THE National Senior Riders Championship sponsored by Whittaker Coachbuilders at the Plevin British Showjumping SCOPE Festival proved to be a highly competitive class.

The Whittaker Coachbuilders National Senior Riders Championship is open to riders aged 45 and over, and those outside the top 100 in the rankings list.

The final proved to be a hard fought one with horses and riders giving it their all for the prestigious title. With just 12 making it through to the next round, the jump off proved testing.

Rosemary Tillson and Florgy were the first pair to set the pace with the first of just three clear rounds.

Norman Proffitt from Cannock, Staffordshire had two rides through to the jump off, and was first to go on Audrey Evans’ bay 12-year-old gelding Patent. The pair set a cracking pace only to finish with one fence down.

But it was his second ride Valentino XIV, owned by Carron Nicol, which proved to be the unbeatable combination shaving a fraction of a second off the time already set by Rosemary.

In an extremely close final Norman took the title on Valentino XIV and picked up fourth place with Patent. Rosemary Tillson and Florgy took second place with Alan Barry and Alexander Li in third.

Said Jayne Whittaker: “The Whittaker Coachbuiloders National Senior Riders Championship was a thrilling class to watch. The top three combinations were only a fraction of a second a part, the prize could have been anyone’s.

“We are very proud to have sponsored the National Senior Riders Championships and supporting the class is our way of putting something back into the sport.”
For further information contact Whittaker Coachbuilders on 01777 839086 or visit www.whittakers.com