Emma Slater crowned KBIS Insurance Senior British Novice Champion

Emma Slater rose to victory in the KBIS Senior British Novice Championships at the Scope Festival on Monday 30th August.

 

The class took place on the second day of the Festival with thirty starters who had all qualified at one of the twelve regional finals that took place across the country. Emma qualified two for the Championships when she took first and second place at Patchetts Equestrian Centre back in May, one of the most popular regional finals, with Cosmic Savannah and Rembrandt Blue.

 

Emma jumped confident clears with both horses in the first round of the Championships, Rembrandt Blue, a five year old grey gelding owned by David Rogers was then drawn first to jump out of the two in the jump off and produced a quick clear in 29.23 to take the early lead. Emma Sargent and Michael Fursedonn then came in the ring and produced even quicker clear rounds on Masters Pleasure and Caretino Vantarsi meaning that Emma had to pull out all of the stops to take back first place on board her second ride Cosmic Savannah. Shaving off all possible corners Emma and Savannah produced the fastest time of all to claim the title of KBIS Insurance Senior British Novice Champion.

 

Cosmic Savannah is owned by Mick Fortune who has a number of horses at Kim Barzilay’s yard in Great Missenden for whom Emma rides. Emma has recently returned to competitive riding after having a baby and it was this break in her career that meant that she was once again eligible to compete in the British Novice series after previously being ranked 62nd in the country.

 

Now six Cosmic Savannah competed in four and five year old classes but Kim admits that she didn’t think the mare had the scope to go much further, she seems however to be showing more and more promise and has just started successfully competing at foxhunter level.

 

Although the lights and atmosphere at the Festival didn’t phase Savannah’s jumping ability it seems she isn’t really one to bask in the limelight, as she didn’t particularly take to having to pose for the camera when she was presented with her prize by Sue Corrigan of KBIS – luckily Sue escape unscathed!

 

This is the second year that KBIS British Equestrian Insurance has supported the British Novice series, a series that continues to be immensely popular amongst amateur riders and is the leading competition for grass roots riders.

 

Emma Slater being presented with her prize by Sue Corrigan of KBIS

 

Sue Corrigan of KBIS with the winner Emma Slater and Cosmic Savannah