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Showing Retraining of Racehorses national championships, NPS Area 4 and Edenbridge and Oxted
Rich Man Poor Man owns the ring to claim the 2022 Tattersalls RoR ridden showing series supreme title with Kirstine Douglas
Rich Man in the money
A “beautifully balanced” individual show is enough for last year’s reserve supreme champion to move up the line and clinch his first overall RoR title
The Jockey Club Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) National Championships, Aintree EC, Merseyside
LAST year’s reserve supreme title holder Rich Man Poor Man (Robbie), expertly shown by Kirstine Douglas, went one better and returned home to Scotland £1,000 richer after receiving the unanimous vote of all four supreme judges – Lady Emma Balding, Lucinda Freedman, Marion Begley and local trainer Patrick Morris – to capture the 2022 Tattersalls RoR ridden showing series supreme crown.
Even though owner Morean Hamilton was judging at the British Show Pony Championships (BSPS) in Lincolnshire, she managed to watch their beautifully balanced individual display — which was a masterclass in how to showcase a hunter who stands at just over
By STUART HOLLINGS
17hh in an indoor space — via live-stream.
The Robin Des Champs nineyear-old, who was purchased from trainer Philip Kirby in 2017, gained entry into the supreme championship by heading the highly competitive Tattersalls open series final judged earlier by Anne Varley and Mark Rimell.
“It was hard to split the top three but our winner owned the ring from the start, particularly standing out on the trot-round,” Anne commented.
Second in this class was Sophie Staveley’s eye-catching Burnieboozle, who beforehand had beaten 54 others to bag the in-hand series final under Wayne Burnell and Anne Varley. The Frozen Power seven-year-old was gifted to Sophie by Malton trainer John Quinn when she worked for him in 2018.
Following an injury, Sophie began this season showing in-hand, and the duo won championships at Northern Racing College, Hambleton, Midland Counties and Malton. Once back in the saddle she enjoyed further success with Tattersall open ridden wins at Lincoln and Ryedale shows.
In third place was the on-form partnership of Minella Rebellion (Reg) and Katie Dashwood. However, they had already gained a fortuitous pass into the supreme due to the fact that they had stood reserve champion in the Tattersalls open final at Hickstead Derby to Time Down Under, who did not attend. Similarly, neither the champion or reserve amateur representatives from the same fixture came forward, which was disappointing.
Reg and Katie, who recently added the Royal International
INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR “ADAPTABLE” HORSES
AS a pony-mad teenager, RoR chief executive Di Arbuthnot (née Yeomans) showjumped and evented alongside riding show ponies for the renowned Gilbert Scott stable. She most notably piloted the highly successful 148cm Bennochy Ailsa Craig. Di remembers being presented with the championship trophy at Royal Windsor by six-year-old Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and likewise awarded another cup by Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, after winning at South of England.
Later as an experienced amateur jockey and married to trainer David Arbuthnot, Di was invited to join the Sandown Park Race Committee by Andrew Parker-Bowles. With her extensive knowledge and contacts within the equestrian world, she was asked to write a paper with a suggested way forward for the recently formed charity regarding the aftercare of thoroughbreds. And so her involvement with RoR began, some 20 years ago. MEET THE OFFICIAL “A decision was made very early on that the charity would fund and promote an active life after racing for these adaptable and talented horses, alongside funding the small percentage that fall through the net and need charitable intervention,” said Di. “While thoroughbreds have been used successfully in equestrian disciplines for many years, they now have many pathways open to them when their racing days are over, either in competitions or as riding horses. Dressage is now the most popular activity with our members, fractionally ahead of showing.”
This year at the seventh national championships, there were 280 former racehorses entered (total earnings of £9.8m) and the number of entries over the five days of intense competition reached 990.
“RoR will continue to develop the activities at elite and grassroots level in the 15 equestrian activities we support, and has some exciting plans for next year,” Di added.
Burnieboozle secures the in-hand series final with Sophie Staveley
(RIHS) amateur riding horse championship to last term’s SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse victory at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), went all out with a stylish individual show to defend their 2021 supreme title, but had to be content with the reserve podium placing on this occasion, below Rich Man Poor Man.
Second reserve in the supreme went to Pam Pattinson and Jane Wanless’ free-moving 18-year-old Minella ridden by Jo Bearcroft, victors of the ridden veteran final. Recording his best win to date was some consolation for missing the show last year due to a connection with the judge.
The remaining four finalists included the amateur representative for the second year running, Hannah Chisman’s First Fandango (Freddie), who finished third in the final line-up last season.
