Super Saturday Bolesworth International

Scorching Competition at Super Saturday Bolesworth International

As the third day of Bolesworth International draws to a close, we take a look back at who came out on top.

The sun was out, crowds gathered and trade stands were full. A real buzz echoed the showground as international riders entertained those who visited the new Equine Learning Zone. Crabbies wasn’t the only ‘on tap’ action at this years event, International Showjumping was a-plenty as riders and their horses wowed spectators as the action heated up.

Belgium’s Francois Mathy Jr had a day to remember as he claimed two notable victories.

He began Saturday’s action by winning the Young Horse Handicap Final for six and seven-year-old horses, sponsored by Whitley Neill Gin, in stylish fashion on the 2009 bay mare, Diddo van sint Maarden.

He then triumphed in the Bolesworth CSI4* against the clock class, sponsored by Equigrip, riding chestnut stallion, Falco ven der Clehoeve. The pair clipped more than a second off the time of Ireland’s Marion Hughes, and after being drawn last but one to go in a class that had 63 starters, Mathy Jr landed the £6,400 prize to finish his day’s successes.

“The times were getting faster and faster, but my horse was careful enough and everything worked out,” Mathy said of his second International Arena victory that was watched by a bumper Saturday afternoon crowd.

“My horse has quite a big stride, but I tried to turn tight. I knew that I’d had a good round, but you need to look at that clock just to be sure.

“He is a very competitive horse in these kind of classes. They are the type of classes where he is most comfortable.”

Hughes [Marrion], meanwhile, became the latest two-time winner at the 2016 Bolesworth event when she claimed a thrilling victory in the CSI4* two phase competition, sponsored by Horse & Hound.

Irish challenger Hughes had already showcased the talent of Heritage HHS Fortuna by dominating a speed class at Bolesworth on Thursday, and with time again of the essence, they did not disappoint.

They raced to victory in a time of 22.89 seconds, with the top four finishers separated by just 84 hundredths of a second.

Britain’s Jay Halim led the chasing pack on Abrisco, clocking 23.53, while last year’s Bolesworth Grand Prix winner Yazmin Pinchen finished third on Con Chilli, with Keith Shore (Zegreanne Z) fourth and Emma Augier de Moussac (Copia) fifth.

“I thought it would be seven strides to the second last fence in the jump-off, but she got there on course, so that was obviously key,” Hughes said.

“It was only a short jump-off course, but it was very twisting and turning, and she had a great shot to the last fence.”

Theo Simpson hailed the quality of his winning ride, Touch of Chilli, after they made their mark in the CSI2* grand prix sponsored by Ashford Farm. Thirteen combinations contested the jump-off, and Simpson and the 12-year-old chestnut mare came out on top.

A time of 41.89 seconds meant they took the £6,400 Bolesworth winner’s purse in comprehensive fashion, with Anna Wilks – an experienced and successful eventer – finishing second aboard Undicci, with Ireland’s David Quigley third on EIS Isaura.

“I am over the moon,” Simpson said. “The horse has been on great form, having been second about a month ago in a two-star grand prix.

“I have had the horse for two years now. I got him two months before I finished my A levels, and he has been going amazingly during the past few months. We’ve really gelled.

“He’s fast, agile, and he has got the biggest heart you could ever have in a horse.”

Earlier in the day, Emily Ward and Doobally won the CSI2* jump-off class, sponsored by Gain Horse Feeds, clocking a time of 33.79 seconds , while Sophie Fawcett continued her impressive Bolesworth form by taking second aboard Quite Cadiz, with David McPherson (Sirocco) third and Chloe Breen (Zidane VIII) fourth.

Tomorrow concludes the week’s action at Bolesworth International for 2016. With lots more showjumping on the cards, and the eagerly awaited CSI4* grand prix in the line up, the event’s sure to go out with a bang.