Guy Williams had a superb win in the Agria Hickstead Derby trial, on a horse he has only had two weeks – and came equal second on a horse he’s had six weeks.

As far as suspense-filled jump-offs go, this one would not make the top 10, as there was only Guy in it. He had jumped clear with Crumbgraft and BH Gringos Legacy, and as the only other clear, last year’s third-placed Derby combination Carlos Mota Ribas and Juan Van’T Arkelhof, elected not to jump off, Guy just had to go in on one of his horses to win it.

He and Claudio Zapata Stcliffe’s 10-year-old gelding Crumbgraft tipped the first part of the combination and the last oxer, but the super-scopey grey looked full of jump and enthusiasm for the job.

“I’ve never won the Hickstead Derby trial, and I thought I’d like to get my name on the wall!” Guy said. “I’ve only had him two weeks; I jumped him in a 1.40m not long ago, and it was a bit rusty, to say the least. Today, I thought the other class hasn’t got much prize money, so if I got lucky in this one, I could win a bit to pay [Hickstead director] Lizzie!”

Guy has been riding James Adams Riley’s 10-year-old mare Legacy for that bit longer – four weeks more – and she has already won ranking classes in Spain and France. She and Guy came fourth in the Hambury Derby this month.

“She probably should have won that, but I made a mistake, I held her a bit,” he said. “I was very confident today she was going to be clear – she’s a really good horse, an eventer, who doesn’t look backwards at all; her main thought is forwards.”

Carlos Mota Ribas and Juan Van’T Arkelho lose 100lbs in Hickstead Derby prep

Carlos, who has been placed in the speed Derby and had multiple placings in the Derby itself, promised last year that one day he would lift the Boomerang Trophy.

“I scratched from the jump-off as he’s 16 now, and has had knee surgery – and he’s everything to me,” he said. “I’d rather have him good on Sunday to give this crowd a good show, try to be in the jump-off, try to be clear and try to win. That’s something I’ve never accomplished so far.”

Carlos said he learns every year, watching the other riders and himself.

“I go home, I watch all the videos, I study what I did wrong,” he said. “What can I do better? How can I train better? This year, my horse is 80lb lighter, I am 20lb lighter, so we have 100 pounds less on the boat. I try to do everything possible, and it’s in the lap of the gods on Sunday.”

And asked which of his two promising rides he would tip over the other for the win on Sunday, Guy, who won the title in 2010 with Skip Two Ramiro said: “Legacy. Without a doubt.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Three super horses and riders triumphed in the Thistledown Investments six-bar at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) – one joking that he “could have done with a sixth round!”

Jack Whitaker (Equine America Q Paravatti N), Sebastian Hughes (Colorado Volo) and Guy Williams (Crispina Z) all cleared 1.95m (6’5”) in the fifth and final round to share the spoils.

Of 22 starters, only 11 jumped clear in the first round. Four went out at that stage, one in the third round and three in the fourth, including Izac Ketteridge and Killer Queen, for whom the final pole fell so late, they were past the in-gate, Izac with his arm aloft, before it hit the sand.

And the final three all made the huge verticals look easy.

“She was getting better as they got bigger,” Jack said of the 12-year-old mare owned by his father Michael and Ernst Hofschröer. “The best she felt was the last time; we could have done with a sixth round!”

The versatile mare has been jumping big grands prix, including at Windsor and on the global Champions Tour, but also came second in a six-bar in Abu Dhabi in February.

Colorado Volo, owned by Sebastian, Caroline McGann and Danni Auburn-Yildirin, has had a good year, including second place in the Hertfordshire County Show Area Trial and contesting their first Hickstead Derby, and Cock O’ the North at the Great Yorkshire.

“He’s such a versatile horse; this is our first international win here and it rounds off a wonderful year,” Sebastian said. “He’s a very sensitive horse – a lovable goof – and we have to manage him but he’s lovely. He settled after the first couple of rounds today and I could just ride him relaxed and jump for fun.”

Guy’s ride Crispina is also competed by her owner Tracy Holder, with whom she has had placings up to 1.35m this autumn, but Guy said six-bars are something she excels at.

Asked how his last round felt, he said: “Big!”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Two puissance specialists set a new Bolesworth record by clearing the red wall at 2.21m (7ft 3in) in the fifth and final round.

Guy Williams and Elaine Annis’s Mr Blue Sky UK — probably the most prolific puissance combination of all time — and Elliott Smith and Flamboyant III, a previous joint-victor, both stayed faultless to share the €5,565 (£4,706) first prize at the Bolesworth International Equestrian Summer Festival, presented by Al Shira’aa.

A bumper field of 12 combinations — including several first timers — had come forward to brave the red bricks and the horses were jumping so impressively that eight were still in to contest the fourth heat.

But the wall at 2.15m (7ft 1in) proved key, and only three went forward into the final round.

First to jump was Guy’s 18-year-old daughter Maisy Williams, whose eye for a stride had been enviable as she rode the versatile Dalton D’Hoyo on flawless trips to the wall in each round.

