Fiona Hobby, riding 11-year-old Royal Colours (right), won the Lincoln JumpCross Eventer’s Challenge on 26 June at Grange Farm Wittering, taking home £3,000.
For the fourth year running the challenge offered the biggest prize in JumpCross, with a prize-fund of £8,500 and prizes to sixth place.
The event continued to attract stars such as Oliver Towend, Piggy French and Clayton Fredericks.
JumpCross involves cross-country style riding over obstacles such as water and combinations, but all the fences can be knocked down, incurring a 20sec time-penalty. Refusals carried a 50sec penalty and riders could add or deduct 40sec from their score depending on whether they cleared the joker fence.
The riders competed in timed rounds in the morning and afternoon. Scores from the two rounds were then combined, determining the winners.
Mark Kyle had won the event for the previous two years, so Fiona was delighted with first this year.
She said: “It was a great competition and a wonderful day. The prize-money is excellent and I couldn’t be more pleased. Royal Colours is a careful horse and loved the track, JumpCross is a brilliant sport.”
Oliver Towend riding Pepper Anne (left) finished second, claiming £2,250.
JumpCross regular Oliver said: “The course provided a great opportunity to tackle a number of water crossings and was very well thought out. Pepper Anne went really well and it was a great day all round.”
Zoe Adams riding Satonamillion took third place and £1,500, improving on fourth last year. This horse recently contested the Hickstead speed derby.
The JumpCross young riders challenge was also part of the event, with £1,000 worth of prizes. Young riders all over the country had qualified for the event, with Rachel Dinwoodie riding Ringwood Abi claiming first.
Rachel said: “To win the £350 first prize was just amazing and I would like to thank the organisers for putting on such a brilliant competition.”
Rachel went on the win the team challenge when her score was combined with that of Eventer Challenge contestant Daniel Delsart.
Jim Bowen, managing director of sponsor Battles, concluded: “The Lincoln JumpCross Eventer’s Challenge was a fantastic day and we are really pleased to be able to give something back to our customers. This is our fourth year supporting the event and we look forward to it being an annual event.”
