Bagheera pounces to win
Event horses come into their own to land top spots in the working hunter championships
ANNETTE BUCKINGHAM piloted a rising star to claim their 2019 Royal International (RIHS) ticket and the working hunter championship.
Jana Khayat’s home-bred A.S Bagheera, a seven-year-old by Jaguar Mail, gave a lovely account of himself around Luke Ingram’s well-built course to post one of only two clears, despite his relative novice status. Bagheera began his career in eventing with Lucy and Padraig McCarthy, competing at novice level last season with success.
“Lucy contacted Melanie Hennah back in the winter to say they may have a horse that would suit the worker job. I am very lucky to have the ride on him, but it is all thanks to Lucy and Jana for allowing him to come to Cornwall. The course asked enough questions with the undulating ring,” said Annette.
Giving the adults a run for their money in the hunter championship was 18-year-old Lauren Berridge aboard the small hunter winner SCT Le Bijou de Reve, who went on to claim the tricolour with a blistering gallop in the main ring.
Owned by her grandparents Patrick and Shirley Lobb, who spotted him winning at Balmoral show last year, the six-year-old son of Hermes de Reve is already RIHS bound in the small hunter, amateurs and intermediate show hunter classes, and picked up early qualification for the 2019 small hunter class here.
“It is lovely to do so well locally with friends and family watching,” said Lauren, who will now be turning her concentration to the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifiers. Standing reserve was lightweight winner, Fiona Jones and Martin Polmear’s Knillsky.
SMALL BUT MIGHTY
THE 2019 RIHS coloured qualifiers drew in good entries, but it was the smallest combination that charmed the judge and spectators to claim the championship over larger rivals. Sam Laity, 9, rode the 10-year-old mare Bushmoor Echo, who also competes in 12hh show hunter pony classes and cradle stakes, to head the ridden pony qualifier and championship over Emily Proud and piebald cob gelding Randalstown Split Decision.
Sam also secured the British Show Pony Society mini show pony championship aboard his HOYS-bound first ridden, Woodview Shangri-La, a 10year-old mare who won the final last season.
Native ponies were out in force but it was the New Forest ponies who came up trumps in both the mountain and moorland (M&M) in-hand and ridden sections.
Lucy Booth piloted her homebred novice six-year-old mare Hurtstock New Tricks to collect the Silver Medal. New Tricks is by their 29-year-old resident stallion, Farriers New Flame, who is also the sire of her HOYS-qualified mare Hurtstock Cornish Amber.
Emma Staton and her own nine-year-old New Forest mare Buckland Romantic stood reserve ridden champion, also securing the in-hand title. While usually found in the dressage arena, the pair have enjoyed a successful showing season and have qualified for the new Search For A Star M&M final at Stoneleigh.
“It was certainly a day for the New Forest pony. My ridden champion was so balanced and my reserve was a quality pony,” said judge Julian Walters.