Soaring temperatures herald the start of the 2008 UK outdoor season
The opening day of Royal Windsor Horse Show was staged under blue skies with soaring temperatures heralding the start of the UK’s 2008 outdoor show season. With Windsor Castle as a magnificent backdrop to the action in the main arena, visitors, owners and riders enjoyed unique access to the stunning setting of the private grounds.
A packed show jumping programme dominated the first day of the show with 12 hours of national jumping classes starting at 7am in the Castle Arena.
Emma Jo Slater, path finder in the opening class, had reason to celebrate when she staged a one-two, taking first and second in the Tri-Zone Senior Newcomers class with K Barzilay’s I Love You and A Mattock’s Orchis Z.
The big class of the day, the Walwyn Novice Jumping Championship, was won by Simon Crippen with J Bingham’s Coleur Amazing Grace while John Crippen staged a double, taking the Horse & Hound Foxhunter and Grade B& C class with D Allan and Mrs B Cuthbert’s Loughnatousa Rafa.
Show organiser Simon Brooks-Ward said: “We have had a superb opening day of the show. The popularity of the national jumping classes here today underlines our determination to develop and grow this aspect of what we offer.”