But the 15-year-old gelding, with whom she won the puissance at Arena UK last year, over 2.05m, didn’t quite make the height and nudged out a white brick.

Guy had said in earlier rounds that Mr Blue Sky was fresh and strong and he had been struggling to keep hold of the 15-year-old grey. He approached the wall with the horse’s head slightly to one side but a few strides out, he lost momentum and it briefly appeared as if they might bail on the attempt.

But that would be an underestimation of Guy’s skill and this horse’s scope, as somehow, from a near-standstill, he just popped over 7ft 3in.

“He’s been a bit difficult tonight,” said Guy, who won this class for the third year and whose record with the horse was clearing 2.24m in Rouen. “He hasn’t done much for a while and he was trying to jump it too well. He finds it so easy.”

“I was hoping for a family win!”

Guy was also impressed with his daughter’s performance.

“I’m very proud of Maisy,” he said. “I was hoping Elliott would knock it down so we could have had a family win!”

The focus was all on Elliott to see if he could make it a draw. He’d also had to be tactful in his approach, and brought the horse back to walk before picking up canter a few strides away.

The 14-year-old gelding jumped perfectly, never looking like touching a brick, to lodge another puissance win — and beat the previous Bolesworth puissance record by 1cm.

“It feels amazing and the horse loves Bolesworth. I couldn’t find a better show for him to come to. It was definitely on my schedule for this year to come to Bolesworth and jump the puissance, but I didn’t expect to break a record,” he said.

You can read the full report from this year’s Bolesworth International in the current issue of Horse & Hound magazine (dated 13 June) and this Thursday’s issue (in the shops 20 June).

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Guy Williams’ superstar puissance ride Mr Blue Sky UK has a new home and new rider – but will still take on the red wall with Guy.

Blue, who has won nine international puissances with Guy including four at the London International Horse Show while owned by Caroline and Rupert Phillips, has been bought by Elaine Annis, who told H&H she “fell in love with him within five minutes”. He is living with Elaine, and will be competed at national level by Charlotte Walker, but will go back to Guy for puissances, and probably a shot at the Hickstead Derby this summer.

“I always think that with a partnership as formidable as theirs, why would you change it?” Elaine said.

Elaine owns Noctambule Courcelle, known as Nigel, who also won the London puissance, in 2012 with Ben Maher, and competed in it with Guy in 2014. Nigel is still living with Elaine in retirement, and is now Blue’s neighbour.

“My friend Charlotte was in Portugal recently and they happened to be round a table,” Elaine said. “Guy asked how Nigel was and Charlotte said he’s retired but if the right puissance horse came along, I might like another one, and he said ‘What about Blue?’

“He said he’d speak to Caroline, then I went to see him. I think within five minutes, I’d fallen in love with him, and said ‘I’m having him’.”

Guy said he is looking forward to adding to Blue’s puissance record.

“I’m very grateful to Caroline and Rupert for their support for so long,” he said.

“But the opportunity came up for Elaine to buy him, and if everything goes to plan we’ll head to Hickstead too. It’s nice to know he’s in a knowledgeable home with Elaine, which is what he deserves.”

Blue, who is now 15, competed in the Hickstead Derby with Guy in 2022, finishing 11th, and Elaine thinks that having been round the course, he will know what to expect this year.

“He’s a puissance specialist, but never say never!” she said, adding that it was Blue’s nature that she fell in love with.

“As Guy has said, he’s spooky and sharp, but he’s got a heart of gold,” she said. “He nuzzles through your pockets, puts his top lip up and laughs at you; he’s got a gorgeous personality, my children can lead him around.

“I think with puissances, it’s the thrill of it. I love Nigel and he got me addicted to it. They say you get one horse of a lifetime and I can’t believe I might be lucky enough to end up with two. It’s lovely.”

Caroline, from Stud UK Euro in Kent, told H&H she saw Blue advertised as a five-year-old, rang the seller and bought him.

“I have 40 years experience of breeding and looking at young horses jump which gives me an eye to see real talent,” she said.

“The grey horse I had bought had so much jump, all I could see was the blue sky, and that is how he got his name as he wasn’t named when he came over from Europe. The UK suffix was added, as you can see on other Stud UK Euro horses. Mr Blue Sky UK went on to be ridden by Guy Williams, who I have had a very good relationship with for 40 years; he beat the best in the world, at Bordeaux on my horse Zaire .

“Mr Blue Sky has been a horse of a lifetime for me in winning so many puissances. We wish Elaine all the very best.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

In this week’s international showjumping news round-up, Irish showjumper Mikey Pender enjoyed an outstanding run of success, while Amanda Derbyshire posted a winning streak of her own, including on a very exciting new stallion.

This was a week where a strong Irish contingent was absolutely flying, but so was Guy Williams in Spain. Read on for our weekly round-up of showjumping news from around the globe, plus results.

