Shields scores a Yorkshire hat-trick

A rider clocks three wins on three rides and riders battle the weather for a thrilling result

- MARGARET SHAW

WITH one of the most daring winning rounds, Annabel Shields became only the fourth lady rider to claim the Cock O’The North championship.

The competition went to the wire over three rounds and riding Hamilton Sport Horses’ Creevagh Carisma, Annabel was the first to go each time.

“This is a competition every rider wants to win and having watched over the years, I never thought I would be competing in it, let alone win.

“This mare is brave and scopey; she works with me and always goes well in this ring,” said Annabel.

Course-designer Jason Abbs made use of the full ring and when six came through to the third round with the traditional Yorkshire planks and double of walls, it was game on. Annabel produced a flying round to set what proved to be an impossible target in 40.04sec.

Hardly daring to take a pull over the full length of the course, Creevagh Carisma answered every call and the 13-year-old mare never looked like faulting from the first fence in the first round to the last fence in the third round.

“This was one of those competitions where we had a stride to every fence. We made up time everywhere and ‘Chloe’ delivered,” said Annabel, who has produced the mare through her novice grades.

“I don’t normally like going early, but I did what I knew we could do, and I don’t think we could have done any more if I had been chasing someone.”