Mark Edwards Takes Nine Wins at the First Wales and West Show of the Season
Monday 03 April 2023
.jpg "Mark Edwards Takes Nine Wins at the First Wales and West Show of the Season")
Mark Edwards hit flying form to secure an impressive total of nine wins at Wales and West’s first show of the 2023 season at the David Broome Event Centre near Chepstow.
Cowbridge, South Glamorgan-based Mark kept the Welsh flag proudly flying by dominating the 1.40m trio of classes at the three-day meeting. He headed both qualifiers before claiming the top-billed Wales and West Grand Prix on Marlene Edwards’ Flying Tinker II. It was a great tribute to the breeding programme set up more than two decades ago by his father Martyn – the recipient of the British Breeders Award at the 2022 British Showjumping Awards Ball.
Twenty-three competitors faced course-designer Ian Clark’s 12-fence 1.40m Grand Prix track with eight finding the key to go forward to the jump-off, the on-form Mark claiming three of the rides. The win was sewn up early. Scything every tight line to the max at optimum pace, Mark set a sizzling and unbeatable target on first ride Flying Tinker II, the 12-year-old – bred by Martyn and later sold to Marlene – matching his focus and determination. He underscored his superiority slotting Dillinger NE into second place 1.69 seconds in arrears.
"The first round course was big enough but fair for the start of the year. I kept everything tight and smooth in the jump-off," said Mark.
It was the first outdoor show of 2023 for Mark and his team of horses.
“We jumped at Addington’s first show in February indoors and that was our first show since Christmas, we just kept them ticking over at home. Now we’re getting revved up for the summer season,” added Mark, who will take on the Welsh Masters and the CSI2* at Chard and Chepstow in April before heading to Devon County.
Mark had begun his foray with the top two places in day one’s 1.40m qualifier, winning on Dillinger NE and taking second aboard Flying Tinker II, more than two seconds separating the two.
Day two proved an Edwards whitewash as Mark seized the 1.40m top three places with three horses all related, leaving his rivals trailing in his wake. He topped the class with the Tinkers Tale II sired Flying Tinker II, taking second aboard Royale Tale (Montreuxs Tale x Cavalier Royale) with third awarded to the home-bred Montreuxs Tale (Tinkers Tale II x Corleone).
Rounding up Mark’s tally, Vicky Gillard’s 10-year-old mare Ede Peasy (Edward x Gletscher) claimed 1.30m wins on days one and two and Amber Bundock’s consistent 10-year-old Jafabalou (Balou Du Rouet x Concorde) headed two Foxhunter classes with her seven-year-old Clintons Heart x Contendro I stallion Casque D’Or taking the other. The final win came with Matthew Pitts’ 10-year-old Midsummer Son who won a British Novice.
The wins came despite the inclement Welsh April weather.
“It was very wet on the first day but the sun came out on Saturday afternoon and made it an enjoyable show,” said Mark, who is looking ahead. “I’ve got a very strong team at the moment and I’ll step up Dillinger and Royale Tale on the county circuit to join the older horses.”
Image: Showground Photography
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