In For The Kill f inds winning niche
A home-bred makes a pivotal switch to turn disaster into triumph, while a rider overcomes a bout of seconditis and a ‘proper jumper’ lands the working hunter qualifier
BEFORE her home-bred In For The Kill (Ronnie) stepped up to take the hunter championship, Steph Crowther experienced a rollercoaster of a ride and a dramatic change of fortune.
Steph first looked unhappy when Ronnie was pulled in bottom place in the middleweight line-up, but after Guy Landau had a good spin on the eight-yearold and Lady Howick assessed conformation, Steph was given the option of remaining, or coming back in the heavyweights.
Steph duly returned to win the heavyweight division before standing champion.
“We both agreed the horse looked big among the middleweights, but he was a quality heavyweight and he could easily carry over 14 stone,” said Guy. “He had a great engine and gave a super ride.”
Ronnie is by the part-bred Welsh stallion Ramone’s Oyster out of a warmblood mare, Alaska.
Steph’s father Brian Crowther bought Oyster’s sire Ramone as a yearling out of Southall Market and jumped him up to grade B.
“The day certainly improved,” said Steph. “Ronnie always gives a fabulous ride and he loved this big ring.”
Ronnie also does novice dressage with Steph, the pair qualifying for the 2015 nationals.
Steph had double cause for celebration when another homebred horse Fireball (Bella) topped a marathon novice working hunter class. The five-year-old by Favorit Ask also showjumps and this was only her second working hunter class.
“She is an out-and-out jumper,” said Steph who, apart from backing and competing all her horses from home, runs an Equine Crematorium near Huddersfield.
Suzanne Walker took the reserve hunter title on heavyweight runner-up The Parishoner.
COMMODUS GOES ONE BETTER
COMMODUS ended a run of seconds for Cindy Henson when he headed the lightweight (flat) division.
After taking the five-year-old sport horse title at the national championships and Lincoln County last term, the son of Emperor Augustus hunted with the Grove and Rufford. He is also ridden side-saddle.
As Cindy’s wedding is just three months away and she has to cut down to seven horses to fit in with her new stables, she fears Commodus is the one who may be snapped up soon.
“He’s the one who will tick most boxes for riders,” said Cindy.
Lucinda Martin and Boss (Hugo) kept up their winning run with victory in the middleweights.
Hugo has a great record in astride and ladies’ classes and they were hunter champions at Cheshire Premier.
As Lucinda works full-time in London, her mother Suzanne works Hugo at home.
“The Welsh hills are very helpful in keeping Hugo matchfit,” said Suzanne.
In-hand entries again received great support here and it was the male champion Halona Déjà Vu who took the overall supreme title for handler and producer Magnus Nicholson.
Owner Haleh Norouzi bought the palomino gelding by Halona Amaree out of Donner D’Amour as a foal with dressage in mind and this was the three-year-old’s debut in the show ring.
“We wanted to get him out to see things before he goes under saddle,” said Magnus. “He sits himself up and covers the ground naturally.”
‘He always gives a fabulous ride and he loved this big ring’ STEPH CROWTHER ON HUNTER
CHAMPION IN FOR THE KILL