Horse_amp_amp_Hound__06_February_2018

SHOWJUMPING
AW
JENKINSON NATURAL
FLAKE ELITE SHOW
25-28 January
Richard Howley and Electra
B produce a breathtaking
double clear to take the
honours in the grand prix
Electra powers
to victory
The grand prix has an edge-of-the-seat climax with Richard
Howley nearly making it a one-two over a testing course
Aintree, Liverpool
RICHARD HOWLEY and Electra
B produced a breathtaking double
clear to take the honours in the
AW Jenkinson Natural Flake
grand prix.
“She’s a consistent mare with
plenty of blood, so it’s easy to
be fast. I tried to settle her into
a nice rhythm and a good roll
back at number 10 helped us,” said
Richard, who almost made it a
one-two, as Cruising Star posted
the fastest time of all, but a rail
fell after a tight turnback to the
second fence.
Raf Suarez set a suitably
testing course for round one.
Almost every fence came down,
although an airy oxer off a corner
at number two, followed by a
double on a forward five strides,
accounted for most faults.
With 16 from the start list of 53
By MARGARET SHAW
winning through to the jump-off,
this was always going to be an
edge-of-your-seat climax and it
provided a fitting finale to four
days of top-drawer jumping.
Once Holly Smith and
Hearts Destiny (sixth) and Alex
Thompson riding Cathalina V
(seventh) produced two good early
second clears, the challenge was
set and the top five came from the
last five combinations to jump.
Eventual third, Holly
Smith and Fruselli (see One To
Watch) first took a three-second
advantage, but that was shortlived
when local rider Julie
Andrews and Ayrton IV pulled
off two tight turns at either end
of the arena to take the lead and
eventual second in 31.08 seconds.
“This horse ticks all the boxes.
He loves to win and I can trust
him to gallop and turn short,”
said Julie.
However, next-drawn Richard
Howley was waiting in the wings
with Electra B and, although he
gave the troublesome second fence
some space this time, his turnback
to a top-of-the-wings upright
three from home saw Electra pick
up off barely one stride.
“I was determined not to make
the same mistake with the second
fence,” said Richard. “We are just
a few months into our partnership
and Electra is growing in
confidence with every outing and
will be going to Spain as my grand
prix horse. I had planned to come
here on the first day as a warm-up
and return today to go well in the
grand prix, and the plan worked,”
said Richard, who claimed the top
two 1.35m places on the first day
with Cruising Star and Electra B.
The final two grand prix
places were decided next, the
new partnership of Anthony
Condon and Courtney 6 taking
fourth and the 2017 winning rider
James Whitaker and Glenavadra
Brilliant finishing fifth.
Raf Suarez was happy with
the result: “The course was big
enough and testing everywhere.
It’s quite difficult to accommodate
those stepping up to this level and
established grand prix horses and
riders, but I was pleased it rode
so well.”
There was another hardfought
contest in the British
Showjumping winter amateur
qualifier, where 19 of the field of
48 came through to the jump-off.
After Richard Jenkinson
posted a quick time with
early-drawn Culto, many of the
following riders had no choice
but to take risks over a tempting
course, and it was only two
stunning turnbacks successfully
pulled off by Sarah Williams that
relegated the early leaders.
Riding the home-bred Calvaro
Star, Sarah steered inside lines all
the way and, although arriving
a bit deep to the last fence on an
acute turnback, her 11-year-old
daughter of Calvaro left the top
rail up.
“She’s brave and careful — she
Pictures by Majestic Photography
56 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018