Mark Edwards claims the first International Stairway of 2023 at Devon County
Monday 22 May 2023
Mark Edwards left the best until last to take the first leg of this year’s International Stairway series at Devon County with the 8-year-old Royale Tale.
A total of 14 competitors faced a 13-fence 1.55m track set by course-designer Matt Hoskins on the beautiful green turf of the main arena. With four horses in round one, Mark reduced the winning odds and showed his form by qualifying three through to the jump-off of five.
He left it until the final moments to take the win. Mark supplied the fastest time of the class with top ride, his father Martyn’s home-bred Montreuxs Tale, but heartbreakingly, the top rail of the final vertical fell. It left Helen Tredwell leading the way with the only double clear on Independence TN.
Drawn in the favourable pole position, Mark made no mistake on final ride Royale Tale – by Montreuxs Tale and out of a Cavalier Royale mare. Setting off determinedly, Mark cut every corner and cleverly sliced inside a fence to angle a midway vertical to make up time, allowing him to take care to the last upright and shoot through the finishing gates with 3.64 seconds to spare.
"It was her first International Stairway, she was just in it for experience, but I was very pleased with her, she coped well,” said Mark. “The course was a fair test, you still had to respect the fences although the ground was perfect, the show did very well to have the going in such good condition. It was Royale Tale’s first time on grass this year which makes a difference, but we did our groundwork last year and she jumped the second classes on the county circuit to get experience on grass with this year in mind.”
The International Stairway takes place across a number of county shows where winning combinations accrue League Points that count towards the Final which takes place at the British Showjumping National Championships in August at Stoneleigh Park. The series culminates with a high-profile championship where three Horse of the Year Show International Wild Cards are allocated as well as it being where the sports National Champion is crowned.
The International Stairway, supported by the British Showjumping Partnership with funding from sponsors including Charles Owen, ClipMyHorse.TV, HorseQuest and Zebra Products.
Devon County – Friday, 19 May 2023
International Stairway Series
1st - Mark Edwards & Royale Tale – 0/0 - 56.75 seconds
2nd - Helen Tredwell & Independence TN – 0/0 - 60.39 seconds
3rd - Mark Edwards & Montreuxs Tale – 0/4 - 55.81 seconds
4th - Mark Edwards & Dillinger NE – 0/4 - 58.81 seconds
5th - Phillip Miller & Don Royale – 0/4 - 62.36 seconds
6th - Mark Edwards & Flying Tinker II – 4/-
Image credit: Katie Mortimore Photography for Devon County Show
