Keysoe CSI** and YH* Round Up
Monday 14 February 2022
Joe Whitaker scored a handsome double with the classy, consistent Icaterina including the top-billed 2* 1.45m grand prix to round off Keysoe International with success.
Joe had lined up in the winner’s enclosure in Friday’s 39-strong 1.40m speed by 0.58 sec on Kathleen Tansey and Linda Montgomery’s Icaterina. A day later, the pair claimed the grand prix by the tiniest of margins with a breath-taking round.
“She has an amazing brain to come back and jump the grand prix after winning a speed class. She has all the scope and is just inexperienced, but she showed her class today,” said Joe.
Course-designer Ben Townley assisted by Mark McGowan asked a variety of distance-related questions in his 12-fence track with several caught out in the penultimate combination of vertical, vertical, oxer. Seven of the original thirty-eight competitors found all the right answers, the on-form Joe taking two rides through.
He made one error on first ride Hulahupe JR as they negotiated a tight, angled turn to a midway vertical to come home on four faults and leaving Chloe Winchester to set the target on Gonzalo. Adrian Speight, winner of the 2* grand prix at this venue in December, was out for a repeat result on Judith Whitham’s Millfield Baloney and wiped more than three seconds off the time to look assured of another win.
However, Joe was the ultimate danger, and he used his final draw to maximum effect on the nine-year-old Durango VDL x Otangelo mare. There was an intake of breath as he took a flyer to the penultimate oxer, Icaterina stretching for the back bar. It paid dividends as the pair showed a clean pair of heels at the final fence to stop the clock with only 0.01 sec to spare.
“I needed to make time up early on taking strides out and take care to the final vertical, she had the quality, ability and scope to easily reach the back bar and we were delighted with her,” said Joe.
The final day was a day for Whitaker wins as both Robert and James claimed wins of their own. Robert secured the 31-horse silver 1.35m speed with a sizzling round that utilised every inside turn option to win by 1.87 seconds on Caroline Blatchford’s nine-year-old I’m Special Too DHH (I’m Special De Muze x Emilion).
“This was only his second show this year. He’s taken time but is always improving, I like him a lot,” said Robert.
James Whitaker claimed a double with Liza, Marcus, Harry and India Rich’s Rumbolds Warriors Echo, a 13-year-old Warrior x Corland mare he has ridden since last October. After heading day one’s bronze tour 1.20m two-phase by 2.53 seconds, the pair came to the fore in the 26-strong 2* 1.25m final speed, leaving the best until last to win by 0.33 sec in the final draw.
“We were last to go and she pulled it out of the bag. It was wonderful as the owners were here watching. She’s the easiest horse and so consistent she pays for herself.” said James.
Mark Edwards triumphed in the first of the 1.40m classes, so in tune with his home-bred Tinkers Tale 12-year-old Montreuxs Tale they delivered ultra-tight turns to win by just 0.08 seconds in a competitive 19-horse jump-off.
“It’s our first show since Christmas and it’s good to be back out. I took out stride between the first two fences and kept tight everywhere and it all paid off,” said Mark.
Taking victory in Solihull’s winter B and C to qualify for Hickstead proved a great warm-up for Joss Williams with breeder Rachael Heald’s Fourfields Darc Maxim as they topped the 2* Silver Tour 1.35m final in style.
Six competitors contended the jump-off with Joss setting a sizzling target from the front on the VDL Douglas eight-year-old mare to win by 1.90 seconds.
“I had to do something special as there were some fast ones following but the jump-off course really suited us with forward distances,” said Joss, who will aim the eight-year-old VDL Douglas daughter at the British Showjumping Spring Championships at Northcote Stud and HOYS Talentseekers qualifiers in the summer.
Carmen Edwards was another to score a victory double, heading day one’s 43-horse silver 1.30m two-phase on the 10-year-old Verdi daughter Happy Valerie with just 0.06 seconds in hand over Kerry Brennan’s Wellington M. Carmen also topped day two’s 6-year-old with Garou Pommex Z (Good Boy x Topas) by 0.20 seconds.
Alice Weightman secured the 6-year-old 1.25m final in a seven-strong jump-off to win by only 0.02 seconds on Chaclypso PS (Chac Boy x Centadel) and Izak Ketteridge claimed the 5-year-old 1.15m title with 0.11 seconds to spare on Rosita VD Bisschop (Di Cantero Van Ter Hurst x Vagabond De La Pomme).
Glain Watkin Jones lifted the top two places in day two’s 30-strong bronze 1.25m with the Lord Castell 11-year-old Grand Cru and 19-year-old Waldemar, 0.25 seconds separating the two while Tony Pearson claimed the concluding copper tour 1.15m final on the 15-year-old Berlin, also by 0.25 seconds.
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