‘He’d jump through a brick wall for me’

31July

JAMES HUGHES returned to the scene of his 2012 triumph to net £1,080 as winner of the Area Trial, scoring with his ever-consistent campaigner, Peiter VI.

Sadly, this traditional show was marred by controversy as several riders pronounced the ground “too hard” and withdrew, leaving small but select fields to contest the three classes. To their credit, the organisers paid out prize money down to sixth place as advertised.

The going was undeniably firm, but all take-offs and landings were sanded and fences were moved to better ground. Apart from these measures, though, coursebuilder David Cole made few concessions to the dearth of starters. “I took some fences down a hole, but otherwise they were as planned,” he said. “The trouble is, too many people are used to jumping only on surfaces now and both horses and riders are losing the ability to cope with natural ground.”

He proved correct as, although just five went to post for the feature class, the three who produced immaculate clears repeated them in the jump-off.

Spencer Roe and the superscopey bay, Chaccomo Agostini, returned the first of these, but a wide turn to the final double cost them, as Alison Barton shaved 0.5 seconds with Gay Hartley’s Roma IV despite taking the same route.

It was all down to last-drawn James and Peiter VI and they maintained a relentless rhythm, cutting inside to slice almost two seconds from the target.

“We’ve been staying in England this season as travelling abroad has been hard due to work commitments,” said Doncaster-based James, who works full time and relies on the help of groom Martin Cooper to keep his horses up to speed.

“Peiter’s always been really consistent on the county circuit. He tries to win, has a massive heart and I think would jump through a brick wall for me.

“The ground was obviously a little firm but to be fair, we’ve had some really hot weather, it’s the middle of summer and [the show organisers] put as much sand down as they could – this took the sting out of it.”

Alison Barton, who entered for the Trial on the day, also considered the going

on the controversial firm going acceptable.

“It was firm enough, but there’s still a cut in the grass, plus it’s old turf and if your horse likes firmer going, then it’s fine,” she said.

“Roma is a very careful mare and isn’t fazed by much – she loves the big county shows on grass. This is an experience year for her as she’s just stepped up to this level.”

The 1.40m wound up with only six starters, of whom five went clear initially. Pam Dunning’s protégée, Chelsea Skelton, emerged from final draw to claim the £320 purse with a measured effort on Judith Whitham’s Great Yorkshire international stairway runner-up Millfield Baloney. H&H

Heckington Show, Sleaford, Lincs ‘Both horses and riders are losing the ability

to cope with natural ground’

course-builder David Cole