Second day of Royal Windsor attracts big crowds for equestrian pick and mix
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Second day of Royal Windsor attracts big crowds for equestrian pick and mix
An equestrian feast was on offer over the course of Royal Windsor’s second day with some top quality action including show jumping, showing, driving and Pony Club Mounted Games.
Robert Whitaker produced a star of the future in Mandy Hall’s Rooney IV to take the Land Rover Grade A class ahead of Ireland’s Billy Twomey [Blue Thunder] and David Blake with Fabienne.
“He’s a really special horse,” said Robert who confessed that he could not believe his time with the son of Andiamo. “I watched Billy [second-placed Billy Twomey] and I thought his round was quicker.
“If he is comfortable with it, I will do some bigger classes. I think that he could be a top horse. He has lots of scope and is very careful. He finds it very easy to jump big fences and that’s what you need for the Europeans and big championships.”
While he may not be a contender for European honours himself at Royal Windsor this August [25th-30th], Robert said the facility was international standard.
“I think it is brilliant that they [Royal Windsor] have put in a new arena. It is a great place to have the Europeans. The ring feels very large – that’s important. The riders will be looking forward to it.”
John Dunlop may not be anticipating runners in the Oaks or Derby but the sight of his lightweight hunter Finn Mccool III capturing the Hunter Championship on the second day of the show may have provided some compensation.
Ridden by Guy Landau, the nine year old bay gelding stole the edge on Mrs White’s impressive chestnut heavyweight Loughkeen Dancing Lord under showing legend Robert Oliver.
With a packed array of showing classes and attractions including a fantastic range of 200 shops, the Land Rover 4X4 ‘experience’, The Royal Windsor Food and Drink Festival, entertaining displays in the main arena from tent-pegging to the Shetland pony grand national and Pony Club mounted games, day two of the show proved a real crowd puller. One big success was the final of the AmTrust Equine Royal Windsor Horse Show Unaffiliated Championship which saw Thursday’s BRC Senior Novice Jumping Championship final won by Rosie Stevens’ Gracie.
Organiser Simon Brooks-Ward said he was delighted with the success of the new competition which gives grass roots riders the chance to compete on Royal Windsor’s prestigious stage.
“This is an exceptional opportunity for any rider to be able to live their dream and ride at Windsor in the same arena as many of their idols,” he said.
“If that’s not enough, they also get to come back to the Europeans and take centre stage in front of a televised audience – it doesn’t get much bigger than that!”
Winners of the AmTrust Equine RWHS Unaffiliated Championships will be invited back to Windsor in August for the FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships 2009, to collect their trophies in front of a capacity crowd.
ENDS
