PUISSANCES rarely fail to deliver absorbing excitement. Saturday’s concluding classes at the BSJA Guernsey Horse of the Year Show were no exception.

There is a certain buzz among the crowd when the tractor and trailer carrying the wall enter the arena to set up the short but demanding course that confronts the combinations brave enough to take it on.

As it turned out, it was visitors from Jersey who took home the honours on this occasion with both the junior and senior events coming down to a thrilling fourth round climax.

The junior class turned out perfectly in that from five starters, each round eliminated a combination until it came down to a straight jump off between Josh Baudains on Pickets Pride Country Squire and home rider Penny Freeman with Kilrea Boy.

By that stage, the wall had reached 1.45m, which dwarfed those final two combinations.

But it was the spread that troubled Baudains as he accrued four faults on that obstacle as his mount just clipped the final pole.

However, undeterred they sized up the wall and with one mammoth leap they left it in tact, much to Baudains’ obvious delight as he punched the air repeatedly to the applause of the crowd.

Freeman had a tough act to follow but she gave it her best shot.

Kilrea Boy cleared the spread but refused a first attempt at the daunting wall. Second time around, it was a brave effort but one of the blocks came down and the eight faults gave Baudains the Crackerjack Cup.

With the sun setting on Chemin Le Roi, it was then the turn of the seniors with 12 combinations declaring and a highly entertaining competition came down to a fourth round involving three of the them.

The final test was a spread that span 1.60m and stood at 1.40m high with a 1.60m wall to follow.

Tim Phillips riding Woodfield Bobby was the sole Jersey representative remaining and their excellent attempt left them with just four faults as they knocked the top block from the wall.

Samantha Gervaise-Brazier and her extraordinary pony Lady Cona then took up the challenge after doing so well during the previous rounds to make this stage.

They flew over the spread but did not fancy the wall and the rider sensibly retired leaving Sian Staples and Ultimo as the remaining local contenders.

The combination had provided the drama of the third round when they had left a wall block teetering on the edge of the one beneath. It was eventually to fall, but by that time Ultimo had made it through the finish to register a clear round.

However, that fortune was not to last and they had to settle for a fine second place with faults at both the spread and the wall.

They did receive the non-so-small consolation of the Irish Bailey Trophy as the top Guernsey combination while Phillips left with the Videlo Trophy as overall winner.

Jersey senior riders also claimed top honours in the big grands prix.

The novice class attracted a whopping 32 entries with 15 of those making it through to the second round.

It was Lisco ridden by Holly O’Brien who set a terrific early pace that others could not match.

Second to go in the round, they stormed around the eight-fence course clear in 34.25sec.

Jenny Winfindale, who has only recently made the move up from the junior ranks, made a terrific effort on Shelby II as they secured second place with a time of 36.10 while Mel Rihoy made a welcome return to take third on Oasis Gold Star.

The following senior grand prix was a top quality class containing 26 entries including several from the King’s Troop and French teams as well as Channel Islanders.

Once again it came down to a three-way jump off involving two local combinations and one from Jersey.

Looking for a quick time, Amelia Jeffery and Loftsome Moonlight raced around the course but knocked down successive fences in doing so and finished with eight faults.

Fellow Sarnian Inga Le Prevost and Personality took the lead with a clear round next up, setting a time of 41.84sec. for Alison Rogers, the one remaining competitor, to beat.

Her horse Colwyn Odin did her proud and passed the test with flying colours, knocking exactly three seconds off Le Prevost’s time.

‘It was a fantastic class. I’m very happy,’ said Rogers. ‘This will go back on my sideboard now,’ she added with a smile as she picked up the Williams & Glynn Trophy, which she also won last year.

Guernsey, though, fared better in the junior grands prix.

Freeman took the honours in the main one as Kilrea Boy produced a brilliant clear round in the jump off to claim the Lucksall trophy.

Jodie Travers and Pimms Parade won an 18-strong novice event which saw nine combinations through to the second round.

Pimms Parade was the quickest of the three clears, the others being from D’Abernon Lilt (Gabrielle Mauger) and Bees Knees (Leanne Gallienne).

Sarah Jackson continued her excellent HOYS with victory in the 128cm grand prix on Whinfell Tom Kitten while the nursery class went to Jersey’s James Duffy on Master Bailey.

* A SPECIAL mention must go to Chloe Uttley, the youngest BSJA Guernsey member, who at just nine-months-old won the open fancy dress class during Thursday’s showing day riding Vectis Josephine. Her theme was the teddy bears’ picnic.