JOE TRUNKFIELD and Grennanstown Sarco Lux Hill kicked off the winter season with a commanding win, leaving the competition battling for second place in the £3,000 winter grand prix.
The door was swinging open for Joe and the 14-year-old gelding when they entered the ring from midfield in this 10-horse decider.
Jonathan Dixon and Jack JL had just produced the single clear so far, stopping the clock five seconds behind a pathfinding eight-fault round from Mark Edwards and Royale Tale.
Joe and "Bart", this year's 1.40m open champions at the nationals, are a formidable combination on their day and they produced a daunting clear to seize a five-second lead.
No other partnership was able to match the pace and leave the fences standing - Guy Williams and Hanne Umonia, who had won Friday's AW Jenkinson Natural Flake 1.40m open, came within a second, but lowered a pole, before Chris Smith and Messarado Blue pipped Jonathan Dixon by 0.27sec to slip into second.
It was John Whitaker in final draw who came closest to target, snatching second on the elegant stallion Z7 Regal Don when he crossed the line four seconds behind.
"He's always there or thereabouts - he won the grand prix qualifier on the middle day at Arena UK last week and he felt very good today," said Joe of Gordon and Su Hall's gelding.
Denne historien er fra October 10, 2024-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 10, 2024-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Neil 55 has lift off
The brilliant 148cm goes airborne” and five-star event riders are out in force
Take a check
Cold, wet winters can take their toll on trailers. What can you do to ensure yours is roadworthy when spring arrives? Stephanie Bateman investigates
'I was nervous until the end'
World number five Martin Fuchs endures a long wait to discover his World Cup fate and there's a symbolic win for an Olympic silver medal-winning event rider
Daisy Berkeley
Second at Blenheim was a strong comeback for the former British team stalwart. She tells Pippa Roome about the horse who made it possible, other projects and whether fivestar beckons again
How to be the perfect hunting visitor
Rory Knight Bruce has some sage advice on how to behave when visiting other packs that should ensure your name doesn’t become a byword for bad manners
Soneva Gili
A racing career wasn't what suited this gentle thoroughbred - instead, he became a trusted all-rounder with a particular love for hunting and hounds
WHY CONNIES CUT THE MUSTARD
Connemara ponies are often hailed the sportiest natives, but what gives this remarkable breed its edge? Bethany Stone uncovers what makes Connies a competitor's perfect partner
Flipper Darco UKZ
This huge-striding superstar is blind in one eye, but that hasn’t hindered his sensational rise to the top. Jennifer Donald meets a young rider’s horse of a lifetime” and a beloved family pet
Protecting youngsters
Young horses' worm control needs differ from those of adults. Tim Mair FRCVS explains the approach needed
A lot has changed since I first started'
Laura Tomlinson on the evolving landscape of dressage
