PERSHORE-based Bryan Smith has secured a ticket to the national Blue Chip Show Jumping Championships after going well at a qualifier in South Gloucestershire.

The Irish show jumper, who has been in Britain for some years, was one of more than 40 starters in an Elevatore Discovery qualifier staged at Rockhampton arena.

His partner was Sophie Hooper's horse Mr Diablo and the pair jumped clear in the first round to join 24 horses in a highly competitive timed jump-off.

"I had an early draw against the clock and had no choice but to go full pace in what was quite a hot class," said Smith.

"The final round course was bigger than usual at this level and some riders felt it was the biggest track they'd seen for a Discovery qualifier. Mr Diablo again went clear on what was his first ever show indoors, to finish third."

This proved good enough to gain one of eight tickets on offer to the final, due to be staged at next April's Blue Chip Championships in Solihull.

The pair also went well at a British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) competition at Solihull Riding Club recently, finishing second in a 1.10m class.

Smith added: "There were 35 to 40 good horses in the class and it went up to 1.20m in the jump-off.

"I was using it as a warm-up for the Blue Chip finals. Mr Diablo hasn't had a lot of experience, as he was left out in a field until he was seven, so needs to get out a bit."

Smith has just returned from a trip to Miami and China, where he was working for an engineering company, so the horse had been having a rest prior to the qualifier.

Work

"I'm now planning to do a few more Blue Chip qualifiers early next year and possibly move Mr Diablo up to Foxhunter level," Bryan said.

"Sophie (Hooper), who owns the horse, has to do the hard work on the horse at home."

Malvern-based Hooper rode her own four-year-old bay Dark Master at Rockhampton and the pair took fourth spot in the Small A4 Open, a speed class.

"This horse will be up for sale soon and will probably go eventing, although he'd also make a great show jumper," Smith concluded.

"I'm banned from riding him as I take him too fast!"