Royal Windsor Horse Show – Day Four
Jumping
Graham Lovegrove arrived at Royal Windsor yesterday after an 11-hour journey from Balmoral in Northern Ireland, where he was leading rider, to claim the Land Rover Eraser Stakes in the Castle Arena.
Having only had two hours sleep at his Essex base before travelling to the show with his top horse Pandur, Graham was keen not to miss today’s competition.
“I always try to make it to Royal Windsor,” he said. “It’s a show I really enjoy.”
Graham had no need to jump the eraser fence, which, if jumped clear, wipes off four faults from any fence toppled a fence earlier on the course. He beat long-time leader John Whitaker, who was riding Uniek, by a whopping five seconds.
“Pandur is very quick across the ground anyway,” said Graham of his sister Sarah Hancock’s 15-year-old gelding. “And he seems to be getting quicker as he gets older.”
In the Frogmore Arena, Dan Moseley claimed his second win of the week in the accumulator with Billy Buttercup, having already won Thursday’s grades A and B class with Larina.
In the early evening sunset, the crowd cheered on the accumulator riders, but only four managed to score the maximum 44 points available. Dan was the fastest of these having saved time by jumping the second last fence on an angle to get to the joker fence, worth 16 points if jumped clear.
“Billy Buttercup is a really careful horse,” said Dan. “You can do things like that with her.”
The final seven- and eight-year-old championship of Royal Windsor 2010 was held today and this time Tim Davies was victorious on Valentijn O.
In her presence of Her Majesty The Queen, members of the Armed Forces contested the final of the Land Rover services team jumping competition. After all three members of each of the 39 teams had jumped early in the morning, one rider from each of the top 12 came forward to jump the afternoon’s final round.
The RAF’s A team retained their lead to claim the top prize, thanks to a clear round from Flight Lieutenant Jules Flemming and her friend Paul Brown’s UFO.
Showing
Wyndham Aristocrat made one of producer Gill Thompson’s favourite days out more thrilling when he took the coveted Show Pony Championship supported by Horse Deals.
“Royal Windsor is our favourite show,” said Gill, “I think of being here as like a mini break! It’s one of the very last true horse shows so winning here is wonderful.”
The eight-year-old bay gelding ¬– ridden by Daisy Cambray and owned by her mother Julie – took the 138cm class before going on to clinch the supreme title ahead of reserve Pickmere Anser and Katie White.
“We’re thrilled with him,” added Gill, “He won last weekend and we’ve been building up to this, there’s been lots of practicing at home.”
Following on from Friday’s Mountain and Moorland inhand title was Saturday’s Ridden Mountain and Moorland Championship, concluding Saturday’s showcase of classes for native breed enthusiasts.
The smallest of the championship’s competitors proved to have the biggest presence, as diminutive Shetland Blackater Rhonda came out top of the line-up.
Ridden by Elizabeth Evans and owned by Lynda Buchanan-Jackson, the nine-year-old mare has done little ridden showing and spent a number of years as a broodmare.
“She’s got an amazing gallop and loves to please, I love her to bits,” said Elizabeth, “I think this is going to be her year.”
Grey Connemara gelding Knockanroe Champ owned by Johanna Bloor and ridden by Rosie Bloor stood reserve.
The Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter Pony Championship saw the Connemaras topping the line-up this time, with Frances Goodsir’s 15-year-old grey mare Falfield Silver Slipper taking the crown.
In the Copper Horse Arena, Breamish Julian ridden by Holly Simms led the BPS Heritage Mountain and Moorland Mini Championship sponsored by Sarah Marks.
