Leading from the beginning, 12-year-old Tabitha Kyle won the first class of the day in the Andrews Bowen International Arena to take the title in the Hilton Garden Inn 128cm Championship. The schoolgirl from Leicestershire showed experience beyond her years as she navigated her way around the jump off at lightning speed aboard nine-year-old grey mare, Corey's Princess. Setting the time to beat at 31.03 seconds Tabitha could do no more. The other five riders who followed, produced some fabulous rounds, but couldn’t do enough to catch her.
A special young talent, this is Tabitha’s third year competing at Horse of the Year Show and her last year on 128cm ponies, but she finally secures her first win. Having qualified nine ponies for five Championships at HOYS this week, the future is bright for this talented young jockey. Tabitha spoke of her win: “It feels really good to finally get my first win at HOYS. My pony did everything she could in there; she’s really good at galloping between fences and then coming back to me for the fence. I’ve been riding her for four years so we know each other really well. I don’t really get nervous, I just try and treat every round like any other. It felt odd going first, I usually like to go somewhere in the middle, but I put the pressure on the rest and had to just hope for the best.”
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In a week when the British Showjumping Team brought home a European Bronze Medal and the much awaited qualification to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, 12 year old Tabitha is dreaming that one day she will be part of the British Olympic Team like her Wymeswold neighbour and friend Holly Smith.
Fresh from Tabitha being crowned National 138cm Champion at the British National Championships, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire last week she travelled North to Southview Equestrian Centre for The Scope Festival of Showjumping. Qualification for the 6 day Festival happens all over the UK, throughout the year for horses and ponies bringing together the best of the best to battle it out for supremacy. True to form Tabitha won the Scope festival 128cm and 138cm Championships riding Corey’s Princess and Playboy Van De Zoetewei respectively. In addition to winning the Graham Heath 128cm and 138cm Championships on Living the Dream owned by Nicky Creasey and Lisduff Royal respectively. Demonstrating her consistency this year in total at Scope she won 11 different classes and picked up an additional 9 other podium spots. A beaming Tabitha said “I cannot believe how lucky I am to have such amazing ponies, owners and sponsors, along with the help from my grooms and parents that make this all possible.” After a hugely successful summer competing, it’s back to school next week for 12 year old Tabitha and preparation for the Horse of the Year Show at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham in October, where she has qualified ponies to compete for the coveted 128cm, 138cm and Pony Showjumper of the Year titles. Fresh from her success in The Netherlands for GBR Team Naf Children on Horses, Tabitha headed north with her ponies, this time to the Harbro Scottish Home Pony. From 18th July to 21st July the Scottish National Equestrian Centre hosted individuals and teams from Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland all competing for the top honours and the elusive Horse of the Year Show qualifications.
Qualifying for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show at the NEC in October is at the top of every equestrians list.Tabitha not only won Leading Rider but qualified 3 more of her ponies for HOYS, Mister Proper, Orchids Vienna and Nightgirl Van Het Sonnisshof Z bringing her tally to 8 HOYS tickets With barely time to stop off home in Wymeswold she is on route from Scotland to Sussex to compete at The Longines Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, in the hope of lifting one of the Championship trophies at this illustrious show ground. Tiny Tabitha Triumphs! Bringing a European Bronze medal home to Wymeswold
Petite, 12 year old Tabitha Kyle arrived home this week triumphantly, with a Bronze medal from the Children on Horses European Championships in Zuidwolde, Netherlands and narrowly missed out on making it a double by placing 5th in the individual. Tabitha was the smallest member of the team jumping on the biggest horse, at around 148cm in height, she could barely see over the fences she took on with her huge 17.2hh horse. Talking about her big beast named Bart, Tabitha said, “He flies over the fences like a bird, he is kind and really looks after me in these big competitions. I am very lucky to ride him! I really was an incredible feeling to stand on the podium with my teammates." As part of GBR Team NAF Children on Horses, Tabitha already had two clear rounds under her belt and was determined to deliver a third clear to maintain a clean sheet. Belying her young age and being the pathfinder for GB, she jumped with great accuracy and maturity to duly deliver that much desired third clear, helping Britain finish in the bronze medal position. Under the guidance of Chef d'Equipe Clare Whitaker, the whole team of five girls, Tabitha Kyle (12), Amelie Gachoud (14), Chloe Lemieux (13), Aimee Jones (14) and Phoebe Farman (13) fought hard to finish on the podium and were the only British team to come home with a medal from the Europeans. Tabitha and Grennanstown Sarco Luxhill also finished 5th in the individual medals. She was the highest placed British rider and just missed out on a podium spot by one pole. Glennanstown Sarco Lux Hill who is called Bart in his stable is an Irish bred, 9 year old gelding, loaned by International show jumper and neighbour Holly Smith and owned by Gordon and Sue Hall. Parents, Mark and Tanya Kyle who are based at Queenholme Equestrian have an illustrious eventing career behind them, Mark represented Ireland in the 2004, 2012, and 2016 Olympics for eventing. |
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