Kaleche conquers the age classes

Ronnie Jones adds the six-year-old final to Kaleche’s four- and five-year-old titles, while a Scottish rider claims the technical two-star grand prix

- SUZANNE JONES

Al Shira’aa Bolesworth Young Horse Championships, Bolesworth Castle, Cheshire

NEW champions were crowned from record entries of future stars competing in the vast international arena with its beautiful castle backdrop in the rolling Cheshire countryside.

Ronnie Jones made a triumphant return with Ruth Dowie’s Kaleche to take the Windmill Farm Estate six-year-old championship, 12 months after heading the five-year-old title. They also finished equal first in the four-year-old championship.

The initial 128 entries were reduced to 59 for the final with 14 contending the jump-off. The clear round bonus money and the opportunity to qualify for the World Breeding Championships in Lanaken, Belgium, added to the pressure and shaped riders’ tactics. It didn’t faze Ronnie and he stormed to victory by three seconds, won a share of the £4,000 bonus and is in consideration for Lanaken.

The bonus is offered in the five, six, and seven-year-olds to horses jumping clear in both qualifiers and the final. Three shared the six-year-old cash to pick up £1,334 each – Ronnie with Kaleche, Joe Trunkfield aboard RSH Deal Breaker (Action Breaker x Lux Z), and Lucy Townley on Billy Marionette (Cevin Z x Billy Congo).

The F One USA x Nassau mare Kaleche was purchased as a two-year-old by Ruth Dowie of Runningwell Sport Horses and proved a winner from the off. This year has been phenomenal, with the Windsor six-year-old title and the Big Star national six-year-old championship as well as qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) newcomers.