This Is Guernsey

UK-based Charlotte Baines, far left, joined (left to right) Donna Smith, Jenny Winfindale and Charlotte Breban in the Guernsey team. (0571757)

A TEAM of local showjumpers excelled themselves when they travelled to the UNEX Towerlands Arena in Essex to take part in this year’s Amateur Inter-Nations Championships.

The annual event attracts competitors from throughout the UK and Ireland, with the highlight of three days of competition being the Inter-Nations Team Cup.

Competing in the famous Towerlands indoor area over tracks built by David Cole, Donna Smith, Charlotte Breban and Jenny Winfindale were joined by UK-based Charlotte Baines to fly the Guernsey flag.

Jumping against four English and two Irish teams, the Sarnians and their mounts rose to the occasion.

With each rider having completed two rounds, Guernsey were joint first, with one team from each of England and Ireland.

With a single rider taking part in the jump-off, Marguerite Ryan set a blistering pace for Ireland with a time of 33.38sec.

Terry Gosling for the English followed, cutting just 0.02sec. off the Irish time to jump clear in 33.36.

Despite a valiant effort, Guernsey rider Breban made it home in 36.39, securing third place for the Sarnians from the seven competing teams.

Given this was the first time the Guernsey team had competed at an indoor venue, they were thrilled with the result.

With classes comprising 120 riders, all the Sarnian competitors recorded double clear rounds and performed well against strong competition.

Special mention should, however, go to go to Breban and her mount, Papillon III, who followed a fourth place in the small tour accumulator with joker with a third in the prestigious grand prix on the final day of jumping.