Tom Jackson and HH Moonwalk
An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at
Osberton International & Young Horse Championships - order or view videos here
Tom Jackson’s trip to 'Thoresberton' rounded off with a fantastic finish in the British Eventing Seven-Year-Old Championship with a win on HH Moonwalk.
After finishing the showjumping in the lead, Tom and the attractive bay cruised round the cross-country on the magnificent Thoresby parkland to stay at the top of the leaderboard finishing on a score of 28.4.
“I am over the moon with the result. He is fairly inexperienced at this level so to come here and win is just fantastic. We will hopefully start the spring season with a long format three star, he is very promising so will be produced with the future in mind” said Tom
UK-based Frenchman Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza II were just behind with 29.3 penalties, the talented mare giving him much to be excited about.
“She can be tense in the dressage so we need to take care in the first phase but when it comes to the jumping she is very fast and careful" said Gaspard, who has been based in Crawley, West Sussex for several years now "The time is not a problem and she has so much scope, it has been a great event.”
Gaspard Maksud (left) and Tom Jackson line up with another, slightly different horse, at the presentation
Piggy March was busy throughout Thoresberton with a host of rides and was delighted with third place on Geoffrey Burton’s attractive homebred, I Diablo Joe.
“He is very special and a pleasure to produce and be around" said Piggy " It is extra special when they are homebred and tries really hard in all three phases. I have a wonderful team of young horses at the moment so there is a lot to look forward to.”
Carrying on her top form in 2020, Piggy went on to head the British Eventing Six-Year-Old Championship with Susie Woods' handsome grey, Cooley Goodwood.
Piggy March and Cooley Goodwood
Another talented youngster to be sourced from Richard Sheane in Ireland, Piggy was full of praise for the Obos Quality gelding.
“He is a lovely horse, that has been with us since the end of his four-year-old year. He is very scopey and talented and can turn his hand to anything. His owners are great fun and very loyal and he looks set to be one for the future.”
Holding runner-up position overnight, Cheshire’s Hayden Hankey and Heads Up maintained their second place as did Bubby Upton on Cooley As Ice when finishing third in what was a well fought championship.
Heads Up continues to show his versatility and talent, a winner of the Horse of the Year Show Working Hunter Championships a year ago, the Catherine Witt and rider owned, bay gelding, was found by Hayden in Ireland two years ago.
“He came from my good friend, Jim Derwin and really has five star potential" said Hayden "He is a brilliant showjumper as well and has done about eight events. He has the ability to be world class and we just need to look after him and produce him with the future in mind.”
Stealing the show - Piggy March's son Max joins her on the podium
