Polished Prince wows the judges
Work at home pays off for a champion, while one pair triumph in their debut outing together and a small hack goes all out to impress
A LAST-MINUTE qualification reaped a £1,000 reward for debut-making Taran Hanover and Whittakers Prince (Sammy) when they landed the Royal Angel supreme amateur title — their first big win together.
Having headed the amateur hacks in the morning to gain their entry ticket, the pair faced 17 other — many much longer-established — combinations in the prestigious final where a polished, fluent show wowed judges Joanne Griffin and Faye Ludlow.
“As soon as this horse came in, we both said we’d love to ride it,” said Joanne. “Its show was consistent right from the start, and we didn’t want it to end.”
The 2012 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) riding horse champion joined Taran in January after a year off and campaigns as a hack from Stanley Grange, where Taran has been working hard with trainer Sue Ritchie to establish a partnership with the big-moving 10-year-old.
“It’s a great feeling when what you have worked on at home pays off in the ring,” said Taran, who qualified for the Royal International (RIHS) on this spot at the Three Shires Festival in April.
“We came to try and qualify for this, but I never dreamt we could win — I’d have been thrilled just to get into it and be placed, but today Sammy gave me his all.”
In what the judges admitted was a close decision, reserve — and the top Irene Susca £300 home-produced prize — went to a delighted Megan Cookson and her multi-garlanded intermediate and amateur show hunter, Louvaine Rooney.
“I was really happy with the way he went,” said pharmacy dispenser Megan, another making her debut in this class and first out to perform.
“I felt he was there at my command and going first makes him feel special — I swear he thinks he’s human and being down the line just won’t do.”
It had been a busy day for the family as Megan’s father,
John, had driven down from Cheshire to ride-judge here in the morning, before hot-footing it to supervise Megan and “Rooney” at Staffordshire Country Festival (report, p68), where they were fourth in the HOYS qualifier. He then drove back to Arena UK just in time for this final.
“And only another two-anda-half hours’ driving to go,” joked John.
PULLING OUT THE STOPS
FELLOW home-producer
Lucinda Martin scooped Irene Susca’s extra £200 — on top of the “standard” £100 prize — in third with her hunter Boss, who was also third, carrying a side-saddle, in the Colosso Family ridden show horse supreme just moments earlier.
Sadly, only seven contested it this year but quality was there in abundance and Jordan Cook and the small hack Carrhouse Billie Jean — owned by the class sponsors — had to pull out all the stops en route to claiming the top spot.
Personifying elegance, obedience and flowing paces, Jordan and “Jojo” pulled off a technically demanding show which included a beautifully-executed rein-back and shallow canter serpentine, impressing judges Sarah and Sharon Harrison.
“We loved this horse from the moment it walked in and it didn’t disappoint from then on,” said Sarah. “It was the clear winner for performance and showmanship, with sparkle, poise and elegance.”
This was the second time Jordan has scooped this title, having triumphed in 2014 with Fleetwater Xecutive, who is believed to be the only other hack ever to have won.
“I’m absolutely delighted with Jojo,” said a beaming Jordan, who produces the mare for Rae Colosso to campaign in intermediate and ultimately hack ranks. “I’m very excited about Jojo’s progress and think there’s a lot more to come yet.
“She’s not been the easiest and I’ve taken my time with her. I gave her a month on long-reins and then hacked her out to teach her to accept my leg more. I’m a big believer in free and forward-going horses, and I don’t think gadgets and endless circles in schools achieve that.”
QUALITY NOT QUANTITY
IN another close call, reserve went to Robert Walker with Jill Day’s hunter champion, Vantage Point. The hunter classes were sadly depleted after the baffling loss of the show’s usual HOYS
qualifiers, but Vantage Point had certainly earned his Colosso ticket at North East Counties. Making for a good day at the office, Robert also headed the open hacks — also non-qualifiers here this time — with Supreme Products’ Comberton Clarence and a booming HOYS cob section aboard Paul Mortimer’s in-form Randalstown Rolex.
Xanthe Barker-Wild, who broke her back in a ride-judging fall last year, topped a line of 16 maxi cobs, scoring with her already-qualified seven-year-old Kavanaghs Lord Winchester.
“I’m over the moon with him,” said Xanthe, who found the horse in a cattle pen in Ireland when he was three.
“He is a dream to ride and has really looked after me. Unfortunately, I’m still on so many painkillers, I rattle.”
The ticket here passed to Ian Smeeth in second with Nina Armstrong-Finlay’s Miramax.
In working hunter ranks,
Matt Cooper and his superconsistent Bellevue Tomboy added an open Cuddy ticket to the intermediate one gained here seven days earlier when partnered by Mark Davidson.
Twenty-one contenders came forward to tackle Amanda Routledge’s attractive track, which yielded 11 clears.
“It was a nice, up-to-height course — built to be jumped,” was the verdict of Matt, who works full time in London and meets his rides at shows.
Worker trainer Rachel
Turner — who originally spotted Tomboy in a neighbour’s field and suggested that Matt try him — had success of her own.
Taking a day off from coaching duties, she was rewarded with a winning double in novice and restricted workers aboard her sister Rebecca Brierley’s talented Ernie Big, an Irish-bred Big Time Ginger seven-year-old.
“He’s only been lightly shown because I don’t have much time to compete,” said Rachel. “However, we do think a lot of him and are hoping to do opens eventually.”