Peter Moloney lands the Welsh Masters title with Nielson at the David Broome Event Centre
Wednesday 16 April 2025
 c. Showground Photography.jpg "Peter Moloney lands the Welsh Masters title with Nielson at the David Broome Event Centre")
Peter Moloney bested the rest to be crowned the 2025 Welsh Master with victory in the Equestrian Surfaces 1.40m Grand Prix with Nielson at the David Broome Event Centre at Wales and West, Chepstow.
Peter and Nielson had shown their form with second place in the Grand Prix qualifier, and they hit their peak on the final day. Thirty-five competitors faced a 1.40/1.45m track with eight mastering the course to qualify for the jump-off. Only three double clears were realised, Peter using the scope and stride of Bentley Van De Capel 12-year-old Nielson to jump into victory by 0.74 seconds. Welshman and 2024 champion Mark Edwards had to relinquish his title and settle for second with Dillinger NE and Tom Plaster provided the steadiest of the jump-off clears for third with Vereno I.
“He’s a big horse with a big stride, can take out strides when he wants to and is quick across the fences, I don’t have to try too hard,” said Irishman Peter, who considered the course well-built and fair – “Ben Townley did a good job.”
Chard International is next on the cards while Peter aims to contend the two-star international shows in England this summer.
Mark went one better in the Jon Doney 1.30m Final as he galloped ahead on Royale Tale.
The 32 starters were again reduced to eight for the jump-off, Mark hitting the turbo button on the 10-year-old Montreuxs Tale x Cavalier Royale mare galloping into the top spot by 3.43 seconds. Joe Fernyhough slipped Calcourt Supersonic into second place with Adam Taylor’s Gangster II in third.
A similar course was followed in the Liz Edgar 1.30m Final but 16 from the field of 59 accessed the final decider, with Molly Davies squeaking ahead in the exciting jump-off to win by only 0.08 seconds on the Etoulon VDL x Indoctro 12-year-old Imagine H. Lorraine Lock steered Artisan I into second ahead of third-placed Poppy Stronge with Jersey S.
Anna Power claimed the Showground Photography 1.25m Final with new ride of two months Calgary PH Z. Fourteen of the original 44 starters qualified for the jump-off, Anna and the beautifully bred Comme Il Faut x Caretano Z seven-year-old, who won a Silver 1.30m class out in Oliva Nova, Spain, one month earlier, effortlessly taking the win with 0.46 seconds in hand. Demir Topcu secured second place on Shahani Maximus and Caitlin True rode Brownheath Collateral into third.
James Ingham gave an insight to his intentions when winning one of the qualifying classes, and duly claimed the Seven and Eight-year-old Final with Altesse 2 VN Z.
Forty-five competitors came forward over a 1.35/1.40m handicapped course, these reduced to 13 for the jump-off. James found the advantage to beat the older horses, guiding the Aganix De Segneur Z x Little Rock seven-year-old into victory by 0.64 seconds. Mark Edwards steered the eight-year-old Tinkers Touch into second with Holly Smith on the seven-year-old Sing Z in third.
Lottie Tutt was odds on favourite in the Hazelden Saddlery Six-year-old Final with three rides for The Billy Stud in the 14-horse jump-off, yielded from a start list of 45. She justified her consistency with three in the top five places, including winning with Billy Be Magical with a 0.38 second advantage. Alfie Bradstock jumped Balou’s Boy Terma G Z into second, Chloe Reynolds finished third on Chasalino PS and Lottie posted double clears on Billy Jasper and Billy The Shard for fourth and fifth.
Bethanie Knight lifted The Billy Stud Five-year-old Final with P-Canturissie. Thirty-six combinations set off around the first of three inviting rounds set at 1.15m with 19 posting first round clears and an eventual 11 making their way into the jump-off. Bethanie guided the Carrera VDL daughter into a smooth round to edge into the top spot by 0.44 seconds. Taylor Peare netted second place on BP Indiana and third was awarded to Alfie Bradstock’s Primera B.
Charlie Dawson lifted the Equine America 1.20m Welsh Masters Final with TGF Africa in a hard-fought jump-off. Ten of the original entry list of 47 returned for the final decider, Charlie flying round the course on the year-old TGF Africa to secure the title by 0.24 seconds. Adam Taylor finished second on Obos Elite with third awarded to Sophie Hillier riding Nice Star B.
Following three qualifying rounds, 32 riders came forward in the Bailey Farm Equestrian 1.15m Final, these halved to 16 for a competitive jump-off. Summer Tanner emerged top of the pile with a 0.13 second advantage on the 14-year-old Billy Colman (Cevin Z x Vechta). Katharina Hilger slipped Javas Emerald Blue into second and Abbie Shackell picked up third with Moet.
Henry Nelson returned triumphant in the Keith Price Garages 1.10m Final riding Temple Druid. Twelve of the 29 starters returned to battle it out against the clock, Henry clocking up the fastest time on the Temple Tamability x Temple Akropolis seven-year-old to win by 0.76 seconds. Samantha Kellett eased Renkum Peek A Boo into second ahead of Charlie Hughes in third on Ciarra Z.
Stacy Willsone landed the Deebees Rosettes 1.05m Final with the consistent CSF Olympic Lady. Twenty-seven competitors from 44 starters jumped first round clears and made for a hot, competitive jump-off, Stacy and her seasoned campaigner of six years, the Luidam x Cruising mare winning with 0.31 seconds to spare. Claire Chambers slotted Meacham Quickstep into second with Charlotte Wilson filling third place on Foxisle Ferrari.
Image: Showground Photography
.JPG "Hollie Gerken adds another Championship to her tally and Tabitha Travis makes a winning return with a victory double in the exciting Pony Finals at the Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships")
