The fifth leg of the British Showjumping International Stairway Series 2019 took place at The Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh last weekend, where Mark Edwards from South Glamorgan clinched a back to back win on Martyn Edwards’ 9 year-old British bred gelding Montreuxs Tale after winning the previous leg of the series at the South of England Show at the beginning of the June.
Course designer Mark McGowan set a tough first round track with no clear rounds resulting, so the top five four-faulters went through to the equally tough jump-off, with only two clear. Mark Edwards produced the fastest round of the class with a time of 51.12 seconds to take the top spot.
Second place with another clear round in the jump-off went to Helen Tredwell and Colin Garratt’s Sebastian VII in a time of 54.25 seconds. Millie Allen and Helen Webb’s Quinu De Pravia picked up four faults in both rounds to finish third on eight faults with Helen Tredwell and her second ride Larksong in fourth with twelve faults in total. Simon Buckley was the fifth rider in the jump-off but opted to retire his ride Elia after the sixth fence.
Mark’s form continued over the weekend when he picked up a one-two hat-trick in the Spires Hospitals Grand Prix with Montreuxs Tale and Tinkas Tale plus a win in the Fiona Gillespie Memorial A&B Stakes earlier in the week. Mark is picture in action over a showjump that cannot possibly be anything other than the iconic Forth Road Bridge.
The International Stairway takes place across a number of county shows where winning combinations accrue League Points that count towards the Final which takes place at the British Showjumping National Championships in August at Stoneleigh Park. The series culminates with a high profile championships where three Horse of the Year Show International Wild Cards are allocated as well as it being where the sports National Champion is crowned.
