Showjumping - Double top for Abby

Feb 2 2008 The Journal

ABBY Davison pulled off a double win at the Blue Sky Equestrian Centre’s Junior BSJA Show on her own home-produced bay pony, Ocean Breeze.

Breeze, described by Cramlington youngster Abby as careful, consistent and the pony of a lifetime, went JA in December last year, with wins at most of the North-East’s venues, including Richmond, Port Royal, Northallerton, Bowes Manor, Blue Sky and Holmside Hall.

The pony now has more than £2,000 in winnings and has competed successfully in the major BSJA championships, including Blue Chip and Pony of the Year Show, and was placed in the final of the British Novice at Scope festival. She has also travelled out to Scotland and Ireland to compete.

Locally, Abby won the hotly contested 1m and 1.10m Championships at Bowes Manor last year and in December won the Christmas Puissance competition at Blue Sky Equestrian, clearing 1m 50.

Abby has recently added a four-year-old Connemara pony to her string for 2008. Archie, Grand Sire, Hocki JA jumping stallion was bought unbroken from his Scottish breeder in the summer and, after being broken and produced by Abby herself, jumped his first affiliated class at Blue Sky.

He was the only double clear in the Starter Stakes class but, as he was on a day ticket, was not awarded prize money. He is expected to be registered ahead of the outdoor season in May. It’s Abby’s final season on ponies before moving on to horses in 2009, so both ponies will be sold on.

Abby is looking forward to competing on horses but admits she thinks it will be difficult to ever find a horse who can take over Breeze’s mantle.

Charlotte Ash, aged eight, won the 80cm Starter Stakes on her pony Gorm agus ban – Blue – and came second in the unaffiliated open on her other pony, Flicker’s Fortune.

Two weeks ago, Charlotte won the same two classes on Flicker’s Fortune at Blue Sky. She has just started competing at BSJA.

Blue is very steady six-year-old gelding and came from Ireland a year ago, while Flicker’s Fortune – bought last December – is a 17-year-old mare, and was recommended to them by Stainsby’s Peter Allan.

Charlotte has been riding since she was four and has done well in many unafilliated shows. Her brother Robert, 14, came second in the 1m open on his scopy eight-year-old mare Banner Girl.

This is a new combination bought from Cavan Equestrian Centre in Ireland last October. Robert has been jumping BSJA for three years, and has been riding since he was six.

A newcomer to show jumping under rules, Charlotte Telfer was jumping for the first time at Blue Sky and was placed third in the 1m class. BSJA juniors move to Holmside Hall Equestrian Centre today, while Senior BSJA jumping continues at Blue Sky tomorrow.