Edwards is in Flying form

The Welsh rider continues his county show domination and there's a surprise proposal from the course-designer

- SARAH RADFORD

MARK EDWARDS continued his early-season onslaught with a one-two in the area trial and a grand prix victory, heading both classes with his talented home-bred Flying Tinker II.

Matt Hoskins’ tracks were a challenge in both the 1.50m classes, using the main ring’s notorious gradients to ask some big jumping questions, with several oxers sited uphill.

“It’s a difficult arena to build in,” said Matt, who took over course-design duties here last year. “In the last 40 years, it was Alan Oliver then Bob Ellis, so there were big boots to fill.”

Three combinations produced clears in the area trial. Mark took through both Marlene Edwards’ Flying Tinker and the eight-year-old Dillinger NE, who stepped up to this level two weeks ago at Devon. They were joined by Harriet Biddick, who delivered a promising performance on the low-mileage Plot Blue nine-year-old Diamond Blue.

They were joined in the jump-off by fastest four faulters Angie Thompson (Fremont VDL) and the winners of the opening day’s 1.40m, Sammie-Jo Coffin and Chaccomo Blue.

Both Sammie and Angie delivered competitive clears, with Angie smashing Sammie’s target by four seconds, but both carried through their first-round penalties. A steady clear from Harriet and Diamond Blue was followed by a clear from Mark and Flying Tinker that positioned them between Sammie and Angie’s times.

He followed up with a less-risky round on Dillinger, four seconds behind his own lead, to lay a masterful claim on both the win and runner-up spot.

“I thought it was quite tough when I walked it; there were a lot of fences up and down the gradients and it was a scopey test,” said Mark, who headed both classes here last year.