Yasmin Ingham cemented her position as Britain’s brightest rising eventing star by scoring the biggest win of her career in the CCI4*-L at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials today (19 September).
Riding Sue Davies and Janette Chin’s 10-year-old Banzai Du Loir (pictured above), 24-year-old Yasmin showjumped clear under enormous pressure to hold on to the lead she had established on day one of the competition. She didn’t add a single penalty in the jumping phases to remain on her dressage mark of 25.2.
Hear Yasmin’s reaction to her win in the video below:
“That is the most pressurised situation I have ever been in my life, and I just couldn’t be more grateful to be sat on such an incredible horse going into the final phase,” said Yasmin. “He gave me his all and tried so hard for me. This is the best day of my life!
“I knew that I had put the work in at home and I knew coming here that I had done everything that I could to try to produce my best result,” continued Yasmin.
“Everything that has gone into this horse from day one has worked up to this. This feels so special. I’m so, so happy. When I crossed the finish line, I was trying to believe what had just happened. I felt so proud of him and so pleased he is getting the recognition he deserves.
“To be here at Blenheim Palace and taking the win is something you dream of and I can’t believe it has happened to me. Now I can enjoy it! When everyone cheered, it made it feel real.”
Yasmin grew up on the Isle of Man, and moved to Cheshire to be based at Banzai Du Loir’s owners’ yard. She won individual and team gold medals at the Pony European Championships in 2013.
‘Better with every run’
Ros Canter and Michele Saul’s Lordships Graffalo finished second. The pair added just 0.4 of a time-fault in the showjumping to finish on 27.1, not even two marks behind the winners.
“I’m very proud of him — he gets better and better with every run,” said Ros. “I’m also delighted for Yasmin. She’s become quite a good friend of mine. We’ve travelled to [the French CCI5*] Pau twice together with our mothers, just having a really nice ‘family’ time.
“She deserves every inch of this — she’s a fantastic girl, so good on her.”
While Piggy French and Brookfield Quality hit one showjump to drop from third to fifth, Piggy’s protegee Susie Berry jumped clear on Helen Caton and Caroline Berry’s John The Bull to take third place.
Susie was based at Piggy’s Northamptonshire yard for several years before setting up on her own in 2020. The 25-year-old Irish rider broke her arm in April, and she admitted that she was as relieved as she was delighted to clinch her best result at CCI4* level here at Blenheim Palace.
“He is so talented that I put extra pressure on myself just for him, because he is incredible. He did each phase as well as he could, which I am so pleased about,” said an emotional Susie.
“[John The Bull] is aptly named. He’s very cocky and arrogant, but as soon as I get on board, that’s what I love about him, and that is what makes him stand out from other horses.
“He wants it and he wants to win. When he’s in the ring, he fights for me — I have had such a rubbish year but this has completely turned things around.”
View the full results here.
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