‘He'll jump the moon'

Henry Squibb lands the feature class with Kilcurry Dawn as huge fields of young jockeys emerge from lockdown in flying form

- SUZANNE JONES

Winter Pony Championship, South View, Cheshire

HENRY SQUIBB kept a cool head and used the power and scope of Kilcurry Dawn to land the prestigious Charles Britton Equestrian Construction Winter JA classic.

“The key is to keep him confident, he’ll jump the moon if he’s happy,” said the on-form Henry, winner of the previous day’s 1.25m and the only rider with two in the jump-off.

Course-designer Gillian Milner’s 13-fence test questioned rideability, scope, carefulness, and nerve for the 25 riders forward. An early skinny stile and the combination proved problematic.

Only four found all the answers. Rachel Proudley dismissed her fall from The Bobster late in round one to come back fighting in the jump-off on Charlotte Shore’s Robin Hood Lad to provide a sensible clear over the now sizeable track.

“I was first in, had to be sharp and concentrate, the jump-off was beefy but the bigger they get, the more consistent he is,” she said.

Her lead was short-lived. Henry played every tip from John Renwick’s advice to wipe an incredible six seconds off the time on the Westside Mirah 13-year-old stallion known as Choco.

“Lockdown has actually helped me; I’ve been focusing on my riding instead of a show every weekend. My other pony Casino Royale has helped me enormously with confidence as he knows everything, and I train with John twice a week,” explained Henry, 14, also fourth on second ride Clyde Barrows, the current newcomers champion, behind third-placed Tabitha Kyle’s Atomic Du Bary.