The pair were drawn 28th to go in the 72-strong class, but not one of the 44 combinations that followed could beat their time of 28.53 seconds. Ava Veron and the 11-year-old mare Jolie Fleur Van De Noordheuvel, owned by Dean Vernon, gave a strong chase and looked as though they might just topple Faye and “Demi” from the top spot. It was close, but no cigar, and they stopped the clock in a time of 29.16 seconds.
Michael Whitaker and Barbara Beercock’s 11-year-old stallion Parkmore Rowan (Russel x Cruising) were third, in 29.52 seconds.
“He’s so naturally fast that he’s difficult to catch if it all goes well,” said Faye, adding this is the 13-year-old Quasimodo Z gelding’s third win in a row at Bolesworth.
“He’s a legend. we have such a good partnership and I’m so proud of him.
“My tactics were to go the eight, rather than the nine, down to the oxer – which was the first place in the jump-off – and to be tight and forward everywhere.”
The pair have a strong record on the international circuit, with wins and countless top placings across the UK and Europe.
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“In the stable, he’s just got a really cheeky attitude. He knows that I’m his mum and he is really well behaved for me, but he’s really naughty for everyone else,” said Faye.
“He likes to win. He’s so intelligent that he goes in there and he shows off. He knows what his job is and I’m very appreciative of having such a good horse, because he’s the best horse at the minute.
“I don’t jump him at home. He’s 13, he knows his job. I hack him a lot and I do a lot of canter work for his breathing. He likes to have fun, so I try and keep everything as fun as possible at home for him. Because when he goes in that ring, he knows his job and he loves it.”
The KWPN gelding was bought by an owner for Faye to ride in 2017.
“This is my fourth year with him. I bought him from the owner [in 2019] – I had him a birthday present for my 21st!” she explained.
“He’s so lazy and then he goes in, sees the course, sets alight and off he goes. I do think to be a good horse they have to have something about them, and his is that he is very cocky and thinks he is the best thing in the world.
“In all fairness, I am quite confident with him because he’s so careful. The course was technical. I watched a couple at the start and they were finding the first phase quite technical, but Demi is so careful and he’s so clever that he goes in and if you just get him semi there, he’s so consistent.”
Faye added that it is nice to be back jumping in front of a crowd.
“I came here last year, and there weren’t any spectators, so it’s so good to win here in front of a lot of people and it’s good to get back to normal. When you’re competing, you want to perform and for people to watch. I feel like now it’s great that the sport can be enjoyed again,” she said.
“Demi loves the crowd; on the lap of honour he was having a little play – he really wanted to have a nice big buck and I was trying to contain him. He loves the atmosphere.”
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.
