Julius seizes grand prix victory

BILLY TWOMEY reigned over the £6,000 1.45m major grand prix, piloting Julius and Chef Of Flanders Fields Z through to an eight-horse jump-off to finish first and third.

- By SARAH RADFORD

Arena UK 20th Major Showjumping Championships, Lincs

He opened the decider with a masterfully smooth clear over Colm Quinn and Colin Ellison's course on the nine-year-old grey Chef Of Flanders Fields Z, but it proved not enough when Rob Whitaker – a four-time winner of this grand prix – found an extra 0.1sec with Gentlemen.

Just one other rider was able to deliver a double clear, Guy Williams who was one second off the pace riding Chacco's Fleur PS, before Billy returned for a second chance, riding Helen Enright's Mylord Carthago x Mermus R 11-year-old Julius.

An impeccable round from this nippy gelding landed Billy back at the top of the lineup with 0.73sec in hand.

“I knew what Rob had done and I knew I needed to shave a bit off here and there,” Billy said. “Julius is a small horse but he's better than a speed horse, he's extremely competitive against the clock at 1.45m/1.50m level. You can be fast in a jump-off without going crazy, as he's got a lot of blood and covers the ground without you even knowing it.”

Billy has recently retaken the ride on third-placed Chef Of Flanders Fields Z.

“He's a horse who's been a bit stop-start,” he said. “He missed some experience as a six-year-old, so Louise Lovegrove has been riding him for me but she's had to have surgery on her ankle so I took him back to get more shows into him. He's an exciting horse for the future.”

Julius had finished third in Tuesday's grand prix qualifier behind JP Sheffield (Mydonatus K) and Sally Goding (Spring Willow), while Thursday's qualifier went to Sandy McLean and Gino F, who is returning to form after a year off.

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