Former youth stars show their mettle

Former junior and pony luminaries steal the show at three-star, while a five-star horse bounces back with a perfect Luhmühlen prep run

- JULIE HARDING

RIDERS who once experienced the pizzazz of collecting titles and medals early on in their careers showed their class once again and enjoyed a stranglehold on both three-star classes at this popular West Country fixture.

Former pony European champion Finn Healy, 18, became British young rider national champion after leading the Chatham young rider CCI3*-L from pillar to post aboard the 17hh bay mare Treamble (Amble). He secured the £1,000 first prize in part thanks to leaving every one of the 11 showjumps in their cups despite a heart-stopping moment in the treble.

“She jumped in too positively and made up too much distance,” Finn said of the moment that left even members of the early morning crowd – the reverse-order final phase for this class kicked off at 10am – shouting “whoa”.

“The showjumping used to be her weaker phase, but she’s getting better and I’ve had help from Alan Fazakerley.”

Derbyshire-based Finn described Helen West’s hilly 22-fence cross-country course as “very tough, but we didn’t have any blips. Amble was cool the whole way round”.

Finn is currently on a gap year before he heads to the University of Manchester to study history.

“I’ll always work with horses, but my degree is my back-up plan,” he said, going on to explain that the horse’s owner Amy Hawley had once phoned him out of the blue after seeing him in action, offering him the ride on a showjumper, with the arrangement eventually leading to him taking on Treamble, a Grafenstolz offspring.

“Amble’s based with Amy, but I drive to her place a few times a week to ride,” said Finn.

Barnie Brotherton’s mount DHI King Nelson exceeded the former Bicton three-star winner’s expectations.