Sammie Jo Coffin put in the performance of her career on Willem De Lux to win the Hickstead Derby Trophy.
Coffin wins Hickstead Derby Trophy in her first international show
Sammie Jo Coffin put in the performance of her career on Willem De Lux to win the Hickstead Derby Trophy on Saturday.
The Cornish rider beat an international-studded field at Hickstead which included world number three Nick Skelton and his probable London 2012 ride Big Star.
The 25-year-old, who is based in St Austell, endured a six-hour journey and a 550-mile round trip to make her debut at British showjumping's most famous venue.
And now Coffin cannot wait to return for more after she won a high-class competition climaxed by a thrilling jump-off.
Skelton set the standard, clocking 47.54 seconds after seven combinations among a 38-strong entry made the jump-off.
But Coffin then went over four seconds quicker than Skelton, ultimately taking top spot from Ireland's Keith Doyle (Walk Tall II), with James Hughes (Peiter VI) third and Skelton fourth.
Amazing feeling
"I didn't think I would catch Nick but my horse is pretty quick, and to end up beating someone like him is an amazing feeling," said Coffin.
"I had to do what I could, so I just went for it. This is my first international show, but the horse seems to be loving it.
"I knew there were a lot of good horses to follow me in the jump-off, yet he is so quick across the ground. I knew he would be hard to beat if we went well."
Coffin has had Willem De Lux for the last five years, and she has developed him herself during that time, including winning the 2011 Horse of the Year Show eight-year-old class.
"He has come on brilliantly, and he has done me proud today," she added.
"I have just stepped him up to international level, but he is getting better and better. The horse's brain is just brilliant, he is so careful and he's such a trier.
Quite hard
"It can be quite hard being based in Cornwall because we don't have too many shows, and it took six hours to get here.
"But it is amazing to be at Hickstead. Just to go into that international arena was fantastic - it just has a special feel about it.
"I didn't expect anything like this. I just expected to have a nice jump around, really, but it has worked out perfectly. I would love to come back."
Coffin, who won £1,700 for her efforts, was almost two seconds quicker than Doyle in the jump-off, although Sussex rider Louise Pavitt again displayed her quality partnership with Don VHP Z.
They won the Royal Windsor Grand Prix last month and their time of 42.59 seconds on Saturday was fast enough for first, but one fence down relegated them to fifth.
Time, meanwhile, was an issue for a number of riders as Will Funnell (Billy Angelo), William Whitaker (Glenavadra Brilliant), Harriet Nuttall (A Touch Imperious) and David O'Brien (Annestown) all went clear in round one, but each had time faults.
