25 year-old Tim Page from Bury St. Edmunds Suffolk, with Sue Hodgson’s 10 year-old grey gelding Santa Cruise II took the victory in the fourth leg of the International Stairway which took place on Friday 20th June at the Royal Highland Show in Ingliston, Edinburgh.
Twenty competitors came forward to contest this competition and the 1.55m course was designed by course designer Mark McGowan. The course comprised of thirteen obstacles with sixteen jumping efforts, all of which required jumping within the time limit of 90 seconds.
In the first round, a number of combinations faulted at fences throughout the course just two combinations managed first round clears to secure their place in the jump off for their share of the £7,500 prize pot. In a competition which draws the five highest placed competitors through from the first round, it meant that three additional horses and riders were invited through based on least faults and fastest time.
First to go in the jump off was 48 year-old Robert Bevis from Wrexham, Clywd with his own 13 year-old grey gelding Courtney 6. After picking up 6 penalties in the first round, they jumped clear in the jump off to finish in a time of 55.70.
Next into the arena was 32 year-old Douglas Duffin from Dollar, Clackmannanshire with his own and Richard Jenkinson’s 9 year-old bay gelding Quidam BZ. Bringing forward his 4 faults from the first round, they also put in a foot perfect round to stop the clock in 50.55 seconds meaning that they finished on 4 faults.
Robert Bevis also went through to the jump off with Kate Mustill’s 9 year-old grey mare Pebbles IV this time taking through the 4 faults that he picked up in the first round. The combination then went on to jump clear stopping the clock in 49.48 seconds meaning that finish on the 4 faults from the first round.
28 year-old Kelly Connor from Cardenden, Fife, with her own 11 year-old chestnut gelding Why Me II. were the only other combination to jump clear in the first round and emulated it in the second, crossing the finish line in 55.09 seconds.
