Tim Davies & Valentijn O pick up top points in Royal Norfolk International Stairway
Thursday 02 July 2015
Yesterday, the hottest day so far this year, saw Tim Davies and Barrett Watson’s 13 year-old bay gelding Valentijn O climb three places into 2nd place on the International Stairway League by winning the fifth leg of the series at Royal Norfolk Show.
It certainly wasn’t an easy win, as the testing course had only seen three of the field manage to jump clear in the first round with faults being notched up across the course by the remaining eighty percent.
With five riders in total coming forward for the second round, in line with the format of this competition, the riders that jumped clear were joined by Anna Edwards and Blazer B whom had secured their place by being the fastest combination with one fault along with Phillip Miller and Caritiar Z who were the fastest on four faults.
Jumping in reverse order based on faults and time in the first round, Tim Davies had the luxury of being drawn last to go. As he entered the area, the only rider that had managed to produce yet another clear and therefore a zero penalty tally was Tim Stockdale with his new ride Bling Bling, a 9 year-old bay gelding owned by Ann Basey-Fisher. Deciding to take the gamble and press for a fast clear, Valentijn O was asked to put his foot down. Leaving all fences standing and untouched he managed to break the finish line almost four seconds faster to secure the class title and lion share of the £7,500 on offer.
Relegating Tim Stockdale and Bling Bling to second place, it was Anna Edwards from Clevedon with her own 9 year-old bay gelding Blazer B who jumping clear in the jump off finished on just the one time fault accrued in the first round that finished in third.
After jumping clear in the first round Douglas Duffin from Dollar, Clackmannanshire, partnering his own 10 year-old bay gelding Quidam BZ finished in fourth after picking up four faults halfway through the jump off course.
Phillip Miller from Harpenden, Hertfordshire finished in fifth place after he and Caritiar Z a 15 year-old grey gelding owned by Nigel Eccles, Di and Pennie Cornish added another four faults to their tally meaning that they finished on eight faults overall.
The series now moves to the Great Yorkshire Show on the 15th July.
Royal Norfolk Show International Stairway Results:
1. Tim Davies & Valentijn O - 0/0 – 54.91 seconds
2. Tim Stockdale & Bling Bling IV - 0/0 – 55.33 seconds
3. Anna Edwards & Blazer B -1/0– 58.76 seconds
4. Douglas Duffin & Quidam BZ - 0/4 – 61.74 seconds
5. Phillip Miller & Caritiar Z - 4/4 – 53.31 seconds
6. Mark Edwards & Tinkers Tale - 4 – 83.61 seconds
7. Vicky Young & Barici – 4 – 84.73 seconds
8. Alfie Bradstock & Benedictus – 4 – 85.17 seconds
For current standings on the International Stairway League Table please visit http://www.britishshowjumping.co.uk/rankings/lists/International-Stairway-Series
