Rachel Walker reflected on an “unbelievable” feeling after being crowned British Showjumping Silver League champion on day one at the Horse of the Year Show, NEC in Birmingham.
Rachel, from Penrith in Cumbria, produced a blistering jump-off performance on her 10-year-old bay mare Bo Gi to win by 13 hundredths of a second from Jessica Baugh and Castlemitchell Princess, with Stephanie Gunn and Quastor du Buisson Z third.
Last to go in a six-horse battle against the clock, the winning combination showcased all their experience gained from a number of career podium finishes, including winning last year’s Royal Highland Show amateur class.
“I thought we would have a bit of a bash,” said Rachel, whose four-hour journey south reaped its reward. “She is naturally quite a quick horse anyway, so you don’t really have to push her out of her rhythm too much. She has got a really big stride and covers the ground quite well. The turn back to the verticals in the jump-off suited her, because once she locks on to a fence, she is going.
“It’s unbelievable to win here. I didn’t expect it at all, although she has been going well. I said last night that I wanted to make the top six, but I didn’t expect to win. She is quite consistent – she tends to be there or thereabouts.”
The Silver League Championship is a nationwide event that sees riders having to qualify locally, and then through semi-finals to produce seven HOYS qualifiers from the north and seven from the south.
