Mark Edwards earns a bumper bonus at the Blue Chip Championships
Monday 13 April 2026
.JP.jpg "Mark Edwards earns a bumper bonus at the Blue Chip Championships")
Mark Edwards enjoyed a bumper pay packet at the Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships at Addington Equestrian, taking the top two places in the feature Blue Chip Grand Prix and only the second rider to claim the PRB Horseboxes £2,000 Championship bonus since its inception.
“This has always been a fun show and it was a good way to end the winter season,” said Mark, who pocketed almost £6,000 over two days.
Winners of the Wales and West 1.40m Grand Prix a few days earlier, Mark and Dillinger NE began their campaign in the Blue Chip Pro Challenge Trophy with second place, registering their intention towards the £2,000 bonus offered to any rider in the Blue Chip Pro Challenge top three riders who goes on to win the Blue Chip Grand Prix. Mark accepted the challenge with gusto.
Thirty-six competitors came forward over course-designer Nigel Jess’ 13-fence 1.40m track, with nine conquering every technical distance question to qualify for the jump-off, Mark the sole rider to claim two of the rides.
“It was quite a careful course, there was no let-up with a couple of big oxers at the end. This is always a tough class and the course-builder got it right with eight clears,” said Mark.
Mark led from the off, opening the exciting decider with his home-bred Tinkers Tale with a sizzling target and earning well-deserved applause. The atmosphere became electric as rider chased the time. Beth Vernon came within 0.35 seconds aboard Michael Bates’ Dirk IV, but Mark immediately annihilated anyone’s efforts with a final round flyer on his own and Ros and Denis Palmer’s Diarado 11-year-old Dillinger NE, wiping a further 0.46 seconds off his own time.
“Going in knowing I’d already won the bonus made it very enjoyable and I’m only hr second one to do it since Jay [Halim in 2016], which shows how difficult it is to do it,” said Mark, who expanded on his tactics with Dillinger.
“He always needs a few rounds to get going [after a break] and he’s sharpened up and ready after a few classes. Dillinger is very good on turnbacks and he has a big stride, I took one less stride from one to two than I did on Tinkers Touch, and then just kept it tight.”
The international meetings at Chepstow and Chard figure in Mark’s immediate schedule – “And then we’ll make a plan from there.”
Thomas Pritchard scored a handsome hat-trick of championships with Blue Chip Pro Challenge, Novice and Joshua Jones Discovery titles.
A flying round from Thomas and Isabella Sharifi’s Angot HH Z earned victory in the Blue Chip Pro Challenge Trophy despite several serious challenges. The class ran under single-phase rules with a strong 12-fence course testing the 52 starters with wide oxers, tight turn options and a long gallop to the final oxer. Thomas took every tight option, scything through turns on the 14-year-old gelding to edge ahead 0.27 seconds. Longtime leader Mark had to settle for second with Dillinger NE and Joe Trunkfield eased Jankorado GB into third, the top three in with a chance of the generous bonus if they won the Blue Chip Grand Prix on Friday night.
Angot originally joined Thomas at Julian Mincher’s London base last October on sales livery.
“Izzy recently broker her leg and had an operation on her leg and as she was out of action, wanted to sell him. But with all the success Thomas has had, she may decide to keep him for herself,” said Julian. “He’s a lovely person and such a gent to look after. His type and his way of going is old-fashioned; he’s real old-fashioned old gent and now, Izzy might keep him for her to ride.”
Thomas claimed three of the top five places of the Bliss of London Novice Championship with three of Julian Mincher’s five-year-old home-breds, winning aboard Double M Calista’s Girl.
“She likes going fast and is always brave and keen but has always been affectionate – as foal she always came up for scratches,” said Thomas.
The 80 starters were reduced to 24 for the jump-off, although the on-form Thomas initially had an ulterior motive.
