Nicola from Milland in Hants, Sally Chamberlain from Shardlow in Derby and Lauren Shannon from Wymeswold in Leics will join leading British and foreign eventers at the British Open Show Jumping Championships at Birmingham’s NEC (7th – 10th April) on Thursday 8th April after securing their place in the prestigious Indoor Cross Country competition at the Addington Manor Equestrian Centre qualifier last Friday (5th March).
The evening began with a fascinating lecture demo by member of the senior British eventing team and European Individual Silver and Team Gold Medallist, Piggy French. Once the exciting competition got underway over 30 eventers tackled the bespoke course of fences comprising show jumps and cross country fences.
This competition is a real spectator sport with plenty of speed and agility needed in equal amounts to get round clear and fast. Nicola Wilson is clearly becoming a specialist in this field after winning convincingly last year and returning with the same form for this year. She came into the ring meaning business and with her foot very much to the floor on her lovely mount, Portersize Top Dollar, she rode round in a time that just couldn’t be beaten to take first place. In second was Sally Chamberlain riding Leroy and third was Lauren Shannon riding Quixotic. All three riders will now join leading eventers in the British Open Indoor Cross Country competition on Thursday 8th April.
The Indoor Cross Country competition at the British Open Show Jumping Championships is a competition not to be missed. Britain’s top equestrian course designer, Bob Ellis, and Eventing guru Mike Tucker will create the course of approximately 16 jumps consisting of show jumps and cross country fences – some of which will be jumped in both directions. The show jumps will be set at near maximum height allowed in eventing and will form the first phase of the course. The exhilarating event was launched to great acclaim at the 2006 British Open Show Jumping Championships continuing each year to provide visitors the only opportunity in the UK to witness top-level indoor cross country alongside world-class show jumping and thrilling equestrian entertainment.
The British Open Show Jumping Championships takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from Wednesday 7th – Saturday 10th April 2010. For tickets, call the Box Office on 0844 581 1301 or visit the official website by clicking here.