Showing North of England Spring, Three Shires Spring Festival and more
The annual three-day show welcomes some exciting new faces to the show circuit, while a lead-rein supremo continues her consistent streak of producing unbeatable minis and a magical amateur combination beat the pros
DESPITE staging 49 Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) qualifiers, the show, now in its 28th year, is recognised for launching the careers of new talent. Past winners, such as Caesars Palace and Vantage Point to name just two, have gone on to enjoy success at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
This time Robert Walker captured the novice hunter title with Jill Day’s Power Blade four-year-old Northern Pride, purchased from Northern Ireland-based John Donaghy, who also found Caesars Palace.
Judge Vikki Smith agreed with those admiring him ringside.
“He is a lovely pattern and rode maturely for his age,” she said. “The reserve was still green in comparison but is also an exciting prospect.” This was Danielle Heath’s heavyweight charge, the
Lovick sisters’ 2015 Cuddy finalist Isle Bright.
Danielle went one better the following day when taking the novice championship on
Guy Mears’ five-year-old riding horse Times Square, who is by Willowcroft Regal Bronze and was purchased from Magnus Nicholson in the autumn.
VIEW HAS SIGHTS ON WINDSOR
JILL DAY’S hunter of the year View Point, a half brother to Vantage Point, stood open hunter champion for the second year running, on his practice outing for Royal Windsor with Rob Walker.
“He is the ultimate lightweight in my eyes — he took my breath away,” said judge Jill Burgess.
Camilla Davies repeated her recent Myerscough success in the amateur hunters, but this time with Glenkeeran Dance In The Deep, who recorded his first win on English soil since being crowned reserve supreme hunter at the 2017 Dublin Horse Show with Kieran Ryan.
Showing newcomer Levi Critchlow and his home-bred and home-produced Valarico headed the RIHS workers at their first attempt after gaining the top ride mark from Andrew Collins. However it was Sue Simmons, owner of international showjumper Golvers Hill, who claimed the championship with her amateur victor Zepper.
“The champion is the epitome of a working hunter — a great horse who enjoyed the going in this fabulous grass arena,” commented judge John Gilliver.
It was a poignant moment for Jean Walsh Wright when she received the Pat Atkinson memorial trophy after her home-bred Becconsall’s Regal Ruby (Bethany Beard) claimed hack honours.
“I first competed against
Pat in the late 1970s on Ruby’s granddam Becconsall Northern Lights and we became good friends,” explained Jean. “Pat passed away the same day I won the hack championship at Moreton-in-Marsh show on her Chinook Top Notch.”
Ride judge Katy Carter said: “The champion is a centre line hack with spectacular movement.”
COB MAGIC
HAVING taken the second day’s amateur honours here last season, the partnership of Hayley Erner and It’s Abracobdabra returned to take the open cob title, after beating Robert Walker in the heavyweight division. Robert was deputising for his injured sister-in-law Vicky Hesford, on the 2015 HOYS champion Randalstown Musketeer.
“It proves that amateurs can take on the pros,” smiled Hayley.
The Walker team returned with a vengeance the next day, landing both the show pony and intermediate championships with Nick Brookes’ Chiddock Time Traveller ridden by Zara Brookes, and Party Time with Sam Walker in the saddle, respectively.
Zara, who is having her first proper season in 148cm ranks, did well to fend off the challenge in the championship made by last term’s HOYS 128cm victors, Alexandra McDowall on the Julie Templeton-bred and produced Field Aston Royal Fanfare.
“I was impressed by the standard of the show ponies forward, but what did concern me was the number of four-yearolds competing in open RIHS classes in April,” explained Allan Robertson. “This could have adverse effects in the future.”
Three-time small hunter of the year Party Time, now 12, still goes about his job with the same enthusiasm as he did at four.
“He is teaching 13-year-old Sam so much,” commented his father, Robert.
ASHCROFT PROVES A MODEL STUDENT
CATHY HYDE, who sorted the show hunter pony section with conformation judge John Bradley, asked for an extension across the diagonal, which gave the riders something to think about.
This was no problem for Liverpool university student Katie Ashcroft and her home-produced Brindlebrook Under Suspicion. They headed the 153cm section by six points before securing the championship.
Langfield Lord Asriel and Olivia Taylor triumphed in the RIHS young riders’ mountain and moorland classes, winning an oil painting by Philippa Kirby.
“The champion covered the ground but also looked after the jockey — making him ideal for these junior classes,” said judge Janet Hoyle.
Lead-rein specialist Sharn Linney dominated both mini championships. She first led show pony Hollybush Enchantment and Matilda Holmes to victory for the second year on the trot.
Then even “James Bond” could not curtail the unstoppable Thistledown Van Der Vaart, who has now notched up two RIHS wins with new rider Lilly Richardson since collecting the supreme pony crown at HOYS last October. Consequently, the four-year-old Lowlandview
James Bond took the ticket in second place, ridden by Scarlett Whithurst and led by
Mark Reeves.
“Both lead-rein ponies were exceptional,” commented judge Joanne Griffin.