Double Delight In Puissance
The Puissance provided a fittingly spectacular finale to the opening day of the 2022 Show. Five riders made it through to the fifth and final round to face the 2.15m wall. As second to go in the final round, Derek Morton jumped the imposing wall clear aboard KBS High Quality to put the pressure on those to follow, who were now fighting for a share of the winner’s prize fund. Guy Williams, a joint winner of the class in 2021, cleared the wall itself but knocked the triple bar to finish on four faults. It was the last combination to go, Trevor Breen riding Chankar Mail, who had shown signs of greenness in the first round but grown with confidence throughout, who was able to match Morton’s feat, demonstrating all the power and agility required to conquer the daunting wall and share the spoils.
After the class Breen said: “I’m just so happy with the horse. I haven’t had him too long but he’s been really good and I’m over the moon with his attitude and bravery tonight.”
Morton added: “KBS High Quality has only done three Puissance before, but he has won twice at Bolesworth and then I gave him a run last weekend at Chard. With the Puissance, it is a leap of faith for both the horse and rider as you can’t see what’s on the other side! Tonight, he felt super – he is such an amazing horse!”