Emma Stoker riding Carron Nicol’s Wilando B was the clear winner at the final qualifying competition, for the jointly sponsored Team Murka and World Class Programme U23 British Championship Final that will take place at the London International Horse Show, Olympia on Friday 21st December 2012.
The competition, which was held at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre, Buckinghamshire, was open to riders aged 23 years or under and attracted a large field of 43 entries. The up to height, technical course built by Olympic course builder, Bob Ellis saw thirteen first round clears produced, with four jumped by riders on the World Class Development Programme.
In the jump-off, eight riders again jumped clear with Emma and Wilando B rising to the occasion with an emphatic victory in a time of 37.91 seconds. World Class Development riders, William Whitaker, riding Elisabeth Fredlund’s Upperclass 11 finished in second place with a time of 39.47 seconds, whilst Abbie Squires with Vilka B, owned by Helen West, taking third on 40.41 seconds.
Fourth place went to Zoe Adams with her own Satonamillion (41.13 seconds), with Emily Ward, riding Witch owned by Michael Whitaker, finishing fifth (41.88 seconds) and World Class Development rider, Joe Clayton, riding Nick Ward’s Wild Rose II, sixth (43.15 seconds).
Rob Hoekstra, World Class Performance Show Jumping Manager commented, “This was another impressive U23 qualifying competition, the standard this year has been extremely high and continues to improve year on year, therefore, showing what a successful formula this competition is. There were some exceptionally good rounds in the jump-off and the margins were very small and I am very much looking forward for the final at Olympia”. Hoekstra went onto to say, “With Team Murka’s generous support for the last three years, it has provided a showcase for the very best under-23 show jumping talent to shine and develop that can only be an asset for the future of show jumping in Great Britain”.
Through the increased and generous support of Team Murka, there is a greater total prize fund of £1650 in each of the six qualifiers in the series, with the winner of each qualifier receiving £550 in prize money, together with £200 in value of Training Vouchers, which are awarded to the first six prize-winning riders who are currently eligible for British Team Selection.
After the six qualifying competitions, Jessica Mendoza is the clear leader in the points table with 110 points and has definitely booked her place at Olympia.