Doddinghurst's John Renwick, one of Britain's top show-jumpers and currently ranked sixth in the country, recently gained two places at next Spring's Blue Chip Championships.

John began with a win in a Blue Chip Performance qualifier staged at the BSJA Area 40 Show at Towerlands arena near Braintree.

He rode the attractive grey Shearsby, owned by Derek Meads, also owner of his top ride Millbrook.

Renwick then went on to qualify the six year old Hadley Barns Blondie, owned by Tania Knowles, for the Blue Chip Power final, after going well in a qualifier at Norton Heath arena at Blackmore.

"Hadley Barns Blondie is also through to the Explorer final at the Blue Chip Championships, so has been going well," said Renwick, who has the busiest of competitive schedules throughout the season, although he did manage a month's break after the Horse of the Year Show.

"Shearsby has been sold though, so I won't be riding him at the finals."

Renwick also went to a two day BSJA show at Towerlands recently, with a strong team that included some of his Grade A horses.

He took first and second spots in the £100 Open on Millbrook and Brookend Furhrer, and second and third in a 1.30m Open, riding the less experienced American Dream and Hadley Barns Blondie.

"My next big event will be at Olympia in December, where I'll be jumping in the international classes" Renwick added.

"I'm planning to take Millbrook, Brookend Furhrer and American Dream plus one other horse, but I've not decided who yet."

Renwick has been joined at his Essex yard by Nick Channing-Williams, 23, who finished second to him in the Blue Chip qualifier at the Area 40 Show. Nick, whose family come from Berkshire where his mother is a BSJA judge, rode Ecordal.

Channing-Williams said: "Ecordal is one of five horses I've brought with me to John's yard and he's owned by Merriyan Tuirner" said Nick.

"I'm busy competing but I'm also taking horses in for breaking, and am very happy in the yard."

Both riders go on to next Spring's Blue Chip Championships in the West Midlands, a week long event that runs a host of national finals for both senior and junior riders.

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