“I told him he was not allowed to beat his girlfriend [Steph Brownbill on CSH Pure Perfection], who was in the lead when he went in on first ride Double M Carpe Diem,” said Julian. “But by the time he was on second ride Double M Calista’s Girl, Steph’s time had been beaten, so he could go for it.”
Thomas didn’t need telling twice and cut every corner on Calista’s Girl (Double M Chacco x Calvaro Z) and shot into the lead by 0.97 seconds, pushing Crystal White into second with Metropolitan Harry Potter. Thomas also placed the half-brother Double M Déjà Vu (Double M Chacco x Lord Calando) third.
Julian rode competed both the sire and dam of Double M Calista’s Girl, jumping Double M Chacco up to a seven-year-old until sold to Luca Zalonit and Grade A mare Calista.
“We lost Calista to colic two years ago, but I do have a five-year-old twin from the same embryo flush – he’s 17hh and still out in the field, but I might bring him in and see if he’s as good as his sister,” added Julian.
Only 24 hours later, Thomas and the ultra-consistent Double M Calista’s Girl lifted their second title in the Joshua Jones UK Discovery Championship. A field of 90 competitors bid for this title with 37 of them finding the key in round one to advance to the jump-off, Thomas taking two of the rides. There was no doubt of the winning round, Thomas trusting the reliable mare on quick turns and pace to secure the top spot by 0.80 seconds. Ffion Roberts slotted Megalulu into second ahead of Steph Gunn in third aboard Quarantino.
The wins for the Double M Stud/Julian Mincher contacts did not end there. Thomas Pritchard’s girlfriend Steph Brownbill, relegated by Thomas in previous classes, claimed her own win in the Blue Chip Calming Performance Championship with the Westpoint Quickfire seven-year-old Calcourt Verity.
Only seven of the original 58 starters conquered the 12-fence 1.25m track and accessed the jump-off, but Steph was quick and sure to win by 1.50 seconds. Emma-Jo Slater slipped Kim Barzilay’s home-bred seven-year-old Kimba Luidun into second with Isobel Hudson’s Cooley Iron Man in third.
“I worked for [former Olympic showjumper] Rowland Fernyhough, who bred Verity, for several years and got to ride her last year before buying her,” said Steph, who has worked for Julian’s London-based Double M Stud since October.
Verity is a bigtime favourite.
“This is her first time at this level but she’s very sassy but very competitive; she’s just back from her winter holidays and we thought she might not have done enough [to jump here]. We needn’t have worried, she’s a proper winner, I’m so grateful to have her. She knows she’s good; she wants to win as much as I do. The more I ask, the more she gives but Julian has also been a massive help,” added Steph.
Emma-Jo Slater was on top form in the WB Equiline Star Championship, dominating the jump-off with four of the top six places in the 17-horse decider.
She looked to have the upper hand from the off, but Emma Sargeant gave her a run for her money, briefly taking the lead on Ballyheerin Quintana, but Emma-Jo came back in the final draw on the speediest horse of the lot, Freule TN. Winner of the NAF Five star Winter League Final at the British Showjumping Spring Championships only 10 days earlier, the Baloubet Du Rouet x Clinton 16-year-old mare was lightning-quick yet deceptively fast to secure victory by 0.98 seconds. Emma-Jo also finished third on Kimba Time, fourth with Klein Stargette and sixth aboard Fleur Du Logis.
With four in the jump-off, Emma-Jo was able to hone her skills each time.
“Each time it went faster and faster. I found I could shave a bit more off a turn or take out another stride, and luckily, I was drawn last on the fastest horse of the lot – she’s such a winner,” said Emma-Jo.
Beth Vernon, a prolific winner in ponies at The Blue Chip Championships in yesteryear, lifted her first Blue Chip title with Michael Bates’ Boxted Mimi – and in 24 hours, made it two! Beth landed the Blue Chip Joint Care Power title, celebrating 15 years of sponsorship with Blue Chip Feeds, and picked up a second championship riding Boxted Mimi.
