump it successfully. Also, the stile fence before the first water crossing seemed to cause some trouble. After a long run down hill, riders had to make sure their horses were together and off the forehand but still use enough leg to create the necessary energy to jump the fence cleanly.

The day started with the INTRO competition. 16 competitors took part with a few new faces having a go for the first time. Three riders managed to complete the course with no faults to add to their time, so it was down to their time taken to ride the course and whether they jumped the joker or not to decide the placings. Two riders took on the joker and jumped it successfully, first place went to JumpCross first timer Rebecca Woolley. Rebecca was riding her Father’s hunter, Harvey. Siobhan Bishop and Indiana were second. Siobhan was also on a borrowed horse; Charlotte Adams who is Indie’s usual jockey is out of action with a broken foot, so Siobhan is helping to keep Indie fit while Charlotte can’t ride. Regular JumpCross competitor, who travels from Derbyshire, Chloe Hutsby took third and forth.

Three Pony Club teams took on the INTRO course. The clear winners were the Fitzwilliam Badgers, Phoebe Benson, Holly Steely, Oliver Johnson and Hannah Smart. Second were the Burghley Mosquitos and the Burghley Gladiators were third.

Onto the Group 3, where the fences were approximately 2’9. This proved to be one of the more trickier courses to ride with the new treble combination in the valley causing quite a lot of trouble. If you rode this too quickly, it was impossible to make the turn to the narrow final element. Those who rode steadily made it look easy.
JumpCross regular, Sally Wagstaff won the Group three senior competition. She rode a rhythmical round to add nothing to her time and deducted 40 penalties for clearing the joker. Sarah Wynn was second with her lovely coloured horse, Storm Child. They attended our recent celebrity training day on Easter Monday, so clearly put into practise what they had learnt from Mark Kyle on that day. Nikki Higgins with Black Sambuca were third.

Only four riders competed in the Group 3 junior and the two riders to successfully clear the joker were placed first and second. Rachel Maciag and Maisy were first. Lisa Reid and Star came second.

Only one of the Pony Club teams finished with enough scores to count. They were the Burghley Spitfires, Lily Whitworth-Beilher, Oliver Meikle, Amy McPhail and Lisa Reid.

The final group of the day and with the weather getting colder, the fences were raised to approximately 3’3. It was good to see a larger number of riders competing in this group, it made it a much more exciting finale to the day. The main problem was again at the treble with quite a few riders having a refusal or run-out at the final narrow element. Caroline Witham-Grange took first place on her first attempt at this Group height. Sally Wagstaff was second and JumpCross first timer, Kerry Simpson came third.

For a full list of results, please click here.

The next training day at Grange Farm is on Sunday 4th May. The following Saturday, 10th May is a competition.

For more information or to book your place on a training day or competition please contact Elaine or Victoria MacLellan at Wester Coillemore Farm on 01349 854181. Alternatively visit www.jumpcross.com

Back to Top>