Hannah juggles her racing job as travelling head girl to John Spearing with motherhood, but still finds time for Freddie, her “Mr Versatile”. Alongside showing, he has evented up to BE100 level, team-chased and he also competed in showjumping and dressage during the show.
ROYAL HOME-BRED IMPRESSES
ONE of the most admired horses at Aintree was The Queen’s home-bred First Receiver, ridden by Katie Jerram-Hunnable. The New Approach five-year-old came through to the supreme after winning the coveted novice series final under Sara Leatherbarrow and Rosemary Hetherington, who described him as “a true novice with a great future’’.
Unfortunately, he had a blip during the rein-back in his supreme display which cost him dearly.
“First Receiver was trained by Sir Michael Stoute and came to us in February 2021; I have the same bond with him as I had with Barbers Shop,” explained Katie.
Lauren Thomson and her 18-year-old gelding Sierras Future qualified as the Tattersalls Scottish series champion from the Royal Highland show. A son of Kentucky Derby victor Fusaichi Pegasus, he has enjoyed a rewarding second career since retiring in 2008. His Edinburgh triumph in June was a new career high.
Jane May’s home-bred Potters Grenadier, ridden by event rider and showing newcomer Kizzy Smith, was first to go in the preliminary judging of the Tattersalls RoR former racehorse challenge. His jumping round was so impeccable that judges Judy Bradwell and Mark Rimell remarked “he would have to do something wrong not to win the final after this’’, which was duly accomplished.
An overjoyed Jane said: “I think it is rather fitting that Tattersalls sponsor this class, as Grenadier was bought at Tattersalls in Newmarket inside his dam Mountain Stream with her filly foal at foot in 2009 – three for the price of one – for the silly sum of 1,200 guineas!’’
Dressage classes this time were run under the banner of the RoR national dressage championships, and the elite performance award with a £1,000 purse went to Judith Barker and her 20-year-old home-produced My Diss Sire.
Since retiring from racing at three, Judith’s “horse of a lifetime” has evented to four-star level and internationally, but she now channels his energy into dressage.
A popular interlude during the evening performance is the “Always a Star” invitational parade for racehorses that have won £100,000 or more during their careers on the track.
The 18 forward were led by Katie Jerram-Hunnable aboard Paul Jacobs’ sprinter Limato, who has won in excess of £1.4m. H&H
ANNE VARLEY ON RICH MAN POOR MAN
Willow springs supreme win
An Irish Draught mare lands her first HOYS qualification, while a rider wins a £1,000 prize for the second year on the bounce
Billy Moran’s Corkeeran Willow scores both HOYS Price Family and overall inhand supremes, retaining her unbeaten run
By ALEX ROBINSON
NPS Area 4, Camden Equestrian Centre, North Yorkshire
AN Irish Draught mare and her coat foal achieved an unbeaten run, taking home three overall championships for their proud owner. Billy Moran’s Darragh Moylough seven-year-old, Corkeeran Willow, lifted Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Price Family and overall supremes on her debut year in the show ring on English soil, while her Tiger Attack-sired colt kept up all the way, scoring the supreme foal title.
Geraint Thomas of the Telynau Stud judged the Price Family championship.
“My champion was a lovely, balanced mover; I could imagine doing a day’s hunting on her,” he said. “She looked really well and her foal was upstanding, too, which is the measure of a good broodmare.”
Willow will join stablemate Lisbrogan Tigerbillie, a Tiger Attack three-year-old who is owned and bred by Gemma and Thomas Conlon, at HOYS, after she qualified at the Irish Bronze Soldier, out of multi-Royal Welsh winner Skellorn Barbie Doll – shown by Stuart Mason – took reserve.
Dog groomer Cassie Regan made a winning ridden debut with her Welsh section B Clanmill Top Vote (Blondie), who went through the card to lift the ridden
JUDGE GERAINT THOMAS ON CORKEERAN WILLOW
Pony Society summer show.
“She’s been unbeaten this season; I’m delighted,” said Billy.
Kerry Wainwright’s home-bred Welsh section B, Skellorn Barbies Image, who is by four-time HOYS in-hand finalist Skellorn supreme. The seven-year-old, by Eyarth Rambo out of Moelview Juliet, is a full brother to Cassie’s former pony, Clanmill Jewel In The Crown.
“I went back to breeder Sarah Hunter-Rodwell and bought Blondie as a yearling,” said Cassie, who produces him from home and has lessons from Rachel Turner, who was on board Cassie’s Ringside Poker Dot to win the training stakes championship while Cassie was steering Blondie to glory. “He’s a big pony, so we’ve let him develop and get his head round the job in his own time.”
