Harper (J Harper 001) and Saskia finished 15th overall in the NSEA 1.10 Elite Championship, after taking a couple of poles. Harper has been in the recovery phase from severe stomach ulcers so hasn’t been himself in recent weeks, however he was very excited when he realised he was back at Hickstead’s legendary main ring and so he was perhaps a little too keen (hence the poles).
Saskia and her youngster Teddy (Galtee Quiet Man) represented St Ed’s in the NSEA Junior Individual qualifier (85cm) and had a nice double clear which qualified them to experience the main ring for the Junior Individual Championship Final. Teddy has just turned 6 and only recently started going to big premier shows, the past 3 months, so to go into Hickstead’s International ring was a big ask. He was very willing, given how daunting the atmosphere and the jumps are, and just had one unlucky pole.
“It was great representing St Edmund’s in the NSEA 1.10m Elite Championship in the iconic main ring at Hickstead,” commented Saskia. “Every showjumper dreams of competing in that ring as it’s very special, and I got the chance not once, but twice in the same day. Now both ponies have seen the ring and experienced the environment so that when we go back next year it will stand us in good stead.”
