Mike Jackson scored the biggest international win of his career to date when taking the Hambro Sport Horses CCI3*-S at Alnwick Ford International Horse Trials (20-23 June).
Riding seven-year-old Girls Gamble, a son of Imperial Heights owned by Heather Bell, Gwen Meacham and Mike himself, he was fifth after dressage on a score of 29.2, and added nothing to that in the jumping phases to rise to the top of the leaderboard.
Gloucestershire-based Mike said: “I had a rethink and a reboot during Covid, and ‘Dougie’ was one of the first horses I bought after that, from Jodie Amos. He’s definitely a character, but he’s careful, and when you’ve produced a horse all the way through, that consistency and knowing and understanding each other pays off. This is his first season at intermediate level and he’s stepped up brilliantly.
“He’s quite a big horse, probably a bit over 17hh, so there will be more strengthening up to come. He was very calm and rideable in his dressage test – it’s just about chipping away and making those little improvements.
“The cross-country course walked like a solid three-star track, but I think it caused more faults than people had expected. The ground in the first field was quite holding, and there were some quite intense questions towards the end, all of which had an accumulative effect. I wanted to go quickly but not do anything silly – we’ve got a great partnership and know each other inside out now. We’re definitely on the same page and he’ll try his heart out to do the right thing.”
Second by the smallest fraction was Emily Young-Jamieson riding Klaas-Jan B on a final mark of 29.3, and third was Heidi Coy (MGH Jessica), who completed on her dressage score of 30.3 with the fastest cross-country round of the class.
NIS Group Services Ltd CCI2*-S
Willa Newton won the NIS Group Services Ltd CCI2*-S riding Isobel Crosbie’s nine-year-old Voltaire gelding Kingsman. The Leicestershire rider completed on her dressage score of 29, ahead of Susie Berry, second on Liberty 26, and Lizzie Baugh (Chac).
Willa said: “Kingsman was fantastic in all three phases this week. I had him as a young horse, and then he was such a good jumper that his owner wanted to go showjumping, so he did that for a year. He came back to me last winter and I hunted him a bit. We are giving eventing another go with him this year and he’s been fantastic. He seems like he’s really enjoying it, we’re very excited about him and looking forward to doing a couple more two-stars this summer.
“This was another brilliant event at Alnwick Ford – I love it there!”
Mike Jackson and Willa Newton are now the “live contenders” for the highly valuable Northumberland Challenge, which unites the three Northumbrian international events: Belsay, Alnwick Ford and Burgham. Riders who win the CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S and, new for 2024, a BE100 class, at all three events can win cash bonuses of £25,00, £20,000 and £6,000 respectively. Due to the cancellation of Belsay last month, the Northumberland Challenge will roll over to Belsay 2025.
Both Mike and Willa are looking forward to contesting the next leg of the Northumberland Challenge – which is supported by Hambro Sport Horses, NIS Group Ltd, InExpress Tyne & Wear and Equestrian Eye, as well as insurance brokers McClarrons – at Burgham International Horse Trials (25-28 July).
Mike said: “I’m definitely going to Burgham. I really enjoy the Northumberland events, and a series like the Northumberland Challenge which gives riders the chance to win really good prize-money is very much appreciated.”
Pictures of Mike Jackson (Girls Gamble) and Willa Newton (Kingsman) courtesy of Action Replay Photography.
For more information on the event, please visit www.alnwickfordequestrian.co.uk
Full results can be found here
Release supplied by event.
