What a legend!
Krissie Yeoman and her 18-year-old campaigner win two grands prix, and Guy Williams’ daughter Maisy makes a successful raid from France
LEGEND REBORN lived up to her name for Krissie Yeoman at this show. After winning on the first two days, the 18-year-old 138cm mare was back on day four to beat big fields in the 75cm and 85cm grands prix, leaving her 14-year-old rider delighted.
Both grand prix victories were hard fought. The rider from Whitby, North Yorks, and her sturdy little grey began with a flying round to beat 50 rivals in the 75cm class before triumphing over a 70-strong field in the 85cm.
Krissie is in her final 138cm season, but her JA mare has a home for life and they will continue having fun in smaller classes.
“I think it’s safe to say this was our best ever show, and she’s my pony of a lifetime. It’s lovely to win so many classes, but I would have been pleased with her wherever we came,” said Krissie fondly.
Krissie and Legend Reborn (Phoenix) have a great partnership.
“She lives for Phoenix and we wouldn’t dream of selling such a special pony. She’s going nowhere,” added Krissie’s mother, Karen.
SEDGWICK DOMINATES
ANOTHER rider from Yorkshire monopolised the 95cm grand prix that closed this popular show. Many found the course tough, but Ellie Sedgwick made it look easy en route to first and second places on Buzz Lightyear VII and Peachy.
Bridlington-based Ellie, 15, has had the 138cm Buzz Lightyear for seven years and they started their affiliated career in 2014.
“He’s a real character who couldn’t jump at all when we got him, but now it’s the thing he likes best,” said Ellie. “He’s really too small for me and is supposed to be for sale, but I’d happily keep him.”
Ellie has big plans for the 148cm Peachy in 2018, her final pony season.
“I’d love to qualify for the winter JC final at the Royal International and also take her to the Horse of the Year Show [HOYS],” she explained.
Although she had to settle for second on Lilly Flight in the 85cm grand prix, this was a fantastic show for Surrey-based 11-year-old Scarlett Lilley, who took top three placings every day. Scarlett has had Lilly Flight for two years and competes three ponies with the help of Hazel Glenny.
Her ambition is a place on an England Home Pony International (HPI) team.
“But I wouldn’t mind going to the Olympics!” she added.
Ten-year-old Tabitha Kyle enjoyed countless wins before missing the final day to travel to South View’s HPI. Her victories included all three winter 138cm classes with Playboy Van De Zoetewei and Lissduff Royal, the ponies on whom she was placed at HOYS earlier in October.
Tabitha, daughter of international eventers Mark and Tanya Kyle, competes eight ponies and rides two after school every day. She has her sights set firmly on a showjumping career.
“We have a cross-country course at home and I quite like it, but I do prefer showjumping,” she said. “I don’t think Mum would mind if I decided not to ride, but Dad definitely might.”
Which is her favourite pony? “That’s a really difficult question, but I think it would have to be [Lissduff ] Royal.”
CAROLINE LIVES THE DREAM
LAUREN CAROLINE was dominant in the winter 128cm section, winning both classes she contested on Living The Dream. Lauren, who has had the 10-yearold gelding for three years, trains with John Renwick, making the journey from her home in Surrey to Essex three times a month.
Living The Dream was very green when Lauren’s family got him and the 12-year-old rider has brought him on herself. She has eight ponies at home and competes three with the help of her non-horsey mother, Lee.
“When she was a toddler, whenever I asked her what she wanted to do, it was ‘feed the ponies at the top of the lane’.
She never stopped wanting to be around ponies, so when she was old enough, we bought her one. It all started from there,” said Lee.
The schedule included fun classes that attracted enormous entries. Caterina White headed the accumulator on Sky Bonita I, a 16-year-old Andalusian mare she got as a Christmas present a year ago.
“She’s a lovely pony and is really sweet,” said the
Hertfordshire-based 15-year-old, a pupil of Nettie Lewis.
All-round horseman Oli
Kidner arrived here straight from the schools’ championships at Addington, where he won the 90cm eventer trial. The Norfolkbased youngster also competed in dressage at this year’s Pony
Club championships, but is equally proficient over coloured poles. He and Freddy Bear won Wednesday’s 1.05m open before Oli took the much-coveted prize of a new bicycle in Wednesday’s ride and bike class.
“We’ve had the loveliest time. It’s our first visit to the show and I really wish we’d been before,” said his mother Lynn.
Halloween costumes were on display in the opening night’s pair relay, in which best friends Neve Gill (Sunset Saphire) and Alicia Getley (Red Hot Chilli Stepper) beat 88 other teams to win by just 0.23 of a second.
Neve, who recently took over Sunset Saphire from sister Mia, also won an 85cm class on the 15-year-old It’s The Business mare.
“She’s amazing. All you have to do is point her and she just goes,” said Neve.