Championship shows have drastically changed over the years — even more so in the era of the Coronavirus pandemic — and it’s probably our well-known showing producers who have the best recollection of the prestigious finals of yesteryear.
“I remember going to the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) summer championships when it was held at Peterborough,” said leading show producer Adam Forster, one half of Team Jinks, when he talked to H&H’s showing editor Alex Robinson on episode 48 of The Horse & Hound Podcast.“I loved it there and it was my ultimate favourite. It was like a holiday and the week seemed to go on forever.
“My partner and co-producer David Jinks is the same; while we love the BSPS champs at Arena UK we remember it at Peterborough with such fondness. Though for the children we take now it’s their highlight of the year, too.”
Adam remembers how “magical” the championship shows used to be at the Peterborough venue.The main “Vauxhall Arena with the white fabric walls” sticks out in his memory.
“You couldn’t move for people and you had to get there early and get jammed in so you could watch. It was electric. It was evening performances like that which partly inspired me to do what I do; I remember standing there thinking that this is what I needed to do for a job. I still get that feeling when I put a pony in the ring in an evening performance at the BSPS. Watching them go round the ring does something to you. It gets in your bones and lights up something which you can’t describe.”
Team Jinks have landed several supreme accolades at the BSPS champs, and they recently celebrated Charlotte Caulfield and show hunter pony Romanno Spot Of Distinction standing supreme novice at this year’s winter finals (17-18 April).
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“We’ve had lots of memorable wins at the BSPS with clients,” Adam continued. “For myself my favourite memory was winning the young judges in the evening performance; even though I wasn’t on a pony it was very special as I’d worked very hard. Last summer, I even managed to win one of those flowery sashes with Menai Eurostar (mountain and moorland Heritage supreme). It was yellow and he’s dun so it just matched perfectly. It was magical, even at my age!”
You can listen to more from Adam of the on form Jinks Show Team, including the story behind their 2021 BSPS winter champs supreme win here on episode 48 of The Horse & Hound Podcast or search “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your favourite podcast app.
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
