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.