The 2013 winner of the Five Year Old class - Carly Reid and Djakota EB
Next week Libby Law will be bringing us the action from the Osberton International Horse Trials including the KBIS British Eventing Four, Five, Six and Seven year old Young Horse Championships from 2nd - 5th October.
KBIS Four and Five Year Old Championship
The battle for the four and five year old title will kick off the KBIS BE Young Horse Championships, held over the Thursday and Friday of the Event. Qualification is achieved through special four and five year old classes were held at around 20 events during this season.
The line up for the KBIS Four Year Old Championship includes two double winners of these classes; Parkfield Breeding's Dutch-bred stallion Francoe PFB (VINGINO x VALESCA) ridden by Zoe Wilkinson, and Alex Postolowky and her own and Miss Judy Bradwell’s home-bred gelding Hedgeholme Gospel (DISTANT MUSIC x SLEDWICH CHURCH MOUSE). However, another strong contender looks to be James Adams and Mrs Maria Wade’s home-bred gelding Reuben Rialto (FORINTH x MONIQUE) who have been placed first, second and third in three qualifiers this season.
Meanwhile the KBIS Five Year Old Championship is also poised for an extremely exciting weekend of competition, with nearly 60 combinations contending for the title. One of these is Piggy French and Jennifer Saunders’ Irish-bred gelding Aubane Boy (MASTER IMP x AUBANE CLOVER), who have completed the step up after placing third at the KBIS Four Year Old Championship in 2013. Another combination in the running is Kitty King riding Mrs Diana Bown, Mrs Samantha Wilson, Mrs Sally Eyre and Mrs Sally Lloyd-Baker’s French-bred gelding Vendredi Biats (LIANE NOMANDE x CAMELIA DE RUELLES) who have enjoyed numerous successes this season, including a win at Nunney International in the qualifying class.
Six and Seven Year Old Championship
These Championships will take place on the Saturday and Sunday of Osberton International Horse Trials, and unlike the four and five year olds, includes horses that are eligible through qualification gained throughout the season.
Past stars who have gone on to international success include London 2012 contender Borough Pennyz, Bramham winner and 5th at World Equestrian Games (WEG) 2010 Redesigned, and WEG 2010 Silver Medallist and Rolex Kentucky four star winner Cool Mountain.
Also included in this roll of honour is three times Bramham winner, 2013 European Bronze Medallist and recent 2014 World Bronze Medallist, Chilli Morning (PHANTOMIC x KORALLE). Christopher Stone’s stallion will have two of his progeny competing at this year’s KBIS Young Horse Championship, with Chillis Gem (CHILLI MORNING x KINGS GEM) qualified for the KBIS Five Year Old Championship, and Chilli Pepper II (CHILLI MORNING x VENNS ROYAL SEAL) a contender for the six year old title. Both are ridden by Gemma Tattersall.
The Sam Barr Welton Romance Trophy will also be awarded to the best British bred mare in the 6YO Championships. Sam Barr was the breeder of the famous Welton horses, many of whom competed at 4* level. Welton Romance (by Welton Louis out of Molly Malone) was a mare that he bred who competed at 4* level with Lucy Thompson, and whose best results included winning the European Open Championships in 1995. Sam put a lot of emphasis on the mare line having to prove itself at the top level in order to improve the breeding of Event horses in this country, and Welton Romance epitomised this approach. Sam passed away in 2011 but his legacy continues by the many horses that carry his famous Welton prefix.
The format of the KBIS Seven Year Old Championship has now changed from a CCI2* (Three Day Event) to a CIC2* in order to remove some of the qualifying pressures that were being placed on young horses. This change will also create a more natural progression for the next step up to the Blenheim Eight and Nine year old Championships, which run at CIC3*.
In-Hand classes
The five classes for Mares, Foals, Yearlings, Two and Three-Year-Olds respectively are a showcase for potential top eventers at the Championships every year. Thanks to the increased sponsorship of Oakham Veterinary Hospital, there is more than £2,000 prize money to be won in the In-Hand Classes, with the overall Champion taking £500.
The judges will be looking for young, athletic horses that have the conformation and show the movement in walk and trot to make a top class Event horse. The classes take place on Thursday October 2nd, the first day of the KBIS Young Horse Championships.
BEDE events, the Organising team of Osberton International Horse Trials and the KBIS BE Young Horse Championships, pride themselves on their motto: 'Developing Quality, Leading Innovation'. Recent innovations include the launch of a live scoring system for display at events and also on smart phones, tablets and PCs. This year they are introducing a Christmas Market at the Trials, which will run alongside the popular Osberton Real Ale and Cider Festival. With an ever growing range of tradestands and attractions, it is guaranteed to be an action packed, fun weekend.
KBIS BE Young Horse Championship information source: British Eventing
