'I didn't think I'd win it from the front'

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

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 1 of their seats when she stormed down to the last but lowered the pole.

Both Phillip Miller, riding the Cornishes' 11-year-old clear-round machine Don Royale, and Adam Taylor with Gangster II gave it a good try, finishing 0.29sec apart for second and third respectively but still adrift of Jamie’s lead.

“I didn’t think I’d win it from the front,” Jamie said. “There was nothing to do except be tight and quick and to make sure you took seven strides to the last. He never felt like he was going to touch a pole.”

Jamie has been riding Marvin for the past 18 months, taking him on at a point where he was jumping Foxhunters.