More than a thousand spectators poured into Dave and Judy Reddan’s Grange Equestrian Centre near Okehampton to enjoy the excitement of showjumpers taking on the challenge of the big red Puissance wall.

In an atmosphere as red hot as the new paint on this awesome wall the packed crowd were kept at the edge of their seats as horses faced the prospect of jumping nearly two metres, the equivalent of a normal size door.

Eight riders reached the penultimate round at a height of 1.80m when European young rider gold medallist Matthew Broome and Cornish farrier Andrew James pushed a brick out of the wall leaving six horses and riders to face the ultimate test of 1.95 metres.

The atmosphere was truly electric as one by one the six Westcountry finalists bravely rode down to this massive challenge
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Martin Brake from Taunton, riding Sandpiper; Sammie Jo Coffin aged 19 from St Austell, riding No Wise Cracks; Adam Ellery from St Columb, riding Pendarves Raffles; Amanda Cole aged 17, from Yelverton, riding Longfield Lelo , Justin Tuff from Totnes, riding Karen O’Brien’s Retro and Brian Facey from St Wenn, nr Bodmin riding Kermit’s Lover thrilled the cheering audience as they launched into orbit over the highest fence of their lives.

In the end Martin, Sammie Jo, Adam, Amanda and Justin shared the honours.
It was a night of pure entertainment with standing room only at The Grange.
Taunton’s Tom Dunn opened the evening’s entertainment with a crowd pleasing win over Matthew Broome in the Grand Prix on his own Mr Willoughby.

For a full report from the three-day show look out for the May issue of Equestrian Now SW.

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