Making his trip from south-east Wales well worth the trip, Mark Edwards wins two back-to-back international showjumping classes on day three at Horse of the Year Show.
Mark was in flying form with his eight-year-old stallion Dillinger NE to take the opening Grandstand Welcome Stakes at the prestigious horse show held at the NEC in Birmingham.
Mark was amongst one of the first riders to go and he set the bar high jumping clear and stopping the clock on 30.60 seconds. Despite 30 riders in the class, only one rider came close; Lorenzo De Luca from Italy pushed his 10-year-old mare Dirka De Blondel all the way to finish on 30.75 seconds.
The win not only signifies a great start to the show for Mark, but it also is the first CSI3* win for the young gelding Dillinger, who clearly has a bright future in front of him.
“He [Dillinger] jumped here last year in the Foxhunter and the Grade C final so he has experienced that arena before, but this is his first three-star show, and he just went in there and rose to the occasion.
“I was only third to go so it was a long class to watch. I thought I’d be knocked to second or third at some points, but I was thankful to stay in the lead the whole way through. He’s a great horse and the breeders Ros and Dennis Palmer are here watching today. They think a lot of him and we all believe he has a real future ahead, so hopefully more to come.”
First audio interview with Mark: https://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access2/index.php?d=1477&b=32810
Not settling for one win, Mark brought his A-game in the second International Showjumping class riding eight-year-old bay mare, Royal Tale. The NAEC Stoneleigh Stakes saw another hotly contested field of riders, each going against the clock to secure the fastest time.
This time Mark was one of the last riders to go, so he knew the time he had to beat was 56.30 seconds set by Paul Barker with Green Grass. The throttle was on from fence one and the mare clearly enjoyed the thrill of the ride as the pair soared to the finish clear and stopping the clock on 53.09 seconds!
The pair won both the Senior Newcomers and the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet Grade C Championships here at HOYS just 12 months ago, so to come back this year and win a class like this is quite remarkable.
Mark said: “It’s a very strong field of riders here this year, so to have two classes and two wins is fantastic; long may it continue. She’s such a naturally quick mare and I just got her in a good rhythm, and everything unfolded as I wanted it to. She tried her heart out and I’m really pleased with her. She wants to win as much as I do, and she’s done it again.”
This pairing will be one to watch out for in the Speed Horse of the Year class on Sunday afternoon. The mare’s profound sire, Montreuxs Tale, can also be seen competing in the Puissance class on Saturday night with Mark. Second audio interview with Mark: https://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access2/index.php?d=1477&b=32811
