This Is Guernsey

Pippa Inderwick aboard Opals Fruitella steadies before the drop down the big derby bank. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0596597)

THE uniqueness of the BSJA Guernsey Derby Show brought riders out in their droves at the weekend.

It is the time of the year that brings the added attraction of the famous derby bank, water jump and devil’s dyke and nowadays the popularity is such that combinations are restricted to two classes a day.

‘We have got to [restrict it], otherwise we would be jumping in the dark,’ said the show secretary, Janet Corbin. ‘Even now, though, it is a full day’s programme and the quality is extremely high.’

Saturday was a mixture of open jumping and the derby trials in the main arena, being used for the first time since the 2007 Horse of the Year show after which it was ploughed and reseeded.

The ring looked immaculate and the horses and riders were tested by the visiting course builder, Sam Pepperall, from Cornwall, who was on her second trip to Guernsey.

One combination to excel was Cathy Best and her mount L’Amour.

Still on a high from captaining the victorious Guernsey senior team at Jersey’s Liberation show, Best lived up to her name in the senior open derby trial.

With 14 entrants in the final class of the day, it was hotly contested and fittingly just in time the sun poked around the clouds that had been covering Chemin Le Roi all day.

L’Amour was one of five horses to have registered a clear round and to progress into the jump-off.

First in the ring, Dalesco ridden by Lisa Blanchard had one fence down and the following combination of Papillon III and Charlotte Breban had likewise, albeit in a very quick time of 36.98sec.

Then it was Best’s turn and L’Amour was faultless.

Not rushed at all, they cleared everything put in front of them to take a lead that they would not relinquish as the final two combinations, Lucelli ridden by Laura Breban and Amelia Jeffery on Kannoko, both accrued faults.

That was one of three exciting jump-offs in the senior derby trials.

The novice class came down to a trio and once again only one left every fence standing.

On this occasion it was Stonewood Sollaan ridden by Sam de Jersey who took the honours, and they did it in style too, clocking just 37.17sec. for their clear round.

Kim Leslie on Lessandro took second place with Sian Staples and Wadman in third.

The following intermediate class was all down to the clock.

Both Oasis Gold Star and JM Breezer notched four faults in the jump-off, under the guidance of Trevor de Garis and Katie Fallaize respectively, but whereas the former’s faults came from a fence down, the latter’s were the result of a refusal and that meant a slower time and therefore second place.

In was a similar story in the junior open derby trial.

Melanie Round on Golden Olive claimed a well deserved first place, but only 1.29sec.  separated them from runners-up Kilrea Boy and Penny Freeman in the five-combination jump-off.

In the preceding junior novice event, Ellie Hindle had found it well worthwhile putting in a late entry with Miss Congeniality as they claimed top spot while Lauren Ogier riding Morwyn Pandora Maid and Sophie Burbridge on Wood Royd Royal Connection were winners of the nursery and 128cm classes respectively.

On a good day for Guernsey’s Liberation Show stars, there were also class victories for Emma Dorey in the senior small open and Sian Staples in the novice restricted open.