Romeo Gigles his way to victory
Home-produced Archwood Romeo Gigle claims the show pony title with 13-year-old Madison Dalley, while Emma Dewhurst lands her first intermediate win
A SERIES of polished, confident performances culminated in a major triumph for home producers when Madison Dalley, 13, landed the coveted Kathleen Wood show pony title.
Her partner, the former SEIB Search For A Star victor and reigning Royal International (RIHS) Pretty Polly supreme, Archwood Romeo Gigle (Jack), was previously produced by Team Jinks in Yorkshire but joined the Dalleys in South Wales after winning his 138cm class with Madison here last year.
“Our aim was just to try to win the class again if we could — as home producers we never dreamt we could be champion,” said Madison’s mother Leah. “Maddie has lessons from Jess Prichard but does all the schooling with Jack herself. He’s an absolute pleasure to produce — he needs very little working in, does everything with a smile on his face and lives a ‘normal pony’ life.”
The reserve award for Martha Jobling-Purser and the 138cm runner-up Holnicote Hot Toddy was also remarkable, as although Martha’s parents bought the pony from the home-producing Clark/ Lucas family in the summer, he has remained with them and Martha sat on the six-year-old for the first time the evening before the class here.
His usual rider, Zara Clark — third in the 138cm class on her now-retired Rhos Emperor — had a great week, also partnering the 153cm show hunter pony (SHP) Whelpley Watchman to third place on only her second outing with him and taking ninth with the evergreen 143cm SHP Rhosyr Elizabeth.
The intermediate title went to Lancashire with Emma Dewhurst aboard Emily Whitfield’s Jean Wright-produced small winner, Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) debutant Parkgate Royal Visit William. This was a first HOYS intermediate win for Emma, but sadly her last ride in the section as she is now 25.
“I just went in to give it my best shot, but William was amazing,” she said. “He’s like
a gift that just keeps on giving.”
Class runners-up, Sammi Elliott with Cindy Dilasser’s home-bred Sutton Grange
Lady Eleanor, stood reserve. It was a great show for Cindy, as Freddy Wharton won with his home-produced 143cm SHP Sutton Grange Fancy That and Sammi finished sixth in the large intermediates with another HOYS first-timer, Sutton Grange Amazing Grace.
EMOTIONAL VICTORY
DAWN WESTON’S eightyear-old 153cm SHP Kativa Dumbledore gave Devon-based Tierney McKinnon an emotional first HOYS class victory. Tears flowed in earnest, though, when the pair went on to take the Binks section title.
“I’ve been riding him since he was four, and his best result here was second in 2015,” sobbed Tierney. “He’s been very successful but has only done four shows this year — I wasn’t expecting this!”
Reserve went to India Till with her consistent 122cm winner Greendown Monsoon,
bringing producer Katy Carter’s tally to two wins, one title, one reserve and four placings from her eight charges. “I’m so thrilled for ‘Monsoon’,” Katy said. “He’s a proper little showman with a real swagger, but he’s never really had his moment until now.”
The yard’s top spot came courtesy of Alina Kozersky, 10, who claimed the Price mini title with her mother Katrina’s charming first ridden victor Woodend Shangri-La, now back with Katy who produced him originally for her daughter Poppy.
Reserve here went to John Harvey’s exquisite five-year-old lead-rein victor, Small Land
Toy Story, ridden with equal determination by his cousin’s daughter Beatrice TavernerJordan, four, to post a first HOYS win for herself and the pony.
A change of tactic paid off for Dumfries-based Hannah Sloan when her athletic chestnut Tinka’s Flash not only gave her a first HOYS win — heading the National Pony Society (NPS)/ Snuggy Hoods intermediate workers — but then produced a tremendous gallop to net the Sloan family a first section title.
Flash, reserve here in 2013 with Hannah’s brother, Stuart, has had a tremendous 2017 season which includes the RIHS and British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Desert Orchid championships.
“Last year we did loads of preparation before HOYS but he tends to get bored,” said Hannah. “So this time we did nothing at all — he hasn’t competed since the BSPS championships in August. He tends to be better when he’s a bit spooky but I was praying he would behave!”
Reserve went to the other end of the size scale in the form of 133cm victors, Matilda Lanni and the reigning RIHS and BSPS Gold Cup champion Birkinbrook Arabella. It was a first HOYS win but Matilda’s final ride on the 12-year-old, who will be taken on by her younger sister Coco.