Gemma Ellison takes the Welsh Masters Crown
Monday 17 April 2023
cpk2dx15wdze.JPG "Gemma Ellison takes the Welsh Masters Crown")
Gemma Ellison ensured the feature Equestrian Surfaces Grand Prix and Welsh Masters 2023 title stayed in Wales with a convincing victory on Helsinki VDL at the annual Welsh Masters held at the David Broome Event Centre, Chepstow.
Forty-six competitors tackled course-designer Raf Suarez’s 13-fence 1.40m track in the vast main arena, tested by related distances and a final skinny plank vertical which caught out several. Eight answered all the questions to return to contend the jump-off, Mark Edwards focused on landing his third title on the trot with two chances.
Kerry Harris set the opening target on her eager 20-year-old Wellington M but Mark showed the time could be beaten with Flying Tinker II, although the back rail of the penultimate oxer fell. Gemma supplied a deceptively fast, clean round on the Baltic VDL x Corland 11-year-old Helsinki to slice 2.45 seconds off the leading time.
It wasn’t over yet as Mark had another crack with top horse Montreuxs Tale. He was in contention all the way and cut the time further 1.51 seconds but the penultimate oxer proved to be his nemesis and the back rail fell again.
“I didn’t expect to be so fast, but he travels across the ground and is quicker than he looks. This is only his third show back after two months off and he felt great, so I kicked on,” said Gemma, who has to carefully manage the big gelding she owns with VDL Stud. “He’s a tricky one and can be quirky; I can’t take him in the warm-up surrounded by other horses, so we quietly warmed him up in the bottom collecting ring here. He only jumped two verticals before each round, that was it, but it worked; he was the most sensible horse when he entered the arena.”
Mark Edwards claimed a winning double, topping the 7 and 8-year-old and Equine America 1.20m Finals to mark a great achievement – he has now won every Welsh Masters title over the years.
“Winning the 7 and 8-year-old has completed the set,” he said.
Mark made full use of the advantageous final draw to take the 7 and 8-year-old title in a 12-horse jump-off, winning with almost three seconds in hand on his father Martyn’s Montreuxs Tale x Cavalier Royale eight-year-old Royale Tale.
“She’s stepping up to be a great one for the future,” said Mark, on the mare bought from her breeders five years ago. “Her breeders, Sean and Charlene Daly, were there to see her win and I think they were more excited than I was!”
The 1.20m final also fell to Mark as the 52 starters were reduced to a 13-strong jump-off, Amber Bundock’s Balou Du Rouet x Concorde 10-year-old Jafabalou winning by two seconds.
“Amber bought him from Reece Oliver last summer and asked me to take the ride in March. He’s a big horse with a big stride so the main arena here suited him. Now it’s all about getting to know him and gaining his confidence,” said Mark.
Joe Trunkfield denied Mark another win in the Jon Doney Cup 1.30m Final in an exciting jump-off thriller. Mark had claimed an early lead on Ede Peasy but Joe wiped 2.30 seconds off his time on Greenacres Vanquish. Mark had another ride to come on the speedy Flying Tinker II and was determined to claim his third consecutive title. He chased hard and came agonisingly close but it wasn’t to be, Mark had to settle for second 0.05 seconds in arrears.
Rutland, Leicestershire based Joe has ridden James Williams’ Van Gogh x Abdullah 11-year-old Vanquish for almost two years.
“We had this class in mind for him and he popped around the 1.40m the day before for second. He’s buzzy but very versatile and competitive in all sorts of classes, accumulator, grand prix, speeds, and when they opened up the arena to full size, he was in his element; he loves to run and jump,” said Joe, who admitted he knew he hadn’t won until the final horse – “I was on the edge of my seat with Mark going last!”
Halesowen, West Midlands based Faye Adams topped a nine-horse decider to take the Liz Edgar Cup 1.30m Final on her seasoned campaigner Demograaf. Nine of the 44 starters contended the jump-off but Faye has an incredible bond with the Quasimodo Z x Serville 15-year-old and sliced into every turn to win by 0.74 seconds.
“This is our first big, stay-away show of the year, I had a bad fall two months ago and damaged ligaments in my shoulder so I wasn’t on flying form as usual. I’m still not back to full fitness,” said Faye, who is taking in gym and physio sessions. “I broke my collar bone previously and have a plate in my other shoulder so I need to get my strength back.”
Demograaf is also on a fitness regime and was targeted at this particular Final.
“He did feel a little tired but he soon switched on in the ring, I couldn’t have asked for more but he’s naturally fast, super-careful and loves to gallop at fences. I was drawn early and there wasn’t a target to chase so I didn’t take crazy risks but did enough to make us difficult to beat. He knows what winning is – he wants to get in there and perform,” added Faye.
Lottie Tutt secured the concluding Showground Photography 1.25m Championship with Lizzie Bunn’s 7-year-old mare Billy Mufasa. Nine contended the jump-off with Lottie claiming two of the rides and duly guided first ride Mufasa (Billy Mexico x Billy Congo) into victory. Lorraine Lock made a late challenge aboard Billy Gobi to take second only 0.06 seconds in arrears.
Olivia Gent lifted the Hazelden Saddlery 6-year-old with Avant Garde HST Z. The original 42 competitors were reduced to 16 for the jump-off, Olivia guiding the Belgian-bred mare into a win with two seconds in hand.
Jason Fitzpatrick outpaced his 12 jump-off rivals to take the Billy Stud 5-year-old title on Al Shira’aa Farms Ltd’s Big Star x Tygo mare Nutcracker SS with 0.77 seconds to spare following a three-round competition.
Kate Ellison raced to the top of the 14-horse decider by 1.73 seconds to land the Baileys Farm Equestrian 1.15m title on Bridget Ellison’s 14-year-old mare Bayjing (Clearway x Acord II).
Hannah Thorne was crowned Keith Price Garages 1.10m Welsh Masters champion on her own Cinderella. Nineteen riders contended the jump-off with Hannah forging ahead on the 15-year-old Cardento daughter to record a 1.72 second win.
Samantha Lynch emerged triumphant in the Deebees Rosettes 1.05m Final on I Wonder II in a hotly contended jump-off. Twenty-seven of the original 49 competitors qualified for the jump-off with Wiltshire-based Samantha and the 15-year-old mare flying into the top spot by 0.36 seconds.
Image credit: Showground Photography
