Welshman whizzes round to win at Hickstead

Monday 23 June 2025

Llandow-based Mark Edwards took a decisive win on the first day of the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting, clinching the Stoner Jewellers Vase with the fast-paced, pint-sized Flying Tinker II.

The Stoner Jewellers Vase saw 88 horse-and-rider partnerships taking to Hickstead’s famous International Arena to battle for top honours.

Mark and his homebred 2024 Welsh Masters winner Flying Tinker II enjoyed a fortuitous draw two-thirds of the way through the big class, which meant that the rider had time to watch some of his competitors and change his tactics as needed. Ultimately, though he knew it would be “a tough target to catch the time – it’s a stiff competition!”, he opted to ride the course exactly as he’d walked it.

“It was a great round – everything went to plan,” he says. “We started off in a nice rhythm; came on a nice, inside turn to number three; and then just stayed on the rhythm all the way. Flying Tinker is such a super little horse – he always tries for me and just makes my job really easy.”

Though Mark and Flying Tinker have long held a reputation in Britain for being consistently speedy competitors, as the diminutive horse steps into his prime, they’re also making an impression across Europe, too, with impressive efforts in Nations Cup classes in Poland and Luxembourg last summer to their credit.

“The past three years he’s been on great form, and he’s come back this year really strong and fit,” says Mark. “The past month, he’s felt back at his best, so I hope it continues.”

Mark is now looking forward to a big week at the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting.

“I qualified to ride in the Speed Derby this morning with another horse, Royale Tale, and I’ve got a couple in the Agria Derby Trial tomorrow, too,” he says. “So there’s some really exciting classes yet to come for us.”

Image: Boots and Hooves Photography

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