Hancock Achieves A Healthy Lead

An Irish 18-year-old takes the top spot by a hefty margin, while the journey from Scotland pays off for one family

- Natalie Clark

IRISH event rider Lucy Hancock and Coppenagh Spring Sparrow were crowned the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Gold Cup champions. The pair were impressive throughout to enter the reverse-order showjumping phase as last to go with a convincing lead of nearly 16 points over Georgia Darlington and Lisa’s Dream.

This three-stage contest kicks off with a dressage test, followed by a performance section over cross-country-style fences where style marks are earned plus an extra mark for the gallop. Any jumping penalties incurred here or in the final showjumping phase are deducted and the highest final score wins. The last showjump has an optional joker, worth 10 bonus points for clearing it but costing a hefty 20 if it is knocked down.

So good was her lead, though, that Lucy didn’t have to risk jumping the joker en route to heading the 153cm division.

“I really wanted to jump the joker because I thought it looked like fun, but mum told me not to and I didn’t want to get in trouble,” smiled the 18-year-old.

“I’ve evented ‘Schnapps’ in Pony Trials so I was confident he could jump a clear round and there was no point risking the joker. I messed up my line from seven to eight and I thought I might have them down, but he got me out of trouble.

“He was quite excited and loved the final gallop [in the championship] — I think he thought he was jumping again.”

Lucy plans to pass her eight year-old son of Springfield Shadow to her younger sister Allegra.