Melton horse and rider storm to victory at national finals qualifier

Melton rider John Steels booked his place at the KBIS Insurance Senior British Novice Championship Final with a fine jump-off victory.
John Steels and Lacoste storm to victory in Oxford. Picture: Alison Parker Photography EMN-160531-190235002John Steels and Lacoste storm to victory in Oxford. Picture: Alison Parker Photography EMN-160531-190235002
John Steels and Lacoste storm to victory in Oxford. Picture: Alison Parker Photography EMN-160531-190235002

Steels and his own five-year-old bay gelding, Lacoste, won the second round of the KBIS Insurance Senior British Novice at Cherwell Competition Centre, in Oxford.

A strong entry of 93 were all aiming to complete a treble clear to book their qualification place for the final which will form part of the British Showjumping National Championships.

An impressive 18 combinations reached the final jump-off, where 13 talented riders held their nerve to produce a treble clear, meaning it was down to the clock to decide the leaderboard.

The Melton combination produced an unfaltering high-speed round, completing the jump-off in an unbeatable time of 40.52 seconds to win.

Somerby’s Isaack Koshy finished third on Zarosh Bharucha’s nine-year-old bay gelding, Equs Captain Morgan, in a time of 41.24 seconds.

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