All creatures great and small compete in JAS Championships

British Eventing’s JAS Championships took place at the weekend, with over 250 combinations competing for top prizes.

High standard

This popular indoor eventing series provides pre-season competition, during January and February, for both British Eventing members and non-members.

JAS stands for Jumping & Style, and horse and rider are judged on style as well as technique, as they compete over showjumps and simulated cross-country fences. The mark is then converted into penalty points and added to any jumping penalties for the final score.

The prestigious finals culminated at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire. As always, there was a high standard of competition, but what particularly impressed this year was the young age of many of the competitors. It certainly bodes well for the future of eventing.

Rudall’s Round-Up

Horse & Country was there filming all the action, for the next episode of Rudall’s Round-Up on 6 March.

The BE90 Championship was won by 17-year-old Flora Insley on Doire Mhianaigh Rocky, who were given a style score of just seven penalties. Flora revealed the secret to her success at JAS: “You just have to keep up a nice rhythm and keep moving,”

“I am really pleased, he jumped beautifully,” Flora continued. “I’ve had him from four, he’s six now and he’s only 14.1hh, but I hope to do BE Novice this season.”

‘Go for it!’

Jenna Good, 14, and Trewithian Hawkeweed enjoyed a successful weekend at Hartpury. They added the BE90 Open JAS Championship to their runner-up prize in the Jump Training 100, the day before. Jenna and her own eight-year-old gelding finished on their style score of seven penalties, which was five penalties ahead of the competition.

“The plan was to go for it!” said Jenna. “He’s very well behaved and Mum said to just stay positive and kick. The winter series are really fun.”

The BE100 Championship was won by Izzy Hall, aged just 13, and her pint-sized skewbald pony Uncle Monty. They gained a total of 12 penalties – 10 for style and two time penalties on the cross-country. The pair also came third in the BE90.

Tricky by name

Both the BE100 Open and Novice Championships were won by Natalie McGoldrick, on her own Tricky Johnie. Tricky by name, but definitely not by nature, the 10-year-old gelding and Natalie achieved an incredible style score of four in the Novice. In the 100 they were awarded an eight.

The final class of the day was the Novice Open, which went to 32-year-old Laura Walkden and Cointreau WV. Despite one time penalty in the cross-country, the 10-year-old gelding impressed the judges to clinch the title on a total score of 15.

You can watch highlights of this exciting competition in Rudall’s Round-Up: JAS Finals, when it premieres on Sky 253 on 6 March at 8.30pm. Don’t worry if you don’t have Sky, as you can also watch online by subscribing to H&C Play.