Last-minute change of plan pays dividends

A slightly “feral” horse lands a grand prix and Joe Trunkfield keeps the in-laws happy

- SARAH RADFORD

Welsh Masters, Wales and West, Monmouthshire

LAST year’s ladies champion Gemma Ellison went one better to take the Equestrian Surfaces 1.40m grand prix with the quirky Helsinki VDL, following a late decision to compete.

“I’d only brought him to the show because he turns a bit feral at home if he’s not been ridden!” she said.

Gemma had jumped two shows this spring with the 11-year-old, but gave him time off after the April show here as he felt “a bit tight”.

“I rode him at the show round a field on Thursday and he felt better, so thought I’d do the 1.40m qualifier and we could leave it at that if he wasn’t right. He jumped clear and got a lower place as I didn’t push him against the clock. We gave him the Saturday off, then thought I may as well jump the grand prix and see how he was.

“You can’t tell with him warming up as you can barely jump a fence in a warm-up because he’s so quirky. I think I only jumped two verticals before I went in,” she said.

Kerry Harris and Wellington M had jumped the opening clear around Raf Suarez’s second-round track, setting the tone for a fast decider. The victor for the past two years, Mark Edwards, looked poised to maintain his incredible track record at this show with two of the eight horses forward to the jump-off, from an initial line-up of 47. But for once, the Cowbridge-based rider’s luck on his “home” showground wasn’t in.