Brentwood show jumper John Renwick looks to have started the new year where he left off in 1999, after showing top form at a special Millennium Derby competition that drew riders from several counties.

The Derby took place at Patchetts Equestrian Centre, Hertfordshire, over a novel course built by top show jumping course designer Peter Gillespie.

The 18 fence track took horses through two arenas and contained a wide variety of natural type fences, proving an educational experience for many of the competitors.

Renwick, who ended 1999 with a solid performance at the Olympia International Show Jumping Championships, proved unbeatable over the biggest track of the day.

He headed the Open Derby on his international ride Brookend Fuehrer, jumping one of only seven clears in the first round.

Just two riders could again go clear in the jump-off, and John finished just ahead of Bedfordshire's Pennie Cornish on the clock.

"The Derby track was quite different -- you jumped in the main arena, then went through a tunnel into the second arena," John explained.

"There were mainly rustic working hunter type fences in the second arena, where you were turning and jumping all the time. You then finished back in the main arena, over some bigger fences."

John has been riding Brookend Fuehrer for six years now, after bringing him on from a novice five year old.

His other experienced ride, the grey stallion Millbrook, was in good form at Towerlands arena near Braintree recently, winning three classes.

"In the £150 Open on the first day I was first and second on Millbrook and Brookend Raphaella, who has only just come back into work," John continued.

"Then Millbrook won the £100 and £150 classes the next day, where I also took second, third and fourth placings."

Renwick also plans to compete at the new Merrist Wood arena in Surrey, which measures 300m by 100m and has been billed as the biggest equestrian arena in the country.

Renwick said: "They are having a £300 Speed class and a £1,000 Grand prix at Merrist Wood and I'll be taking Millbrook, Brookend Fuehrer and Brookend Raphaella, to make sure I'm well covered!"

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.