‘Grandad Billy’ races to home victory
A local rider claims the area trial on her ‘horse of a lifetime’, while another competitor’s change of plans proves lucrative
ABBE BURCHMORE-EAMES’ “local” county show is one she never misses — but until now a win in the area trial has always eluded her.
The 25-year-old rider had a fighting chance with three rides forward in the class, but it was her familiar partner Wilandri E who collected the £1,000 winner’s cheque when he delivered the quickest of three double clears.
“He probably wins one area trial a year — it was nice it was this one,” said Abbe, who lives 30 minutes from the showground. “It’s good to win in front of friends at your home show.”
Five from a modest start list of 15 progressed to the second round, with Emma Slater delivering a competitive opening clear on
Mark Haines’ Art D’Usance.
She was undercut by 0.88 of a
second by Mennell Watson and his super stallion Whisper In The Wind, whose enviable consistency this season has now elevated them to the top of the gold league.
But Abbe and the Lupicor gelding, who she has now owned for 10 years, executed a daring tight turnback to an oxer on the final line. Although the 14-yearold rattled the back bar, the risk paid off as they snipped 1.01 seconds from the target.
“When you’ve had a horse as long as I’ve had him you have so much trust in them. I never think he’s not going to jump it,” said Abbe.
“As he’s got older he’s become a bit steadier round the turns — he came up well for the front rail [of the oxer] but he did have to reach a bit for the back.
“He has so much jump though; he’s the bravest horse I’ve ever sat on. I don’t have to worry about taking risks with him.”
Just one combination stood between them and victory — and Tracy Priest certainly posed a threat with her on-form grey Caristo VDL.
A foot-perfect turnback to the final line saw them well up on the clock but although the nine-yearold soared the penultimate orange oxer, he was unlucky to then clip the vertical at the last.
“I didn’t see either Emma or Mennell go, but I know how fast he is — I have been behind him many times! Tracy has also beaten me many times, so it’s nice to win,” said Abbe.
“I really like that ring and I have big bold horses that seem to suit Phil Ashworth’s courses.”
The bay Dutch warmblood was first produced by Abbe’s mother but has been ridden by Abbe since Foxhunters.
“He’s my horse of a lifetime. I don’t think people realise how lovely he is; I’ll never find another one like him,” Abbe said. “We call him Grandad Billy at home — he’s such a gentleman.”
HEDGES BREAKS THE MOULD
A REROUTE from cancelled Monmouthshire to Buckinghamshire paid dividends for Sarah Hedges, who won the accumulator riding Nicki Sharp’s macho bay Breaker M.
There was a dearth of clears in the early stages — with the 1.50m joker doing its work to sift the field — but the class evolved into a battle against the clock when Vere Phillipps and Skerne Scipio secured the first clear.
Despite a quick time, it proved only good enough for second place when Sarah and the 11-yearold undercut their lead by 1.58 seconds to set an insurmountable advantage.
“It was quite a tricky distance to the joker at the last, which is why it was causing problems,” said Sarah. “It was five-and-a-half strides so you had to either pull or kick. I kicked and Vere pulled and that’s why he came second!”
The Cantos x Indoctro gelding had a successful week, also winning at novice dressage with owner Nicki before his win here saw him step up to grade A.
“We’ve taken it slowly with him as he’s a big horse but hopefully we’ll be out jumping some area trials next year,” added Sarah.
“We came here for the accumulator as we like to do classes that are a bit different, but his favourite is a two-fence challenge — he just jumps bigger and bigger whatever you put in front of him.”
In the outside rings, Alfie Bradstock had a strong day, partnering Leamore Hightale to wins in the 1.30m open and Foxhunter.