The Northern Breeders inhand sash went to Vanessa Clark’s 11-year-old Connemara mare, Skargaardens Delicious Love, who will attend HOYS in October, after qualifying at Nottinghamshire County Show.
After a superb week at the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) championships, which included a victory in the Area Best of the Best supreme, Mia-Bella Long and Thistledown Vodka Soda earned their HOYS lead-rein pass, and the mini tricolour, handled by producer Sharn Linney.
OLIVER BRADSHAW, 18, and his mother Stephanie Allen’s striking Highland gelding Lochlands Lord Byron (Norman) continued their spectacular form by winning their second HOYS qualifier of the term, this time in junior ranks, before landing the section accolade at National Pony Society Area 4.
The pair were recently victorious at the Royal International (RIHS), where they were also reserve for the mountain and moorland young rider supreme.
Oliver nearly didn’t make the RIHS, as he was struck down with tonsillitis just hours before his class.
“He managed to pull it out of the bag, but he couldn’t celebrate properly on the day,” said
Stephanie. “He was later admitted to hospital for monitoring, as the infection started to cause problems with his type one diabetes.”
Norman, a sevenyear-old by Strathmore Cameron, is homeproduced by Stephanie and Oliver from their base in Wigan. Oliver, who has been showing since he was eight years old, and Norman are HOYS bound in the open Highland class, after winning and taking section reserve at Royal Cheshire.
“We’ve had the most wonderful season,” Stephanie added. “We’ve owned Norman since he was a two-year-old and he always wanted to please. He has a connection with Oliver
ON FORM like no other, and he is getting better and better.”
Morton retains top title
Edenbridge and Oxted, Ardenrun Showground, Surrey
FOR the second year in a row, producer Will Morton scored the overall ridden supreme – and £1,000 prize – after giving the crowds a masterclass in how to ride a supreme show.
Will’s partner was SarahAnn Gunn’s lightweight hunter Kilcarna Brilliant (Chubbs), who had earlier lifted his third HOYS lightweight class win before securing the overall hunter championship.
The seven-year-old was sourced during lockdown by Moggy Hennessy for Sarah-Ann. This was Chubbs’ second major supreme win of the season, having won the ridden supreme at Suffolk Show. He was also hunter champion at both Lincolnshire and South Suffolk, and was second in the lightweights at the RIHS behind the eventual supreme horse.
Will showed off Chubbs’ paces and polite attitude, riding two gallops and obedient transitions, impressing supreme judge Robert Whitaker.
“He’s easy to open up and show off, and he makes my job enjoyable,” said Will, supreme here last year with worker contender Ballypatrick Liberty. “I love this show; it’s a proper county with plenty of people at the ringside.”
Team Morton were also responsible for the reserve hunter champion. This was Sarah Harper’s middleweight Stop Talking, who was piloted in the championship by Justine Armstrong-Small. Despite being 10, the gelding has only forayed into the ring this year,
Will Morton and Kilcarna Brilliant win another supreme of show title
having previously been run as a hunt horse. He’s racked up several novice wins with Will at the helm and has also been successfully campaigned in amateur classes by Ellie Just.
“We’re over the moon with him,” said Will, who made it a hat-trick when he rode Nina Armstrong Finlay’s novice heavyweight cob, Indigo Marvel, a Royal Windsor winner in May, to his first HOYS place.
Reserve for the ridden supreme crown was Francoise Babington and her ultimate side-saddle contender Seabourne Silent Valley, who nailed a canter serpentine and a flying change during his show.
“I was delighted to win the ladies’ class and get to ride in the supreme in the main ring,” said Francoise, who rode the 11-yearold gelding, another 2022 RIHS runner-up, to win at the BSPS summer championships six days prior. “Edenbridge used to be my local show, so I always love going back. ‘Marvin’ has been a very special horse for me. He got me back into the ring after a long time away from it.” H&H
WILL MORTON
NEW RIDE
ON only their second appearance, Amelia Bevan and Vincent Seddon’s consistent lightweight hunter Loughanboy (Malcolm) collected their ticket to HOYS in the ladies’ show horse class, finishing second to Francoise Babington and Seabourne Silent Valley at Edenbridge and Oxted.
The 11-year-old, a former Devon County champion, is already Birmingham bound in open ranks with Vincent after landing a pass at Lincoln.
“Amelia has ridden him since the beginning of August and their debut was at the National Side Saddle Show,” said Vincent. “We’re just delighted with him. He’s only had a side-saddle on five times, including at the two shows he’s contested at.”
