‘I would have given him 51/50’
Vicky Smith rides a special gelding to land his first supreme ridden title, while a 36-year-old pony gallops away with the overall veteran title
Coloured Horse and Pony Society (CHAPS) Summer Championships, Arena UK, Lincs A WEEKEND that began badly ended in triumph for Vicky Smith with her partner, Alan Marnie’s Bart, who delivered a series of stellar performances to not only earn rave reviews from the section judges, but also land his first overall ridden supreme of show.
On arrival at the show, Vicky’s lorry was involved in a minor collision with a fellow competitor’s Range Rover — fortunately, no injuries resulted. The team’s luck then turned, though, and en route to the top spot, the eight-year-old Bart earned full marks in two classes — open workers and his Clarendon ridden horse qualifier.
Clarendon judge David Bartram-Lawson said: “This horse gave me the most fabulous ride. I’ve not sat on one as nice as this for many years and if I could have given him 51/50, I would have.”
The Irish-bred Horse of The Year Show (HOYS)-qualified plaited horse contender also impressed Nigel Hollings, who awarded him 20/20 for the jumping phase in the open workers.
Supreme judge Penny Hollings was captivated, too.
“This horse was free-moving, athletic and had a wonderful fluidity to his paces,” she said. “This resulted in a seamless show, rounded off with a superb gallop.”
Cheshire-based show and event rider Vicky, having ridden Bart for Gillian Hickford before he went eventing — and fifth with him at HOYS last year on his Birmingham debut — persuaded Alan to buy him in May this year when he came up for sale, mainly “just to have fun with”. However, the results have continued to stack up and include a runner-up spot at Royal Windsor and the HOYS section title at North of England, where he went on to stand reserve for catch rider Craig Kiddier in the £1000 supreme coloured final.
“This is his best win to date,
though,” declared Vicky, supreme here in 2013 on Waibalou. “It was an extremely strong final line-up, with some beautiful animals who did beautiful shows. To win was all the more special as Alan flew back from China especially to watch his horse compete.
“Something always seems to happen when I come to Arena
UK, but fortunately the Range Rover’s owner took it in good heart and we had a perfect ending to the weekend.”
STELLAR WEEK FOR DIXIE CHICK
RESERVE supreme went to the other end of the size scale. This was Lauren Collins, 13, and the ever-delightful traditional pony Dixie Chick, who remained footperfect in the electric atmosphere. En route to this spot, the pair stood traditional pony and Ring of Colour champions, in addition to winning their HOYS and graded mare classes.
“Lauren had a little error in her show in the junior final and was adamant she was going in the overall supreme for another go,” said her mother, Steph.
“It was such a strong line-up so we were thrilled to get reserve.”
With more than 400 animals competing at the show, standards in the in-hand ranks were skyhigh too, with a host of quality animals in contention.
However, history was made when John Cutts led Tayla Lewis’ athletic three-year-old, Lostock Uptown Funk (Stevie), to the overall in-hand supreme for the third year running — a feat never achieved here before.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a more beautiful plaited contender,” said judge Penny Hollings. “He oozes quality and elegance, and is everything you would want in a ridden animal, whatever the colour.”
En route, Stevie also won the Pessall Hestia non-native and King of the Ring finals.
“He’s off to be broken now, so hopefully he’ll be back next year under saddle,” said Tayla.
John also led Caroline Hamilton’s show ring debutante, the three-year-old Lostock Candyman, to be youngstock and sport horse champion.
“Candyman’s never even been out of the yard before — let alone come to a show,” said John.
“I’m thrilled with the way he’s taken everything in his stride.”
Karen and Hayley Sankey’s impressive traditional, Wystone Crackerjack (Jack), was reserve, having landed the previous evening’s Pessall Hestia nonnative title with Kent-based social worker Thomas Partridge, whose partner, Karl Schuller, rode him to win his performance class. Karen took the ride herself to head her Golden Years division.
“Karl produced Jack to be two-year-old champion here in 2016 and then he went back to his owners to allow him to mature,” explained Thomas. “He’s not been to a show since then, so these are great results.”
Terri Guyett had a show to remember, clocking up three open wins on the first day with Victoria Ward’s Blue Shamrock, Red Warrior and
ESH Sempers Sapphire.
This meant that all three went into the Moortown
Stud championship, where Christina Gillett and Megan Graham partnered the first two respectively and Terri elected to stay aboard Saphire. This proved a wise decision, as the handsome Semper mare claimed the title.
“It was amazing to have all three in the championship,” said Terri. “I can’t see that happening again.”
This was the final outing for Blue Shamrock, who is in foal to Login Lucky Lad. Her results included a third consecutive year at the head of the restricted ridden final.
“I can’t think of a better way to end her ridden career,” added Terri. “This was my last-ever ride on her so to finish at the top is amazing.”
Terri’s own Nortonhal Man In The Mirror added to the tally when standing first reserve with Megan, 15, in the junior supreme on the final evening.
SWEET JUNIOR TRIUMPH
IN the absence of “team leader” Rachel Cowan — away competing at Chard — her daughter Meg Thompson, 15, did her proud, heading a very competitive junior
ridden supreme with the lovely mare, So Sweet (Kandi), who was last year’s Dan Birch victor.
Meg has had a mixed year. After a fifth at Royal Windsor and qualifying Kandi for HOYS at her first attempt, she then broke her leg at the end of May.
“I rode Kandi at the Hickstead Derby Meeting, but Meg was able to take the ride back for Royal International, where she was the highest-placed junior in her class,” said Rachel.
Charlotte Merrigan-Martin was reserve junior supreme, having taken the inaugural amateur/home-produced title with the charming mare Solaris Dwenqua, who is also successful in affiliated dressage. This was one of six good wins and placings for the pair at this show — including landing the intermediate rider of the year championship — and brought home a total of £240 in prize money.
TRUE GOLDEN OLDIE
ONE of the major stars of the final night was Megan Champney’s 36-year-old working pony, who galloped away with the supreme veteran title, the Lostock Blue Challenge and the £1000 Dan Birch Memorial performance accumulator. The grey looked as exuberant as ever, producing storming gallops that put many of his younger rivals to shame.