Horse_amp_amp_Hound__06_February_2018

SHOWJUMPING
KEYSOE
SMALL PONY PREMIER
3-4 February
A birthday boy’s
perfect present
‘We keep asking and he keeps giving’: Ollie Fry and Colliyers Pal Joey cruise to victory in the winter 128cm
A sole treble clear clinches a win for Ollie Fry, while an
eight-year-old champ gets into the groove to triumph and
three battle it out in a finale finish
Keysoe Small Pony Premier,
Beds
RIDERS aged 14 and under
arrived in huge numbers at this
popular venue, where they were
chasing 10 tickets to the Royal
International Horse Show (RIHS)
at the third qualifying show of the
winter series.
Saturday’s 128cm second
round set the scene for the rest
of the show. David Cole’s course
needed concentration, but three
pairs jumped against the clock
in round three. Ollie Fry then
gave himself a late 12th birthday
present with the sole treble clear
on Colliyers Pal Joey.
The 11-year-old gelding and
Wiltshire-based Ollie had a
great 2017, culminating in third
place at Olympia.
“We keep asking and he
keeps giving,” said Ollie’s father
Jamie, himself a former toplevel
showjumper.
Dad may have been delighted
by qualification, but the best thing
as far as Ollie was concerned was
By PENNY RICHARDSON
the coveted winner’s rug, given by
the show organisers for all four
second rounds.
“I’ve never won one before and
it’s brilliant,” he said.
One of the show’s most
extraordinary results came from
Connie Mensley. This eight-yearold
from Leicestershire is the
reigning national 10-and-under
style and performance champion
and represented the Quorn
branch of the Pony Club in the
mini major at Olympia, but she
had never attempted anything
like this before.
Connie never missed a beat
on Madonna, with a couple of
time-faults in round three,
leaving them in second place. The
15-year-old Madonna, who won at
Horse of the Year Show (HOYS)
for Amy Morris last year, joined
Connie, who is helped by Tanya
Kyle, in January.
“I talked my mum into
letting me have a go in the class
last night,” said Connie.
We suspect that Mum is glad
she agreed!
The already qualified Izabella
Rogers (Whinney Lass) finished
third, so the final RIHS place
went to Ellie Burrell-Squibb, the
fastest four-faulter from round
two on Telynau Royal Damask.
Ellie, 11, has grown so fast that her
128cm ponies are now for sale, but
she will ride at Hickstead if she
still has “Damask”.
Tabitha Kyle just missed
qualification on Borderhill
William, but the 10-year-old
bounced back in the best
possible way to win the winter
138cm second round on her
Liverpool International champion
Lissduff Royal.
Twelve of a classy field reached
round two, with seven going
against the clock. Tabitha then
set the standard on the 15-yearold
gelding who came to her
in December 2016. They were
deceptively quick, as was proved
when Claudia Moore set sail on
the already qualified Tullineaskey
Fear Deas and had to settle for
second place.
Tabitha, who just missed
qualification in Scotland, had
to work hard to keep her pony’s
concentration.
“He doesn’t like it here,
although we are regulars. He’s a
bit of a monkey and he either wins
or decides it’s not for him,” said
Tabitha’s father, Mark.
The second ticket went to
Devon, courtesy of Jake Myers
and the amazing 25-year-old The
Agent, a pony looking fitter than
many half his age.
“He’s our pony of a lifetime
and has taken us to places we’d
only dreamt of,” said Jake’s mum
Joanna. “We thought of retiring
him, but he loves his job so much.
He just hacks between shows and
never gets jumped at home.”
Iwan Carpenter already had
one RIHS place booked and
added another ticket in fourth
place on Follow Jazzy Lady.
THE KYLES CLEAR UP
SUNDAY’S qualifiers turned
into a “Kylefest” after Tabitha
won the winter 128cm second
round and took another 138cm
ticket. The pressure was off when
only Tabitha and Olivia Sponer
(Trefriw Eros) reached round two
of the 128cm class to take the two
In tune: Connie Mensley and Madonna soar in the winter 128cm
Pictures by hoofprintsphotography.co.uk
60 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018