Billy Twomey wins the Naylors Equestrian Accumulator
Saturday 08 October 2016
.JPG "Billy Twomey wins the Naylors Equestrian Accumulator")
Irish star Billy Twomey warmed up for the defence of his Horse of the Year Show Grand Prix crown on Sunday by landing an impressive win in the Naylors Equestrian Accumulator.
Last to go among a 30-strong field, Irish star Billy guided grey stallion Ardcolum Duke to victory with a maximum score of 65 points in a time of 43.05 seconds to claim a £7,360 top prize.
Combinations collect points for fences jumped, while an alternative final joker fence offers double points, wiht that fence being higher and more technical than its alternative.
Frenchman Julien Epaillard, who won the closing class on Friday, finished less than a second behind on Quatrin de la Roque, with British Olympia John Whitaker taking third on Echo of Light.
"It's nice to get a win," Billy said. "I normally have a good show here, so it's nice to get back to winning ways.
"Ardcolum Duke is a really competitive horse that wins a lot of classes on the international circuit, so I was quietly confident. Everything worked out well - the turns worked out well - and we tried hard to jump the last joker fence, which was a decent height.
"It's the grand prix now, tomorrow, with Diaghilev. We won here last year, and hopefully he can repeat that performance. He's on pretty good form, so finger crossed, he goes well tomorrow.
"I have won the grand prix class here three times, and it means everything. There is a lot of history involved in this show, and it is always great to win here."
AUDIO WITH BILLY TWOMEY, WINNER OF THE NAYLORS EQUESTRIAN ACCUMULATOR AT THE HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW IN BIRMINGHAM: http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Billy%20Twomey.mp3
Image Credit ES Photography
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