Youngsters rise to the jump challenge at Thetford Chase

THE snow disappeared just in time for Thetford Chase Pony Club to hold their annual Team Showjumping Event at Overa Farm.

With 25 teams taking part from invited branches all over the area, the show was well attended and proved to be a great success, with courses designed by committee member and showjumping trainer, John Jacks.

Four classes were run throughout the day starting from 60cm and ending with a 90cm class.

The teams jumped two rounds with the second being raised and shortened.

In both the Junior Novice and Novice classes, the teams sharing first place (which all finished on a zero score), nominated a rider to jump a third round against the clock.

Thetford Chase were victorious in both classes, beating Mid-Suffolk by just under two seconds in the first class. Mid-Suffolk had only three team members so every score counted in the first two rounds.

In the 70cm, Waveney Harriers and South Norfolk had to settle for second and third place respectively behind winners, Thetford Chase.

Event organiser and committee member Christine Williams said: “It is the first time many of the younger competitors have ridden in a team and they rose to the challenge brilliantly.”

After two rounds in the 80cm Intermediate class, Soham Blue and Easton Harriers stood equal first.

In the final jump-off, Soham’s Phoebe Plumb on Bob produced a stunningly fast round but had a fence down, so the challenge for Easton Harriers’ rider was speed or accuracy, and Megan Hammond on Black Pudding chose wisely, making it a win for Easton with a clear round.

Riders coped well in the first round of the 90cm Open, but for many of them the fences raised to 1 metre in the second round proved to be a step too high, and the result was determined without a further round.

It was another win for Thetford Chase – all four riders clear in the first round but 12 faults accrued in the second – while Waveney Harriers came second on 16 faults.

The individuals’ competition ran alongside the teams. The winners were: Class 1 Millie Gray on Phoenix (TC), Class 2 Charlotte Rose-Eyre on Golden Winds (TC), Class 3 Phoebe Plumb on Bob (Soham), and Class 4 Liam Gayfer on Xanthan (Easton Harriers).

Thetford Chase District Commissioner Julia Campbell said afterwards: “The whole day went really well with a happy atmosphere, everybody had an enjoyable time.

“Many thanks must go to a number of our members, parents and committee for all their help.”