Adrian Speight regains his National Champion title with Millfield Baloney at the British Showjumping National Championships
Sunday 06 August 2023
.jpg "Adrian Speight regains his National Champion title with Millfield Baloney at the British Showjumping National Championships")
Adrian Speight was crowned National Champion two years ago with Judith Whitham’s Millfield Baloney, and he returned to Stoneleigh Park to claim victory in the British Showjumping Business Partnership International Stairway Final to round off the British Showjumping National Championships on a high.
“He’s a machine, a freak of nature and he’s had a great season so far,” said Adrian.
Forty-one competitors came forward over a 13-fence 1.50m track designed by Jason Abbs, Ben Townley and Peter Allen with some seeing their hopes fade at the combination or the open water. An eventual 10 for a tense jump-off with Karl Robins and G Camille HBF setting a competitive standard for the others to chase. He proved hard to catch as rivals chased the time and the penultimate tall vertical fell several times.
Out for a hat-trick after convincingly claiming the first two legs of the HOYS Wildcard which ran concurrently with the International Stairway Grand Prix, Mark Edwards gave it his best shot on Flying Tinker. He was well up on the clock, beating the leading time by two seconds, but a gallop to the ‘bogey’ penultimate vertical proved a risk too far and the top rail toppled, dropping them to sixth.
“We were just unlucky but he’s a super horse and we’ve had a super week. Now it’s all roads to HOYS,” said Mark.
Adrian has enjoyed a purple patch on the county show circuit with Millfield Baloney (Balou Du Rouet x Kanudos) and they hit top form here. The 17-year-old stretched over the oxers and never looked like touching the tall verticals to come home clear with 0.30 seconds to spare.
“He’s 17 going on five. He’s not built for jumping with a roach back but he’s game for it and know his job inside out,” said Adrian. “The first round was trappy, not massively big but it caught riders out everywhere.”
“The oxers were wide enough in the jump-off and the verticals were tall, demanding respect but he jumped those vertical with ease. You get a good feel with this horse and, by the time he’s jumped a couple of fences, you know whether it’s going to be a good day. Today was one of the best.”.
As winner, Adrian claims his place at HOYS with entries for the week in the international classes.
The other passes were awarded to: the ultra-consistent Mark Edwards, winner of the first two legs of the HOYS Wildcard with Flying Tinker, topped the show wildcard league, the Gold League and the British Showjumping Business Partnership International Stairway League.
As Mark and Adrian had already secured their places, the HOYS ticket from the International Stairway League was passed to Helen Tredwell. It was a similar story on the show HOYS Wildcard show league, Mark taking the top spot so the HOYS entries pass was handed down to Paul Barker.
One rail down at the influential penultimate vertical in the International Stairway final marred Nicole Lockhead Anderson’s round with the 10-year-old Christian Street to drop her to seventh but it was sufficient for the HOYS under 25 ticket.
“She was really unlucky but she’s new to this level and a new ride for me. I’ve only had her a month and still getting to know her but she’s feisty and likes going fast,” said Nicole.
British Showjumping National Championships – Sunday, 6 August
British Showjumping Business Partnership International Stairway Final
1st Adrian Speight & Millfield Baloney – 0/0 - 44.67 seconds
2nd Karl Robins & G Camille HBF – 0/0 - 44.97 seconds
3rd Phillip Miller & Don Royale – 0/0 - 46.26 seconds
Image: Adrian Speight & Millfield Baloney Credit: 1st Class Images
The International Stairway, supported by the British Showjumping Partnership with funding from sponsors including Charles Owen, ClipMyHorse.TV, HorseQuest and Zebra Products.
 c. Majestic Photography.jpg "James Smith Dominates in the Penultimate Winter Grand Prix at Aintree Winter Classic Show")
