Royal Windsor Horse Show Entries
Some of the UK’s top British Show Jumpers will be flocking to Windsor in just under a fortnight’s time as the first outdoor equestrian Show of the season, Royal Windsor Horse Show (12-16th May) opens its gates to over 3000 horses and ponies.
Jumping
Leading British show jumpers Tim Stockdale; Geoff Luckett; Tim Gredley; Michael, John and William Whitaker are all making the trip to Berkshire. Even eventer Pippa Funnell is bringing some of her young horses to the Show.
Other top British riders in attendance include Mark Armstrong; Daniel Neilson; Tina Fletcher; Graham Lovegrove; Gemma Paternoster and Nicole Pavitt, among others, whilst John’s eldest daughter Louise Whitaker also makes her debut at Windsor.
Riders will hotly be contesting the £12,500 prize-pot of the Alltech Royal Windsor Grand Prix, which takes place in the Castle Arena on Sunday afternoon. Last year a cliff-hanger contest was won by Geoff Luckett and Valblanc Van Het Panishof who just piped Billy Twomey and Je T’Aime Flamenco into second place. Will Geoff succeed in retaining the title?
Driving
The Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix is once again set to welcome top competitors in horse and pony four-in-hands and horse pairs. Twelve nations - Argentina; Australia; Belgium; France; Germany; Ireland, Netherlands; Poland; Spain; Switzerland; USA and Uruguay - will compete against top British drivers in each class.
Key among the horse four-in-hand competitors are Australia's Boyd Exell, fresh from his recent win in the 2010 World Cup Series and Tucker Johnson from the USA. France and Germany are both putting forward strong fields - France with Pierre Jung and Stephane Chouzenoux and Germany with Jurgen Weber, Duen Rainer and Max Dangel. Britain is represented by such well known names as George Bowman (senior and junior) and the Bassett sisters, Karen and Pippa.
Horse pairs has a strong home field who will pit their skills against a significant foreign entry, including France's Francois Dutilloy and Holland's Harry Verstappen, second and third here respectively last year. Whilst pony four-in-hands have fewer competitors, strong and entertaining competition is likely to come from this class with 2009 and 2007 individual gold medallists, Tobias Bucker (Germany) and Jan de Boer (Netherlands) competing, among others, against Aart van de Kamp snr (also from the Netherlands) with his trademark black-and-white Shetlands.
The marathon and cones courses will be designed for the second year running by Hollands Johan Jacobs who set notable challenges for competitors last year.
Showing
32 new classes from Sport Horses to Veterans to Miniature Horses and Side-Saddle have been added this year, enhancing the Show’s prestigious reputation as a show for competitors and horse lovers. Royal Windsor Horse Show now boasts over 150 classes, 117 of those in Showing, with an additional 20 Showing Championships.
Entries have therefore been higher than ever this year with some stiff competition expected at Windsor. Last year, Her Majesty The Queen had reason to celebrate with a win for her own Balmoral Moorland in the Highland Championship.
Simon Brooks-Ward, event director for Royal Windsor Horse Show said: “We’re gearing up for a really great Horse Show this year – bigger and better than ever with a feast of competition and entertainment to enjoy.”
Ticket information
Tickets for Royal Windsor Horse Show 2010 are on sale now, priced at £13 (adults), £9 (concessions including Royal Windsor Advantage Card Holders) and £5 (children 5-16years) if booked in advance. Family tickets (two adults and two children) cost £30. Tickets are priced per day and include entry to all the day’s events. You can book online at www.rwhs.co.uk or by telephoning 0844 412 4631 (UK) or + 44 115 993 4119 (International).
Tickets are also available at the Windsor Information Centre, with discounts being offered to Advantage card holders. Please note only one discounted ticket per advantage card holder is available, and the card must be presented at time of purchase. If booking over the phone, the advantage card number must be quoted. Bookings can be made by calling 01753 743 909 or emailing Windsor.tic@rbwm.gov.uk. The advantage card discount is only available through the Windsor Information Centre.
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For more information about Royal Windsor Horse Show please contact Kelly Smith on 01753 847900 or by email at: kellys@hpower.co.uk
