William Funnell wins Great Yorkshire International Stairway

William Funnell and Billy Angelo

William Funnell took the sixth leg of the British Showjumping Business Partnership International Stairway  series this afternoon (13 July 2011) at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate. Riding Billy Angelo, he better the 30 other combinations who started over Bob Ellis’ up to height course.

Problems at the first
It was the first fence and a triple combination that seemed to cause the most problems, leaving only six pairings jumping the first round clear. First to go into the jump-off was Kent-based David McPherson, who had two rides through to the final round, with his own 10-year-old grey stallion Leonitas. He put in a good  time of 54.22 seconds, but lowering a pole left him with four faults.

James Davenport followed on his own Carrento Tzar. Although the second fence fell, James kept the pressure on coming home in a time of 52.61 seconds, to put him into the lead. This, however, was short lived as Keith Shore, who like James is from Cheshire, rode a superb round on Mystic Hurricane and came home clear in a time of 58.23 seconds. Although his time was beatable, the remaining competitors had to jump clear to beat him.

David's second chance
Going in to the arena next and for the second time was David Mcpherson, this time riding the nine-year-old gelding Billy Bishop, jointly own by himself and Elmgestut ‘Drei Eichen’ GMbH. Using his previous round to his advantage, David jumped clear in a time of 55.74 seconds, temporarily putting him in first place.

But Surrey's William Funnell managed to take the honours in this class riding Julie Slade’s eight-year-old chestnut gelding Billy Angelo. Putting in a foot perfect round in 51.56 seconds, William fought off all competition.

Last to go was Louise Whitaker Mandy Hall’s 10-year-old grey mare Dazzle II. Louise was up on the time, but unfortunately lowering the second to last fence to come home with four faults in a time of 49.60 seconds. This left her in fourth place