Jebson is targeting National glory at Aintree

Jebson was one of two Yorkshire riders to secure victory at the British Showjumping Dodson & Horrell National Amateur Second Round hosted by Northcote Stud in Blackburn.

One month after Staintondale 16-year-old Lucy Gilsenan triumphed at Holmside Equestrian, Whitby 16-year-old Estella Harrowing also experienced glory.

And Jebson, 22, was within touching distance of a memorable double riding her own six-year-old chestnut gelding Pepperdan.

The Law graduate carried all before her in the competition’s 1.05m competition, booking one of the two qualifying spots for the Dodson & Horrell National Amateur Championships at Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool from November 19-23.

Victory appeared in the offing in the 1.10m competition but for Jebson and Pepperdan agonisingly putting the final fence down.

The 1.05m victors subsequently finished third in the higher class with the fastest time but there is no hiding the Holmfirth star’s joy at her 1.05m victory – or the motivation to go all the way in the Liverpool finals.

“I was thrilled with the win after we had just given Pepperdan a month off so he came back really well,” Jebson told The Yorkshire Post.

“He’s only a six-year-old but he’s very smart and loves his jumping, he steps up to everything I ask of him and currently competes at foxhunter level.

“Hopefully we should be in with a good chance at Liverpool as he’s very consistent and quick across the ground with a level head, so I’m looking forward to it.

“We were unlucky in the 1.10 qualifier to miss out on the double win having the last fence down so hopefully we’ll be able to rectify that at Aintree.”

Jebson will be joined at Aintree by both Gilsenan and Harrowing with the latter securing the 0.95cm Blackburn competition on her mother Wendy’s seven-year-old piebald gelding Dereks Choice. Twenty-seven competitors took part in her class with 19 combinations producing a first- round clear.

Thirteen double clears were eventually produced, but with just 12 direct qualifying places available, the clock proved to be absolutely pivotal in deciding the allocation of the qualification.

Having been drawn fifth to go in the jump-off, Harrowing and Dereks Choice set the pace early on after producing their double clear in 35.03 seconds which was to prove unbeatable.

Harrowing will be joined at the Merseyside nationals by another 16-year-old Yorkshire star in Staintondale ace Gilsenan.

Gilsenan is heading for the 85cm final having booked her place with victory in the 85cm British Showjumping National Amateurs second round at Holmside Equestrian in County Durham.

The teen ace followed that win with another victory in the 1.10m class at the Cashjumping National Finals at Netley Hall in Shropshire.

2014 has been quite a year for Staintondale who dominated the David Broome Junior Showjumping championships held over the August Bank Holiday Weekend, bringing home three gold medals and one silver.

Gilsenan made the seven-hour journey to South Wales with two horses, Qui Qui and Ballybane Tulira, plus pony Maddy.

Qualifiers were held at venues throughout the country with Gilsenan qualifying all three of her rides at Port Royal Equestrian Centre, Holme on Spalding Moor.

As part of a wonderful weekend in Wales, Gilsenan partnered Ballybane Tulira, her 15hh bay gelding, who has only recently returned to competition following an injury, jumping two exceptionally fast double clear rounds to take the gold medal in the 2’9 horse class. They also took the silver medal in the 3’ horse/pony class.

On board Maddy, a 13.2hh grey mare, the 16-year-old star took the gold medal in the 2’9 open pony class, beating off a class of 65 competitors.

Qui Qui, Lucy’s third ride, a 10-year-old chestnut mare, made it a golden hat-trick when she secured the 3’3 class with a super double clear round in horribly wet conditions.

Gilsenan beamed: “My horses were all amazing and exceeded all expectations. My thanks go to Sylvia Terry, my trainer, who has helped me tremendously over the last two years.”

The teen star’s mum Sue added: “As parents we are really proud of Lucy. She works really hard, putting in many hours of training between competitions.

“With Sylvia Terry’s help and tuition, I am sure there will be more successes to come.”