The 2024 Harry Hall One Club ACE Championships, now in its second year, saw four amazing days of competition take place between 30 May – 2 June at Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool.
The popularity of the championships was clear to see with almost 500 riders of all ages and levels of ability travelling the length and breadth of the country to attend. The championship was a culmination of qualifiers that started last autumn and saw thousands of competitors contesting them.
Rounding up the four fabulous days, Lewis Wilkinson, Head of Digital & Ecommerce at Harry Hall, said: “As another successful Championships comes to an end, we would like to say a huge congratulations to all competitors that competed over the four days held at Aintree International Equestrian Centre. There is no doubt that the Harry Hall One Club ACE Championships was a fantastic success with so many incredible horse and rider combinations enjoying the event. We hope that everyone who attended walked away with incredible memories and an experience to remember for a long time.”
The seniors opened up the first two days of competition, with the warm up classes on the Thursday, followed by the championship classes on the Friday.
North-Warwickshire rider Lottie Watson and her 10-year-old gelding Hal made their two-hour trip up to Aintree worthwhile when claiming victory in the first championship class of the show – the Harry Hall One Club Senior 70cm ACE Championship – with a score of 108.42. Speaking after her win, Lottie said: “I’ve had Hal for nearly three years. I was quite nervous going in as I’m quite competitive, but I told myself we’re here for the fun and I was really happy that we went in and won. It was amazing competing here. The atmosphere is amazing and everything is done to such a high standard. I’d definitely come back here. It was really worth the two-hour trip to get here.”
Less than half a point behind in 2nd place was Anne Rickards and Rynys Lady Mona (107.99), while 3rd place was claimed by Amy Evans and Meg (107.97)
Going one better than their second place in the 80cm warm-up class was Kate Stott and her 16-year-old gelding Ryans Butterscotch who flew round to win the Harry Hall One Club Senior 80cm ACE Championship on a score of 99.98.
Of her win, equestrian coach Kate said: “We’ve had a really good few days. I competed in the warm-up class and came second with ‘Chip’. It’s been a really great experience – everything is well organised and everyone has been really friendly. This is our first stay away show and it’s been amazing, especially with the racecourse and historic surroundings – it’s been a really good show.”
A cat’s whisker behind in 2nd was Amy Small and Triumph vd Laarseheide Z on a score of 99.44, while Laura Whitfield and Valley of Dreams filled 3rd with 97.95.
Hannah O’Connor from Rotherham and Ann White’s eight-year-old mare ORS Black Beauty finished on a score of 109.43 to land the Harry Hall One Club Senior 90cm ACE Championship.
Hannah said: “I’ve had the ride on ‘Bea’ for the last nine months. She is a friend’s horse and is getting me out competing more, which is really nice. We qualified in November and it’s been great having something to work towards. We’ve affiliated with British Eventing so are looking forward to a fun season doing that.”
Runner-ups were Lauren Gutteridge and Jeremy Fisher VI (108.96) who also finished second in the 1m warm up class, and in third was Madonna Powell and Ardlonan Breeze (108.91) who also finished third in the 80cm warm up class.
Jessica Buxton and Newmarket-based rider Jessica Buxton took the final senior championship of the day when landing the Harry Hall One Club Senior ACE 1m. Riding Marcus Aurelius III, an eight-year-old gelding, Jessica galloped over the finish line to finish a whopping 10 points clear with a score of 88.61.
Jessica commented: “Qualifying and competing here has been the highlight of my year so far with him. We jumped the warm up class yesterday but he felt a bit tired as we’d travelled up from Newmarket. I was a bit apprehensive walking the course for the championship as it was a real test and we knew it would take some riding. But today he was on form and he was absolutely fantastic. We jumped a clear round but were a bit fast so got a few speeding penalties, but I was buzzing.”
Leonard Metcalfe and Top Gun took 2nd with 98.05, and Jenny Kinloch and MBF Butlerstown were 3rd with 97.42
Saturday and Sunday were dedicated to the junior riders who were all vying for the coveted titles as well as plenty of fabulous prizes on offer including rosettes, sashes and rugs alongside the generous Harry Hall One Club sponsored prizes.
Phoebe Taylor from Loughborough and Sweet Like Sugar were the first juniors to be crowned when claiming the Harry Hall Junior ACE 70cm Championship with 105.72.
She said of her victory: “I’ve had Sweet Like Sugar over a year and she is quite a spicy type of pony who likes to jog a lot and gets very excited going to a big event like this. I was in first, so had to wait for ages, watching everyone else go in. It was really nerve-wracking as I was nervous of someone overtaking me, so it was a relief when I realised I had won. I have loved competing here at Aintree. The arenas are amazing and everyone is so nice.”
Winner of the 60cm warm-up class and eventual 60cm championship runner-up was Lily Pett and The Longhouse Blue Pascal (104.75). Third place was awarded to Mia Brown and Tanlins Policy (104.17).
Lily Pett from Carmarthen and 11-year-old gelding Snabo Star’s score of 105.02 catapulted them into first place in the Harry Hall Junior ACE 80cm Championship.
Lily commented on her win: “We want to take ‘Joey’ quite far in eventing and do some bigger heights with him. I’ve only done a few 80’s on Joey before, but I felt quite confident going in as he’s been performing well and behaving himself.”
Ellaynah Mae Smith and Pallas Vank Wish were runners-up with 102.11, while Niamh Gosman and Northview Gypsy Wedding were 3rd with 101.34. They also finished 3rd in the 80cm warm-up class.
In the Harry Hall Junior ACE 90cm Championship, it was Bea Allen and Hotshots who filled the top spot with a score of 105.11.
Bea said of her win: “I was feeling quite nervous because there were a lot of clear rounds and some of them were inside the time, and I was worried I wouldn’t be clear inside the time, but when I finished the round, I was really happy with him. It’s been so nice because I’ve always wanted to see where the Grand National is run and I like the arena and the surfaces which are really good.”
Efa Perry and Flying Fury were runners-up with 102.26, while Imogen Strawson and Fort Leanney, who were also 2nd in the 90cm warm-up class, finished in 3rd with 106.45.
The final junior championship title on offer – the Harry Hall Junior ACE 1m Championships – went to Bury St Edmonds rider Mia Archer and 16-year-old mare Miss Poppy II who scored 104.43.
Mia said: “Poppy is lovely and has a lot of Thoroughbred in her so she is speedy but can get very excited. But it goes in our favour for things like this and cross-country because she always makes the time. She absolutely loves to jump and her attitude is phenomenal – she is always very happy to do her job. She handled it really well. Once I jumped the first jump I felt fine. She gives me so much confidence, and I was really happy with our round. She has had a busy few weeks, so she’ll have some well-deserved time off now ready to go again in the summer holidays.”
Ruby Hicks and Diamond in the Rough X, who were also 3rd in the 90cm warm-up class, were runners-up with 103.10, while Efa Perry and Flying Fury were 3rd with 101.15.
With the show at an end, it was clear that the championships had once again proved to be an event to remember. Top class facilities at Aintree and the fabulous atmosphere and community spirit clearly made a brilliant impression with many riders waving goodbye to newly-made friends and long-lasting memories.
For full results click here
For more information on ACE, click here.
Images: courtesy of Majestic Photography
