My Blue Chip Champs Experience with pics and vids highs and lows

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claire_p2001

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This might turn out long so I appologise now but it will be packed full of pics and vids :) Firstly I love the Blue Chip Champs it is so well organised, the classes were huge but it all ran very smoothly and the courses were great. It was a really great opportunity to ride courses built by Bob Ellis, they were strong and technical with lots of questions and I was so proud of how Jack coped with them. The competition was super was some really fast combinations and was great viewing and some really super riding. Top of the list has to be Kerry Brennan with Wellington M who took 2 championship titles and Emma Jo Slater who competed 10 horses thoughout the week taking a few titles.

So on to me and Jack :) On the 1st day we jumped in the 1.15 outside as a warm up he was certainly feeling fresh he jumped round well but a bit strong so we turned a circle half way through I wanted to make sure we were under control for the rest of the week! In the evening we jumped in the 1.20 speed class indoors, he warmed up super calm so I felt much happier. The course was a brilliant test with lots of inside turns with a few gallops, I thought it suited us so decided to give it a go :) We were drawn 62/102!! Well he was amazing i asked he answered every question, he was on the button and we flew through the finish line and in to 4th place I was so over the moon everything felt like it came together :) We ended up in 6th place in such a strong class I couldn't believe it here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWoFeyRtBHw

Next day I had both my finals the Star and Karma, I realy felt like we could be in with a chance in the Star as he is a fast horse and felt on good form. Walked the course and it was tough, now I wasn't feeling so confident! But Jack was feeling great and jumped a super clear round again I couldn't stop grinning :D Here is 1st round video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPAiAQfnZ3c

I was drawn 11th in the JO I watched a couple go the crucial turn was to the last double inside number 1, I knew someone had pulled it off so if i was to be in with a chance I had to go for it. I rode in and thought it was tight but on, he flew round that course and was going clear I went to turn inside and he locked on to the wrong jump i went to puill him out but it was too late I ended up on the floor and Jack was stnading looking at me :( I was so gutted as we were so close I think if we had made it we would have been in the top 3! Here is the amusing video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR_on0jehRw

I'm feeling fine about it now, it is just one of those things if you are trying to win mistakes happen. I took him in the Karma final which was 1m25 and very technical he jumped great had 2 down but I was so pleased that the morning hadn't affected him.

So on to the final day, I entered the 1.15 Q outdoors it was 2phase and I was 50th/97 to go, there was 1 insdie turn but I decided not to try it after yesterday and have a confident round. Again Jack didn't disappoint jumped DC for 3rd place :) Here is the video and a few pics (taken by my dad who is not a professional and I have full permission to post):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pF2jq_CYTI
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This qualified us for the 1.15 final on the same day my sister also qualified so we decided to jump it. The course was set, 25 entries which were all a really high standard I was 3rd to go and jumped clear :) video here and a few pics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BharuZpziII
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There were 14 though to the JO I was 2nd in so had to go for it. I tried to take a stride out to a skinny wall and just didnt get there he chipped in and had it down in style :( poor pony, I was kicking myself after I should have just gone on 6 like everyone else there were only 4 clears in the JO i ended up 9th as i really slowed up after having the fence thinking I would be out of it! Here are a couple of pics from the JO!!
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By now it was 6pm we had to be out of our stables and on the road home, ended up back in bed by midnight and have just about recovered. I had the best time and Jack was just amazing i'm so proud of what we have achieved and we were so close in the final if only I had hung on!!

Thanks for reading :D
 
Hey firstly a massive well done!! The courses were def up to height and very technical especially in the main ring! I saw you in the Star jump off, such a shame, i didnt realise it was you at the time but remember feeling so sorry for you :(

It was a fab show again wasnt it and it certainly tested a lot of horses and rider which is how it should be :)
 
Thanks Escada - so many people came up to me after and said they felt sorry for me! When I was hanging on the people next to the ring were shouting noooooooo :( At least we were both fine and on another day we would have made it hehe.

Thanks Measles he is belgium x selle francais by Exploit du Roulard he is such a lovely horse and has a great character and well as a fab jump i'm very lucky :) Onwards and upwards from here can't wait for another away show now!!
 
I saw your placing on the website so have been looking forward to seeing your report! Well done - he looks awesome as always! x
 
claire_p2001 said:
Thanks Escada - so many people came up to me after and said they felt sorry for me! When I was hanging on the people next to the ring were shouting noooooooo :( At least we were both fine and on another day we would have made it hehe.

Thanks Measles he is belgium x selle francais by Exploit du Roulard he is such a lovely horse and has a great character and well as a fab jump i'm very lucky :) Onwards and upwards from here can't wait for another away show now!!
Click to expand...

I was one of those right by the ring souting noooooo! Such a shame! But lots more good shows to look forward to :)
 
Fantastic report, and fantastic results! Shame about the JO mishap, but it happens to the best, and I think the other results more than make up for it!! :D
 
Well done! what a fab show for you :) Ok so the jo may not have quite gone to plan but you still rode fab and your boy is awesome :D
 
Well done you! Looking brilliant again. So unfortunate in the Star but as you say these things happen if you're trying! I really admire your attitude and the way you just dust yourself off and get on with it and go and have a great result the next day!
 
Unfortunate about the star jump off but I saw you warming up for the 115 and watched your 120 round on day one so have been waiting for this report!
Well done, Pictures are lovely, and Jack looked super smart in the flesh.
How did your sister get on? I guessed who she was on the ground but wouldn't have known who she was on a horse.
 
Thanks all :) Its easy to smile about it now I wasn't so cheery straight after but it was just not meant to be this year, i'm really pleased he came out and jumped well the next day.

SJ Filly - Thanks glad you liked him :) I wasn't happy with the 1.15 on the 1st day but he jumped so well in the 1.20 sometimes you have to suffer a bad round to get the nice one! My sister did really well she has only been riding the horse for a few months, she had a DC on the 2nd day but wasn't fast enough, but the jumped DC on the last day for 8th and came 4th in the 1.15 final :) Here are the two boys together just cos they look cute!!

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Big well done :) I really missed going this year. Wanted to go and watch the grand prix but couldn't get there in the end. Typically my mate won it when I wasn't there to cheer him on lol. Can't wait to get my pony back!!!!
 
I always think it's better to be kicking yourself for having tried to be successful, even if it doesn't always work out. Well done to you for getting yourself and him back together to do so well the following day.

Love the pic of you and your sister!
 
Some real highs and lows! What a lovely horse and you both make it look pretty easy!
 
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