“She’s a machine!” exclaimed Beth after the second win on Michael Bates’ home-bred Cevin Z x Quidam De Revel seven-year-old.
“She’s very chilled, takes everything in her stride – this was her first indoor show with me – she’s ultra-careful and just wants to please. She’s the first horse I’ve ridden that is just like Falaza [former top pony]; Mimi’s very careful, turns so quick and is grey,” added Beth, who won the Blue Chip JC/JA Pro Sparkle four times with her Pony European individual gold medallist Falaza.
Twenty from the original field of 70 in the Blue Chip Joint Care Power Championship returned for the jump-off, with Beth sweeping into an unassailable lead to win by 1.18 seconds. John Crippen claimed second on Alfino with Abi Leadbetter filling third on PJ’s Cruise.
Beth has been based in Essex riding for Michael since January: “I actually rode Mimi’s dam Quality II when I was based with Billy Twomey,” added Beth, who went on to win the Cheval Liberte 1.25m Championship as 24 of the 53 starters contended the jump-off.
Beth eased ahead on Boxted Mimi by 0.86 seconds and picked up third with Scutchers, sandwiching Sophie Lincoln in second aboard Miss A Name.
Harry Bateman hit top gear to take the Blue Chip Dynamic B and C Championship on Emma Smith’s eight-year-old Billy Tudor daughter Billy Be Brave in a return to the Blue Chip Championships after a 16-year hiatus.
“I haven’t been to these Championships since I was 16; it was a long way to travel to Hartpury College [the former home] but now it’s at Addington, I’ll definitely be coming back, the atmosphere is fantastic,” said Harry.
A field of 43 initially came forward with 17 making their way into the jump-off, Harry galloping into the top spot with 0.85 seconds to spare. Emma Sargeant came the closest for second on Maxima Z with Emma-Jo Slater filling third spot on Kimba Luidun.
“She only has one pace – I call her the ‘Duracell bunny’ – her first round is as fast as the jump-off, we just turn tighter – and you just have to go with her. Emma bought her from the Billy Stud and I rode her for Emma last year, but now she’s recovering from a broken shoulder, I’ve got her back and I hope I’ll enjoy the rest of the season with her,” said Harry. “She loves to jump and is 100% trustworthy to leave the fences up, and she’s so naturally fast and loves to win.”
Emma was equally enthusiastic about the partnership: “They suit each other so well.”
Ffion Roberts was crowned champion in a new Final at this year’s Blue Chip Championships – the Equiyd Ruby Final with Megalulu. Thirty competitors gained access to the Final from two qualifying rounds, Ffion headed a ruthlessly competitive 17-horse jump-off by 0.44 seconds. Ellie Mae Payne slipped La Bamba into second with Nicola Roe’s Spring Fair in third.
Ffion’s partnership was borne out of sadness. Her first horse Vinnie was lost to cancer of the spleen, prompting a search for another.
“They were big shoes to fill but she is so lovely, sane, never mareish but still her own person; she knows a special occasion and she never lets me down,” said Ffion, on the Balou Du Rouet x Quickstar eight-year-old.
However, disaster struck thee months after the purchase.
“It was a freak accident, she slipped on the road, and I ended up in hospital for a week with a broken tibia, and complications meant I didn’t compete for over a year,” explained Ffion. “Now I’s like to try to go up the grades with her.”
Ann-Marie Vizard seized victory in the Seaver Diamond Championship aboard Horatio II. The top 30 riders from two qualifying competitions came forward for the Final over 1m track, with 13 posting initial clear rounds to battle it out in the jump-off.
Jassy Pyke, the sole rider with two in the jump-off, took an early lead on Bon Amego, but Ann-Marie put her foot to the floor on the 14-year-old Horatio to cut 0.98 seconds from the time and claim the title. Rosie Danecker rode Casti Aneira into third.
.JPG "Honey Bowes Closes the Winter Championships with a Win in the Winter 1.35m Championship")
