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Team Thompson

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Team Thompson Showjumping

The ALX Major Showjumping Championships at Arena UK brought together some of the country’s most talented combinations for a week of testing courses, electric crowds, and high-stakes competition. For Annie Thompson and her talented mare Julia B, the championship was a true test of partnership — showcasing moments of brilliance, lessons learned, and unwavering determination.

The week opened perfectly for Annie and Julia B in the 1.00 m class, where they produced a superb double clear to secure their qualification for the 1.00 m Grand Prix. It was a confident, rhythmic round, with Julia B jumping freely and Annie setting a balanced, forward pace from start to finish.

That early success gave the pair momentum — and demonstrated how well their preparation had paid off. It was the ideal way to start a long championship week.

Building on their strong opening, Annie and Julia B stepped up to the 1.05 m class on Day 2. The round was neat and composed, though a pole fell at fence 6, their only jumping fault of the round. Despite the slight setback, their overall performance remained sharp enough to qualify for the 1.05 m Grand Prix — proof of their growing consistency across multiple heights.

By Day 4, the courses had grown more technical, and the 1.10 m track demanded precision and bravery. Annie and Julia B answered the challenge well, maintaining rhythm and accuracy throughout. Unfortunately, a pole came down at fence 10, but once again the pair’s overall score was good enough to qualify for the 1.10 m Grand Prix.

Three qualifications in four days reflected impressive form and stamina — particularly in a field stacked with experienced combinations.

The Accumulator on Day 5 brought a different sort of challenge: a fast, crowd-pleasing format under bright lights and in front of a large audience. For many riders and horses, it’s an exhilarating but testing environment.

Annie and Julia B started well, but at fence 5, faced with the atmosphere and the crowd noise, Julia B hesitated, resulting in a refusal. Annie recovered quickly, completing the rest of the course positively, but the moment highlighted how much the environment can affect even well-seasoned partnerships.

Still, the round was a valuable learning experience — the kind of exposure that helps combinations mature and build confidence for the future.

The week concluded with the 1.10 m Grand Prix, a demanding course and a fitting finale to a long week. Annie and Julia B set off determinedly, clearing the opening lines with precision and confidence. But at fence 2, an early miscommunication led to a refusal.

After the restart, they regrouped and jumped the rest of the course clear, showing composure and heart. It wasn’t the ending they’d hoped for, but it proved the partnership’s resilience and ability to bounce back quickly — an essential quality in showjumping.

ALX Major Showjumping Championships 2025

From the start, the challenge was on. On Day 1, Annie and Julia B tackled two qualifying rounds: a 1.05 m class and a 1.10 m class. Unfortunately, both rounds came with a pole down — one in the 1.05, one in the 1.10. It was disappointing, but not disqualifying.

Importantly, despite those faults, the rounds were good enough to qualify them for both Grand Prix classes. Their jumping lines held up, their pace was sufficient, and their overall performance remained competitive. 

Day 2’s 1.05 m class looked set for a clean run. Annie & Julia B navigated the course admirably, flowing through combinations and clear lines right to near the end — only for the second-to-last fence to come down. It was heartbreaking: so close to a clear, but just a hair’s-width off.

While that one downed pole prevented a faultless round, it didn’t wipe out their momentum. The performance remained strong and kept them in contention for future classes.

Stepping up the height and pressure on Day 3, the 1.10 m class tested the pair more severely. Annie & Julia B had a valiant go — but two fences fell. Neither was catastrophic, but together they placed the round outside the clear zone.

Day 4 was the climax — two Grand Prix tests awaited. In the 105 Grand Prix, Annie & Julia B had a rough go: three “silly” poles came down. It wasn’t a run reflective of their ability, but sometimes in the pressure errors creep in.

Undeterred, they went on to the big 110 Grand Prix (the fences set at 1.15 m). That class, too, claimed its share: two poles came down in their round. Yet, those two faults still fell short of eliminating them from contention.

Remarkably, their effort was enough to secure 5th place overall in the 110 Grand Prix standings. In a field of strong amateurs, a top-5 finish after four days of ups and downs is nothing to scoff at.

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Gulliver Bear

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Team Thompson Official Website

Brian Thompson

Lorry Driver,

Related Horses

Gulliver Bear

Team Thompson Official Website

Brian Thompson

Lorry Driver,

Related Horses

Gulliver Bear

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