It's back-to-back wins for Mark Edwards as he dominates the HOYS Wildcard series
Saturday 05 August 2023
.jpg "It's back-to-back wins for Mark Edwards as he dominates the HOYS Wildcard series")
Mark Edwards made it two out of two in the HOYS Wildcard series with Marlene Edwards’ super-consistent Flying Tinker II, heading the speed leg just 24 hours after taking the National 1.40m crown despite the heavy rain.
Fifty-four came forward in the National Speed Horse of the Year, incorporating the HOYS Wildcard B qualifier offering the chance to compete in the international classes for the week of HOYS. But mid-drawn Mark had the win sewn up on the horse bred on the family farm.
“Everything went to plan – almost quicker than I planned to go!” said Mark. “It’s always a tough class to judge how quick to go and it’s a big ask to keep it as smooth and tight as possible, but he’s a super horse. It was a tricky course with plenty of options, I kept tight in the first half and took a couple of tight turns towards the end. We had a good run up to the Nationals with results at New Forest [and Hampshire County Show]. We came to this nice and fresh and he’s absolutely bang on form again - we're both Welsh so we're used to the rain!”
Nicole Lockhead Anderson slipped Christian Street into second 0.42 sec adrift and Paul Barker’s round on Green Grass finished third.
Nicole Pavitt is somewhat of a Newcomers specialist with four wins at the HOYS Final to her credit, and she’ll be aiming for another after claiming the Senior Newcomers Masters with Cornet of Follyfoot.
An entry of 34 came forward to face a 12-fence course starting at 1.25m with 13 posting initial clears to move forward into round two. Nicole kept the tightest of lines in the competitive jump-off, securing the win by only 0.07 of a second with the Cornet Obolensky 6-year-old she has competed since November.
“I had luck on my side with the late draw, there were eight of us chasing HOYS tickets and they got faster and faster. I really didn’t want to go too fast as he has the Prestige Big Star 6-year-old Final the day after, but he has a super temperament, very level, and takes it all in his stride. Every turn there was a stride so I didn’t have to take many pulls and he’s got such a level canter, it’s easy to be on a stride all the time.”
Chloe Winchester earned her place in the HOYS final with second on Tisara Quality Cruise and Nicole Lockhead Anderson piloted Quanthargos PS into third ahead of Faye Adams and Renkum Buster in fourth.
Just two days after graduating from Bristol Vet School following a five-year course, Orla Morrin snatched the National 1.15m Members Cup Championship by more than four seconds on Kalindi K.
“It’s been an amazing week of highs,” said Orla, who has a job lined up in Belgium as an equine vet – “And she’s coming with me!”
Twenty-eight of the 97 starters returned for the jump-off with Emma Sargeant setting an early target on Whisper’s Love. But Orla had her plan set out to wipe an incredible 4.14 seconds off the time, trusting the Guidam x Jupilot 10-year-old mare to take out a stride to the final vertical and take the title.
“I aimed to go in a nice smooth rhythm but spotted a tight turn midway and actually walked through it on her as I went into the ring – it’s a championship, I had to give it my all and it all came together,” said Orla. “I got her as a 4-year-old so we know each other well and she loves to win.
“Because I’ve been at University, she hasn’t jumped a lot but that’s how fantastic she is – she still incredibly consistent and she’s such a kind, calm mare; goes in the field, hacks out on the buckle end of the rein, I’m very lucky to have her.”
Georgina Ellis [aka Point-to-Point rider Gina Andrews] was the only rider to break the 30 second barrier in the 18-horse decider to take the National 1.25 Restricted Rider Championship on Croisiere. Georgina was on form with two in the jump-off but it was the Harlequin Du Carel x Cruising 15-year-old ‘Swanky’ who answered every call to score victory by 1.26 seconds.
“I was lucky enough to be drawn last on Swanky and knew I had to go quick. He’s brilliant and didn’t let me down,” said Rugby, Warwickshire-based Georgina, who rides racehorses for a living. “He’s been jumping some big classes recently and it was nice to do the 1.25m, which was more in his comfort zone and it really showed.”
Gemma Hallet slotted Billy Jive into second and newly-crowned Grade B champions Julian Mincher and Carter Rouge finished third.
Max Routledge lifted the National 4-year-old title with the eye-catching Troy Z.
“Obviously, they are all green and he’s only done three or four shows but he’s been clear every time. He’s lovely but you never know what they’re going to do in the ring,” said Max, on the full brother to Darry Lou [a big winner for The USA’s Beezie Madden and currently with The Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders] who joined him this summer. “So we have really high hopes for him and the lads at Al Shira’aa Stables have done a really good job getting him started.”
Former racehorses jump to win
Jenny Bennett returned triumphant in the Retraining of Racehorses Bronze League Final on Clancy’s Cross.
Sixteen competitors faced a 11-fence 90cm course and eight found all the answers to access the jump-off. Uttoxeter, Staffordshire-based Jenny and the Oscar x Over The River 14-year-old Clancy’s Cross, who first started competing in March 2020, eased ahead of their rivals to win with 0.78 seconds to spare.
“He was a bit lively in the warm-up but the round went better than expected. Initially, I tried eventing but quickly realised it wasn’t for him – he didn’t like water or ditches!” said Jenny. “He was incredibly quick winning at unaffiliated level in 2020 but sustained an injury in 2021 and came back into competition last year.”
Caitlin Wornham secured the top spot of the Retraining of Racehorses 75cm Club Final in a two-way decider with 1.70 sec in hand on the 7-year-old gelding Andre Amar (Dandy Man x Hernando) over Annabel McCourt’s Wenceslaus.
“He raced until last October and I started training him at Easter and he has the most perfect attitude and so far, has done everything I’ve asked. There were a few sticky moments here and there, but he really stepped up and that was his best yet,” said Caitlin.
Charlie Brown guided the 11-year-old Cloone Lady (Milan x Supreme Leader) into victory in a three-horse jump-off with the sole double clear in the Retraining of Racehorses 90cm Club Final.
Image: Mark Edwards & Flying Tinker Credit: 1st Class Images
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