Hughes steps up

Phoebe Hughes clinches the junior two-star, while the jumping phases prove tough in the pony championship

- HELEN SCOTT

Belsay, Northumberland

PHOEBE HUGHES held her nerve to lift the trophy in the Womble Bond Dickinson junior CCI2*-L. She finished on her first-phase score with George Brooks’ Fabris, with British pony medallist Ibble Watson nipping at her heels in every phase.

Phoebe went into the showjumping with just over a fence in hand over Ibble on Aristoteles S Z (Ace) and delivered a self-assured clear round.

“I feel we’ve really stepped up this season as a partnership,” said Phoebe, who is based in Hector Payne’s yard. “When I walked the cross-country, I knew it wasn’t going to be a dressage competition. There were plenty of questions at every stage, but Fabris gave me a superb ride.

“I’ve got such huge support and it’s been a team effort to get us to this position. Hector’s girlfriend Yaz Sanderson grooms for me and is my eyes on the ground.”

Phoebe’s other ride, Top Biats, who was lying third after dressage, clocked up 40 penalties after a brake failure in the first water complex.

The leaderboard going into cross-country was dominated by Phoebe and Ibble, whose other ride Candito lay second after dressage, with Aristoteles fourth.

“Candito was eliminated after he turned spooky, especially round the shoulder brush in the woods, but Ace was on it and made it feel easy,” said Ibble, who has evented the Arko III gelding for just over two seasons. “Ace show-jumped until he was eight and we converted him. I think he’ll go far.”