Mabon harvests the goods
A young lead-rein show hunter, a versatile coloured mare and an evergreen working hunter stand in the spotlight
North of England Spring, Warren Farm EC, Merseyside
A HOME-PRODUCED lead-rein of hunter type shone in a competitive Royal International (RIHS) mini championship to claim the win.
Eva Talbot, ve, and her mother Emily Barton’s Welsh section B Maxwelltown Mabon (Ozzy) were in the hands of leader Samantha Roberts, who also led them to placings at both the RIHS and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in 2023.
Ozzy, who is by Eyarth Peridot, joined the family from Team Jinks as a three-year-old. Eva’s grandmother Jacqueline Barton, who helps produce him, was there to see them win.
“He’s a cheeky and inquisitive little pony with so much presence,” she said.
ALEX ROBINSON
Eva also won the Pretty Polly Heritage lead-rein qualier with her Dartmoor Newoak Midnight Moon.
The winning lead-rein show pony, Somersham Playboy, ridden by Florence Rendall and handled by Harriet Dennison, clinched section reserve for Team Helliwell, who enjoyed bumper success across the two days.
The team’s tally included the RIHS show hunter pony accolade with the new combination of Ellie Mae Harrington and 153cm gelding Merrycorner Mister Bui, also reserve RIHS intermediate champions behind their team-mates Harriet and reigning small hack of the year Manhatten. Faye Helliwell also landed the novice horse title with her young hack Devotion.
In the RIHS hack championship, small winner Manhatten nished in reserve behind legendary large campaigner Forgeland Hyde Park (Will), ridden by Issy Mears Woods, who kept her cool to produce a §awless performance on her debut in hack ranks.
“She can be a bit ‘Marmite’ but I can rely on her”
LUCIE GORDON BURGESS ON BURGHWALLIS CRÈME DE LA CRÈME
The gelding was supreme horse at HOYS last year under his producer Danielle Heath, who was RIHS cob champion here riding Anne Leigh’s heavyweight Bobbi Dazzler.
“Will was so pleased to be back out,” noted Issy, who also landed the amateur horse spoils on her new coloured cob, Mr Vincent. “I feel very lucky to be learning the hack ropes from both Will and Danielle.”
“SHE LOVES LIFE”
MARES prevailed in the
RIHS coloured championship, with the pony winners, Lucie Gordon Burgess and Jane Turnbull’s home-bred native Burghwallis Crème De La Crème, powering to the title.
The 10-year-old has been based with 24-year-old Lucie since she was ve and has been well placed at both HOYS and RIHS nals several times.
“She also does side-saddle, hunts, jumps and does dressage,” said Derby-based Lucie, of the former Royal Highland and Royal Windsor victor. “She can be a bit ‘Marmite’ due to her colour, but she’s uber-consistent and I can always rely on her. She loves life and she’d happily go out week in week out.”
Reserve was Vicky Smith aboard Miranda Wallace’s equally consistent plaited mare Mysterie Van De Heuvel.
Vicky had a stellar day, starting by taking the RIHS riding horse tricolour in the saddle of Jane Davies’ homebred large contender Tremarl Timperni (Kate), who was making her open debut.
The sixyear-old is a full sister to Vicky, her mother Angela Smith and Paul Mortimer’s reigning HOYS in-hand supreme champion Tremarl Timber, being by Timolin out of a No Submission mare. At her rst show of 2024, Kate won the riding horse championship at UK Ponies and Horses Spring Classic after heading the novice eld.
“I’ve always thought so highly of her so we’ve produced her slowly and carefully. She has suddenly matured mentally and physically,” Vicky enthused.
Vicky completed her hattrick when Miranda Wallace’s A Red Knight won the maxi cobs.
“I picked up the reins from Phoebe Price after HOYS last year, and all credit to her as he’s a lovely ride. He’s a real yard favourite,” said Vicky.
The RIHS Irish Draught honours went to Hannah Roberts and Quality Control (see box, right). Elizabeth
Uttley rode pure-bred winner Baltydaniel Hercules to reserve, as they had earlier in the RIHS amateur hunters behind Zara Brookes on her Team Walkerproduced Good Idea.
“He’s a real yard favourite”
VICKY SMITH ON A RED KNIGHT
North of England regular Robert Walker cleaned up in open hunter ranks, too, lifting the novice tricolour riding
Jill Day’s Flash Point and the open equivalent with Jill’s impressive grey heavyweight Countryman.
Robert’s son Sam added the novice hunter reserve riding Jill’s Tell Me Another.