Unbelievable weather, high entries and top class competition

The David Broome Event Centre played host to The 2011 Welsh Masters this weekend. With record breaking entries and superb sunny weather the competition was top class.

 

The Ladies final saw twenty one of the forty nine starters make through to the jump off to fight it out for the top prize. Drawn half way down the order and with four clears ahead of her Lynne Bevan from Abergavenny rode her own thirteen year old bay mare Dottie Z. The pair jumped clear in an outstanding time of 41.65 seconds which was over a second and a half quicker than the current leading time set by Carian Scudamore riding Angel II who ended up in fifth place.

 

Following Lynne into the ring was Crawley based Louise Pavitt riding The Brendon Stud’s fourteen year old Dark Bay Stallion Unbelievable Darco. Using the advantage of seeing Lynne’s quick round Louise knew she had to throw caution to the wind and go all out to put in a fast clear. Doing just that Louise pulled off all the turns and managed to save just 0.40 seconds on Lynn’s time coming home in an unbeatable time of 41.25 seconds.

 

The Gents final followed and the forty four starters competed over the same course as the Ladies. Eleven combinations made it though to the jump off with only five jumping clear again. First to go in the jump off was Suffolk based Tim Davies on his first of two rides the eleven year old brown mare Salome II owned by Sarah Chenevix. Jumping clear in a time of 44.20 seconds put enough pressure on the remaining competitors for Tim to hold onto second place. Following Tim in to the ring was Sam Hutton from Southampton riding his mothers (Wendy) eleven year old British bred grey mare For a Smile. Knowing there were some good riders to follow Sam left little to chance, putting in a very quick clear in a time of 40.03 seconds which none of the remaining competitors came close to.

 

Tim Davies on his second ride Barret Watson’s nine year old bay gelding Valentijn O decided to go for the clear and although he was over ten seconds slower than Sam’s winning time he still managed to hold on to third place.

 

Sunday held the PCA Grand Slam Summer Grand Prix which saw fifty starters compete for the £1500 first prize. Eighteen combinations jumped clear in the first round and went though to the jump off with only six of them jumping clear again. It was Cheshire based Simon Crippen who came out on top riding Mr and Mrs Brake’s nine year old chestnut stallion Voss, the combination jumped clear in a time of 39.49 seconds. Just 0.67 seconds behind Simon was Oxon based Tina Fletcher riding Lady Pauline Harris’s ten year old bay gelding Unique IX who jumped clear in a time of 41.16 seconds. Third position went to Jemma Kirk who is based in West Lothian riding her fathers (Robert) fifteen year old bay gelding Wexford.

 

 

1st Sam Hutton riding For A Smile – 0/0 in 40.03 seconds