A spring-heeled 18-year-old gelding makes his seasonal reappearance a winning one and a European eventing medallist is off to HOYS
SHOWJUMPING HIGHLIGHTS
29 May–3 June
The Suffolk Show, Trinity Park
ADRIAN SPEIGHT and Millfield Baloney made their first appearance on British soil this year a victorious one when they headed an exacting international stairway with the sole double clear.
Mark Edwards filled the majority of the five available jump-off slots, finishing hard on Adrian’s heels in second, third and fourth place.
“Mark had gone fast, which added to the pressure. I could have gone for a steady clear but if I had one down I’d have been right down the line,” said Adrian, who has been second in this class for the past two years. “It was a tough track,” he added, praising course-designer Kelvin Bywater. “He knows this ring like the back of his hand and he really built fences around the gradients – the first part of the double looked higher than the second when you walked up to it. The stairways have so many elements to them and are built to test you.”
Judith Witham’s spring-heeled Millfield Baloney is 18 this year but still seems as sound and keen as ever.
“You wouldn’t think he’s 18, he gets dafter as the weeks go on!” Adrian said.
“In the collecting ring I have to be more than careful with him, he’s always been a bit horse-shy but he’s getting worse and I think he just does it for devilry. He shows no signs of slowing down at all.”
CLUTTERBUCK REA
