KBIS Young Horse Championships final results

KBIS Seven Year Old Championship

Reigning Junior European Champion Bubby Upton jumped one of five clear rounds inside the optimum time across country on Cola III to move above the overnight leaders Aoife Clark and Calling Card.

It's been a fantastic season for Bubby, who admitted she came to Osberton dreaming of a top three finish, “though mum told me that I should be happy with top 10. Cola has only done two intermediates, so this was tough for him – but show him a fence and he's got it. It was 'plan A' all the way.”

It was the first time the warmblood, who came from Vicky Tuffs, has made the optimum time, and this despite his breastplate breaking at fence three and losing a shoe at fence six.

“He has the best attitude and is so balanced and brave, the sort of horse you get on and can't help but break out in a smile,” Bubby added.

Calling Card might have dropped one place but his jockey wasn't disappointed. “He's very inexperienced at this level so it was a big ask and I'm thrilled he's done so well as it's all about the future,” said Aoife, who added 5.2 time penalties to her overnight score. “He's very talented, but because he's got a huge stride I had to do a little bit of homework in the approach to each fence, which wasted some time. He really tried for me though.”

William Fox-Pitt held on to third place, despite being initially given 50 penalties for jumping the wrong side of a flag at the influential corner, fence 8b. These penalties were subsequently removed, and William stayed ahead of birthday boy Giovanni Ugolotti on Duke of Champion, by 0.2 of a penalty.

William's ride, Shannondale Percy, was bred in Ireland and sold to Sarah Hughes for Ryan Wood in the US to ride. He arrived with William at the beginning of this year, having done three novice classes.

“He's a big baby and has come on a lot,” William said. “He was first to go in the dressage, which wasn't ideal, and his cross country ride was a little bit untidy – but it was that sort of course.”

 

KBIS Six Year Old Championship

Piggy French's young horses excelled this week, AKD Corline winning the title and stablemate Carnival March placing fourth. But for a rail down by Carnival March in the showjumping phase, it would have been a 1-2 for Piggy.

“The Young Horse Championships have been the target for these two horses all year. They are both from Ireland, and very promising,” Piggy said. “AKD Corline has a fantastic brain and is very professional in his work which makes my life easy. For a big horse he is very light and balanced.”

Nicola Wilson and JL Dublin retained second place with a cross country round inside the optimum time. JL Dublin was brought over from Germany as a four-year-old, and according to Nicola has plenty of attitude and is 'super brainy'.

Kitty King moved up to third on Drewmain Firefly. Drewmain Firefly was bred by Kitty King's next-door neighbours, and Kitty backed him as a three-year-old. She explained: “He was weak and backward, and although he had a good brain I wondered whether he would have the scope, but he has improved every time out. Last year we were surprised he qualified for the five-year-old class, but this year he jumped a brilliant double clear in quite difficult ground. I think he will be better again next year.”

 

KBIS Five Year Old Championship

Having shared the lead after dressage with Ed Eltham on Jupita VIII, Dani Evans and Mrs Ann Butler's Hollywood Dancer took the five-year-old title with a first phase score completion. Ed dropped to eighth following an expensive showjump pole down.

Hollywood Dancer, a mare by Dantos HBC out of Zoe, has clocked up 98 British Eventing Foundation Points this season, her results including three BE100 wins.

“Holly really deserved that result,” said a delighted Dani. “She tries so hard and has all the talent – I couldn't have asked any more of her today. The ground out there was fantastic, Osberton is a great event to be at. I hope I will bring Holly back next year for the KBIS Six Year Old Championship.”

Vicky Tuffs finished second on Fernhill Funtime ahead of Samantha Jimmison and Kroon Freddie in third. Fourth placed Lordships Graffalo, ridden by Ros Canter, won the SHB(GB) prize for the highest placed horse by a graded stallion.

 

KBIS Four Year Old Championship

Ginny Turnbull rode Mrs Zoe Feeney's Just Soda No Ice to victory in the four-year-old championship. This was the mare's fourth affiliated run and she has yet to incur a jumping penalty in either the showjumping or the cross country.

“She's so trainable and totally consistent,” said Ginny, who backed the horse. The pair also finished 10th in this year's Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Finals. “What makes this win even more special is that she is totally homebred – Zoe owns both the stallion and the dam.”

By Stallone Quainton out of Ryans Daughter, Just Soda No Ice's double clear moved Ginny up from second after dressage when the first phase leaders, Vicky Tuffs and Max McInerney, lowered a rail in the showjumping and dropped to second place.

Austin O'Connor took third with Money Talks III, 0.1 of a penalty behind Max McInerney, courtesy of a dressage score completion.

View all the results from Osberton International Horse Trials HERE