‘i didn’t think i’d win it from the front’

8 min read

SHOWJUMPING

Jamie Wingove claims an unexpected grand prix victory and a super-versatile 15hh working hunter comes away crowned a showjumping champion

By SARAH RADFORD

BLUE CHIP WINTER CHAMPIONSHIPS 3–7 April

Edited by Jennifer Donald jennifer.donald@futurenet.com

@jen_donald

**Jamie Wingrove and Marvin II prove untouchable, remaining tight and quick to win the Blue Chip winter grand prix**

Blue Chip Winter Championships, Addington Equestrian, Bucks

IT was easy to overlook just how immaculate Jamie Wingrove’s pathfinding Blue Chip winter grand prix jumpoff round was on the stylish 12-year-old Marvin II – but by the time the remaining 15 riders had failed to catch his lead, it was evident that this was an emerging combination to be reckoned with.

Nigel Jess’s first round wasn’t the meatiest track but it threw in a handful of technical questions, yielding a bumper jump-off field perfect for providing some action for the gala night crowd.

The jump-off course was open, with few options, and it was clear that it would be a case of who dares wins.

Jamie understood the brief with the clean-jumping gelding, who is owned and bred by Viv Thompson, keeping his lines bold but very economical to stop the clock in 33.94sec.

Just two riders trumped his time but both added four faults – Sandy McLean and Eagele Z, who was on for the £2,000 bonus having won the previous night’s big class, and Samantha Oliver (Gluk) who had the audience on the edge of their seats when she stormed down to the last but lowered the pole.

“SHE’S SUCH AN ALL-ROUNDER”

GEORGIA DARLINGTON’S 18-year-old Connemara/thoroughbred Lisa’s Dream proved how versatile she is when she won the Socks By Ruby diamond championship and qualified for the intermediate working hunter at the Royal International in the same week.

Georgia has focussed more on showjumping the 15hh mare in recent seasons but has also evented her to novice in the past.

“She’s done quite a lot – she won the 1m championship in the main ring at Hickstead and we won at the nationals with the Surrey team in 2022. She’s also been in the England working hunter pony team,” Georgia said. “She’s still going strong and loves her job and is such an all-rounder, going from one discipline to another in the same week.” Georgia and Lisa were the quickest of four double clears in a 12-strong jump-off for the diamond championship sash, beating some very strong company.

“Because she’s small she’s nippy – the outside courses in the first two rounds didn’t really suit her as they were quite gallopy but we made the top 30 for the final. As she’s jumped at HOYS, I knew she’d be fine with the atmosphere, in fact I was hoping we’d make it inside as she thrives off it and the tight turns indoors really suited her.”

ON FORM