Victory for Halesowen's Faye Adams and Demograaf in the Boleworth
Faye Adams and her partner Demograaf returned to the Boleworth International in Cheshire to take victory in the Le Mieux 3* 1.40m in style.
The West Midlands-based showjumper claimed a victory double at the same venue two years ago.
65 competitors took part on the Spanish course-designer Javier Trenor Paz's track. Adams and Demograaf won by just 0.21 seconds to pip their nearest rivals Joe Trunkfield and Greenacres Vanquish to top spot.
Adams said: “It was difficult to do something different to save time as most riders followed the same route and there were plenty of inside turns and related distances which restricted any galloping.
“I got a forward stride from the plank to the oxer and to the double, but he’s so careful I can trust him to verticals – he doesn’t like to knock poles down!
“The final line caused a lot of problems with the top poles falling for several riders, but I’d made up time early on, so I was able to slow up for the final line and make sure we cleared the tricky verticals. Demi’s naturally very quick, ‘land and move’ is our mantra and he’s so quick away from a fence – he wants to win as much as I do.”
Faye will be using July to focus on qualifying her young horses for their respective finals at the Horse of the Year Show at the NEC, Birmingham, in October, which will provide Demograaf will a few quiet weeks.
“I’ll keep Demi ticking over in July then he’ll be back for the British Showjumping National Championships [Stoneleigh, Warwickshire] in August. He’s won the Speed Horse of the Year once before and the 1.30m title twice – I’d like to win them both again,” said Faye, who will also target the Chepstow International meeting at the David Broome Event Centre in Wales at the end of August.
