Irish event rider Mark Kyle won the Lincoln JumpCross Eventer’s Challenge at Grange Farm, Wittering, on Tuesday, 21 June.
Riding his World Equestrian Games horse Step In Time II, Mark (right) headed the class for the second year running, taking home the £3,000 first prize.
This was the third year this challenge has taken place and it offers the biggest prize in JumpCross, with a total prize-fund of £8,500. Angus Smales won it in its inaugural year in 2009.
In JumpCross, horse and rider do a timed round across the country, tackling obstacles such as water as in traditional cross-country riding, but all the fences can be knocked down. Riders receive a 20sec penalty for each fence down and 50sec for a refusal.
At the end of the course is a joker fence, about 6in higher than the rest, and riders can choose whether to take this on or not. Those who clear it have 40sec taken off their time, but anyone knocking it down has 40sec added.
This was a two-round competition, with scores from both rounds contributing to the riders’ final placing.
Mark said: “It was a great competition and a wonderful day. Having won last year it was brilliant that we were able to repeat our success and take home the excellent prize-money.
“I really enjoyed the event, the course was well designed and Step In Time is an excellent jumper so this type of competition really suits him.”
Jo Chipperfield, riding Judy Curtis’s 10-year-old grade B showjumper On Your Marks (left), finished second after two clear rounds. This was Jo’s third year competing at the Lincoln JumpCross Challenge.
Jeanette Brakewell and the 10-year-old chestnut gelding Hope Cove (right), owned by Liz Golby, put in a good performance to finish third.
Robin Dunlop of JumpCross said: “The Lincoln JumpCross Eventer’s Challenge is now well established in the calendar. It was a great day, with top class competition and we are very grateful for the support from Lincoln.”
Throughout the day money was raised for Macmillan Cancer Support and, thanks to a well-supported raffle and auction, £2,000 was raised.
Jim Bowen (left with Mark Kyle), managing director of sponsor Battles, who own the Lincoln range, said: “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 third year supporting the event and we look forward to it being an annual event.”
