Healey in mix for national title
Shropshire showjumper Cheryl Healey has qualified for a national championship final with victory on relative home soil.
Healey, from Shifnal, struck gold in the Dodson & Horrell 1.05m National Amateur Championship second round at Tushingham Arena in Whitchurch, Shropshire
Each of the 30 starters had hoped to claim one of the 12 direct qualifying places on offer for the Dodson & Horrell National Amateur Championships finals, which will take place at Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool in November.
Following a competitive first round, spectators were treated to a 12-horse jump-off and with seven horses going on to jump a double clear, with all eyes were trained on the clock to see who had gained the fastest time.
Healey, who had been drawn eighth to go in the jump-off, produced a double clear in 36.85 seconds to take the win on her own 14-year-old bay mare Anna CI.
Second place was taken by Ceri Chapman from Welshpool, Powys, on her own nine-year-old bay mare Dellrose Rosie. A double clear from them in 38.93 seconds ensured that they had done enough for a place inside the top two.
Jenna Cairns from Macclesfield, Cheshire, finished in third with her mother Louise's 12-year-old grey mare Wonderful III after securing a double clear in 42.13 seconds. Nine further riders also went on to achieve their qualification for the final.
