HULL-based dressage rider Jess Markham riding Tory Carr’s homebred mare Delilah Rose put in a cool performance to win the TopSpec Start Championship at Fry’s East Yorkshire.
Sponsored by TopSpec, the Start (Prelim) series has been running throughout the winter and spring with qualifiers held at Snainton, Bishop Burton and Sheepgate and the top 30 horse and rider combinations going through to the Championships at the Driffield venue.
A four-year-old skewbald mare, Delilah Rose was only backed last year and qualified for the series championship in early spring with a cool and confident win at prelim level.
Said Tory: “She is a very special mare, not only is she home-bred and produced but she was also hand-reared from eight-weeks-old after her mother passed away.”
As Tory competes at Medium level she is unable to compete Delilah at a lower unaffiliated level so Jess, who works full time as a Forensic Psychologist took on the ride.
Added Tory: “Jess has put a lot of hard work and training in with Delilah and it has certainly paid off. Jess and I were over the moon with her win, she seems to be taking it all in her stride and seems very cool and calm in the dressage arena.”
Tory hopes to affiliate Delilah later in the year for Jess to start competing her at Novice level.