Horse & Hound picks out the young stars of the showjumping world to look out for this season
1. Spencer Roe, British (pictured, above)
Age: 22
Base: Lincolnshire
Top ride: Wonder Why, a 12-year-old gelding he’s produced himself.
Best results to date: having been a part of the winning Nations Cups team in St Gallen
in May 2014, he has helped the team to further good results thanks to his reliable clear rounds.
What’s on the cards for 2015? Expect him to be a key member of British teams under
the new leadership of Di Lampard. Could he make his second championship appearance at the Europeans in August?
What gives him the edge? Spencer enjoyed a hugely beneficial stint as stable jockey to William Funnell before setting up hism own yard. He has the same ice cool persona that has helped Scott Brash to become the world’s leading rider. But don’t let his laidback exterior fool you — he’s ultra-competitive and able to strike up a strong partnership with the horses he produces.
2. Bertram Allen, Irish
Age: 19
Base: Munster, Germany
Top ride: Molly Malone V, an 11-year-old British-bred Kannan mare.
Best results to date: the only rider to win two World Cup qualifiers in this 2014-15 season; landed the Dublin grand prix in 2014 and finished seventh individually at the World Equestrian Games later that year. Bertram is currently ranked number 14 in the world.
What’s on the cards for 2015? He’ll be making his debut in the World Cup final in Las Vegas in April and expect him to be on the Irish team at the European championshipsthis summer (19-23 August).
What gives him the edge? Mentored by Billy Twomey and Marcus Ehning, he’s the coolest teenager in the sport and remains a formidable opponent under great pressure.
3. Kerry Brennan, British
Age: 22
Base: Derbyshire
Top ride: Wellington M, 12-year-old gelding by Quidam De Revel, who she’s produced since
a four-year-old.
Best results to date: winning the under-23 British Championship at Olympia 2014. Kerry earned her first invitation to HOYS in 2014 having topped the new gold showjumping league last season.
What’s on the cards for 2015? Kerry is aiming for area trials, the new-look International Stairway series and to qualify for HOYS — plus a stint competing abroad.
What gives her the edge? Despite being a young mum to baby Oscar, Kerry is on the path to top-level success. She receives training from her BS-accredited mum, Liane Smith, and has around 40 horses, from foals upwards, at home.
4. Alfie Bradstock, British
Age: 20
Base: with Graham and Tina Fletcher in Oxfordshire.
Top ride: Caicos, a former three-star event horse with Paul Tapner.
Best results to date: he was eventing pony and junior European gold medallist before focusing on a showjumping career. Alfie was runner-up in the young rider championship at HOYS 2014, following up with the second spot again in the under-23 British Championship at Olympia 2014.
What’s on the cards for 2015? Now sponsored by KBIS, Alfie will have a crack at young rider teams and perhaps senior Nations Cups. He’ll campaign Area Trials and International Stairways on the county circuit — with a wildcard for HOYS and the young rider championship at Olympia the ultimate aim.
What gives him the edge? Grandson of the late Lord Oaksey and son of National Hunt
trainer Mark Bradstock, Alfie’s competitive instincts — refined in the fields of racing and eventing — are coming to great use in the showjumping arena. When he’s not jumping, he’s been schooling the family’s Cheltenham Festival fancy Conegree over fences.
Continued below…
7 exciting young event riders to take note of this season
H&H picks out the under-25s to take note of this season
5. Jessica Mendoza, British
Age:18
Base: Eindhoven, Holland
Top ride: Spirit T, a 14-year-old Tornado mare.
Best results to date: dual team European gold medallist in a phenomenal career on ponies, team gold and individual bronze at the junior Europeans in 2014, plus a ninth-place finish in her first World Cup qualifier last month.
What’s on the cards for 2015? Jessica hopes to remain competitive at top international shows and has her eye on Nations Cup team selection.
What gives her the edge? A demon against the clock who is currently benefiting from being based in central Europe.
6. Constant Van Paesschen, Belgian
Age: 20
Base: near Brussels, Belgium
Top ride: Citizenguard Toscan De SainteHermelle, 12-year-old grey stallion.
Best results to date: Constant has won the Belgian schools, junior and young rider championships and team silver and individual bronze medalist at the children’s European
championships in 2006, as well as third in the Global Champions Tour (GCT) grand prix of Antwerp.
What’s on the cards for 2015? He’ll be back on the GCT circuit and bidding for a
place in the Belgian team for the European championships.
What gives him the edge? Bring the son of Olympic showjumper Stanny van Paesschen, he’s been in the saddle all his life. Like many riders on the European circuit, he’s moved into the senior ranks at an early age and this is proving a great education as his successes become more high profile.
