EASTER GIFT KEEPS ON GIVING
ANNABEL POPE led her recent purchase, three-yearold filly Stage Diva (Bunny), to the in-hand sash. By
Tiger Attack out of Virginia Russell-Wood’s Cuddy finalist Stage Music, Annabel is hoping to campaign Diva as a novice small riding horse next season.
“I bought Bunny in July and this was her second show with me,” explained Annabel of the classy bay born on Easter Sunday. “She’s been given the very best start in life. She was lightly backed when I got her and she’s now riding away.
“I work as a freelance groom, so trying to balance my work and my own horses can be tricky I just love her attitude to life; she just takes everything in her stride.”
KATIE RUSSELL was crowned horse worker champion aboard her mother Jane’s Hegglelane Hill Billy after winning both open and novice classes. The sevenyear-old was bought from breeder Denise Richardson-Rowell in the new year.
“Lockdown has given us time to get to know him,” said Jane. “Katie rode him the night before and again at 4am the morning of the show, which seemed to work well as he behaved impeccably. It has been a nice, quiet first outing.”
Alasdair Prickett scooped the pony title on his mother Pam’s talented bay intermediate gelding Redshaw Out The Balou.
The native worker crown went to the ever-enthusiastic Connemara Laburnum Richard (Pedro) and Amy Smith. This was Pedro’s first outing in over a year.
“He’s certainly not ready to hang up his shoes just yet,” said
Amy. “He enjoyed every second of being here. It felt so good to have him back out, even if he was a little cheeky.”
One of Amy’s pupils landed the under 143cm class and took reserve. This was Jennifer Tasker’s scopey Welsh section C mare, Gems Isabella, ridden by Jennifer’s daughter, Emilia. The 15-year-old was purchased by the home-producers two years ago after spending time with both Russell Skelton and Allan Birch.
“They just missed out on their tickets last year, picking up four seconds in Royal International qualifiers,” said Jenny. “Emilia started training with Amy this year and the amount they’ve come on is unbelievable.”
Isabella is by Tireve Mighty Atom out of Gurnos Welsh Pollen.
Small breeds winners topped both novice and open Heritage sections, with Sarah Weston’s Dartmoor Westown Wild Fire (Maddy Turner) and Welsh section A Thistledown San-Siro (Lucinda Leeming) landing respective tricolours.
The Katy Carter-produced show hunter pony Warleigh Fantastic Light topped the novice show hunter pony section with Summer Ward-Brown, 10. The six-year-old 133cm contender – by Soudley Taliesin out of Warleigh
Ethereal Glow – was lightly shown by Team Thomas last season and was collected from HOYS.
“He enjoyed every second”
AMY SMITH ON LABURNUM RICHARD
“He’s a proper stamp with lots of limb and couldn’t be anything but a hunter pony,” said Katy.
“They’re developing a lovely partnership together without the added pressure of chasing the qualifiers. Summer has three baby ponies on at the moment which is a big ask for her being so young.”