The Connolly’s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Second Round at the North Yorkshire Area Show brought together a strong field of competitors with Annabel Shields making her way into top spot. With only two qualification spots on offer for the Connolly’s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Championship Final, which will be held during this October’s Horse of the Year Show, each of the forty-three combinations had their sights set on crossing the finish line with a treble clear. The first two rounds saw competitors whittled down until twelve talented combinations were left to go head to head against the clock in the final jump off. Annabel Shields from Crook, Durham posted two consistent rounds on board Capriole II, a 10 year-old bay gelding owned by Robert Shields to secure their place in the jump off. This pair went on to jump another clear round with a turn of speed seeing them stop the clock in a unbeatable time of 41.86 seconds. Making the journey from St. Andrews in Fife, Stephen Lohoar scooped second place with his 6 year-old bay gelding, Gizmo VIII. This combination left all the fences standing to claim a treble clear in 44.49 seconds. The riders and horses that finished in third to fifth took home the chance to compete in the Connolly’s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Masters at the British Showjumping National Championships.
