Following two successful training days, where 30% of attendees were new to the sport of JumpCross, the first competition of the season took place on Easter Monday at Grange Farm, Wittering, Cambridgeshire. Spectators enjoyed good, sunny weather and superb views of the entire, completely redesigned track, which took competitors over the recently launched, unique fences.

After every first Team member had competed the Badminton Horse Feeds supported Senior Group 3 competition, the leading team was De Gale Force with Sasha De Gale and Paprika putting in a foot perfect round and claiming back time by jumping all the joker fences clear.

Penalties were picked up around the course, with the “bogey” fence appearing to be a narrow fence following a downward hill section of the course. However, after the completion of the second Team members, GSS Architecture’s riders, Charlotte Dunlop and Julia Crowson, who had been handily placed after the first riders had completed, rose to claim the winners slot. New JumpCross sponsors, Equissage, with Team Equissage riders, Tim and Lottie Smith-Bingham took second place. The De Gale Force Team claimed third place.

The Junior Group 3 competition, which was run over the same course, proved to be another success for the proven JumpCross partnership of Ben Scott and Tamsyn Iveson – The Mud Inspectors. The newly formed partnership of Felicity Brown and Gemma Redrup, Novaris Novices, took second place with third place going to Jamie Goss and Fiona Jordan - Cropthorne Crackers.

19 Teams lined up for the Equissage supported Group 2 Seniors, which was run over a heightened course of 21. Fences. Past experience of JumpCross and its unique challenges proved useful for Queenholme.com’s first rider, Mark Kyle, who was in pole position after all the first horses and riders had run. Riders incurred penalties around the course, with careful riding required over the narrow fence. However, by jumping out of a rhythm and taking on joker fences to reduce their time, Queenholme.com – Mark Kyle and Tanya Liddle, retained their advantage and took first place and indeed second place with Team Tallyho. The Stamford Stoned Team of Julia Crowson and Sasha DeGale, claimed third place.

Tackling the same course as the Senior riders, the Group 2 Junior section was a competitive one with Rude Riders taking first place,The Cropthorne Crackers II in second and Only Fools and Horses in third place.

The final competition of the day was for the National Farmers Union supported Minis section. Riders and their ponies took on their own course of knock-down fences over the rolling terrain. The newly formed partnership of Edward Brown and Stephanie Hunter – The Funky Flyers - proved to be too strong for their opposition and they claimed first place with Mighty Minis in second and The Groovy Gallopers in third places. Many thanks to Musto Ltd for their valuable and constant support.

Competitors and spectators, alike, enjoyed a full and fun-packed day at Grange Farm, Wittering. For further information on JumpCross and its unique challenges, please contact Robin Dunlop on 01780 782356