Showjumping news: Pender’s week to remember

Irish showjumper Mikey Pender saluted the crowd in delight after his flying finish on his great partner HHS Calais secured victory in the Longines CSI5*-W grand prix at the HH Sharjah Ruler Cup in the UAE. This victory with the Bravo Hughes-owned son of Cavalier Royale, bred in Ireland by Ita Brennan, sealed a marvellous run of success for the 24-year-old Hickstead Derby-winning rider.

Mikey started the week by filling the top two placings in the grand prix qualifier, topping the leaderboard on HHS Calais and slotting into second on Al Shira’aa Stables’ 10-year-old stallion Chacco Bay. Mikey went on to win Sunday’s winning round on Chacco Blue, before triumphing on his Rome Nations Cup and Riyadh grand prix winner HHS Calais after a formidable 14-way jump-off.

“I went over there for six weeks, building up the horses, and that was the perfect way to end,” said Mikey, who was part of Ireland’s second-placed team in the new Longines League of Nations the week before on Calais. “You’re going there to win those big five-star grands prix, so to pull it off on a horse who is in great shape, jumping well, is what it’s all about.

“He jumped very well the week before in the League of Nations so I was quite hopeful.

“Chacco Bay jumped his first five-star grand prix last week – he had two down but I was very happy with how he jumped – then he was second on the first day here and won his 1.55m on Sunday. So he improved and he felt like he jumped even better – he’s very exciting.”

Continuing the Irish domination, Hickstead-based Shane Breen and home-bred Scarteen (Cardento x Chellano Z) finished third to Mikey with a super double clear in the horse’s first five-star grand prix and Shane won Saturday’s speed class with 16-year-old Z7 Ipswich.

• HH Sharjah Ruler Cup results

Amanda Derbyshire’s horse-buying trip pays off

US-based British showjumper Amanda Derbyshire claimed a string of national and international wins on her first visit to TerranNova Equestrian Center, Florida, combining a horse-buying trip with a bucketful of success in the ring. As well as national success, Amanda claimed a 1.45m victory on Otto BH before heading the grand prix with the 12-year-old and finishing third with a new ride, the eight-year-old stallion Destine To Be.

“It was fast today,” said Amanda after the grand prix. “There were 13 in the jump-off so I knew speed was going to matter. I did one stride less to the double, he’s got a big stride and he’s careful, and it all worked out in my favour.

“It was Destine’s first FEI week so I’m probably more excited about him, that was a fast double clear stepping up.”

• CSI2* Myakka City results

Showjumping news: first grand prix victory is “everything and more”

Making the showjumping news headlines at the World Equestrian Center, Ocala, Florida, was Mexico’s Carlos Hank Guerreiro, posting a first ever grand prix victory riding H5 Sporthorses’ H5 Porthos Maestro WH Z. Rain couldn’t dampen the competitive spirit in the CSI3* $100,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida grand prix over tracks set by Colm Quinn.

“My trainer Eduardo Menezes told me there were only five in the jump-off so I might as well go for it,” said Carlos. “We wanted to test the horse a little bit. He’s still green, and this was his first real big jump-off. My horse is very fast naturally, you just let him go and he is just eager to canter forward.

“He’s an amazing horse,” he added. “I got him as a seven-year-old who was quite green. He was produced by a very young rider from Belgium, who took him to the children’s European Championships then to the Belgium national championships at 1.45m. We saw him there and purchased him shortly after.

“From then on, he’s just done everything and more that we’ve asked of him. We stepped up to this level last year and he’s had a few good placings, but never in the podium and never a win, so I couldn’t be happier with him. He did everything and more out there tonight.”

In second was Daniel Coyle on new ride Incredible, with third place going to another Irish representative in Tom Wachman on Coolmore Showjumping’s Berlux Z. Tom had won Thursday’s grand prix qualifier on Cathalina S and had simultaneously been competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival, where he won an under-25 class on nine-year-old mare Obora’s Laura.

A career best win for a little mare with a big heart at WEF

There was no stopping the Irish in this week’s showjumping news and it was Philip McGuane on board the Evergate Stables’ Orphea HQ who recorded a career best in the Winter Equestrian Festival Challenge Cup, held on the grass Derby field.

“Philip has developed a really strong partnership with Orphea,” said owner Nayel Nassar of the mare who has been with Evergate Stables since a seven-year-old. “It’s been really cool to see him come into his element, get more competitive, and dig in for these kinds of classes because we always knew he was capable.”

Philip joined Evergate Stables to produce their young horses after riding for Switzerland’s Beat Mandli and US rider Katie Dinan.

“Orphea is not very big herself, but she has a big heart,” he said of the Emerald mare. “She knows where the jumps are, and as long as I don’t make a mistake she’s always there. I just need to get her anywhere near the jumps to be honest.”

• WEF results

Spanish success: Ernie flies to victory

On week two of the Andalucia Sunshine Tour in Spain, one of the show’s big winners was Guy Williams, who landed Sunday’s CSI4* medium tour grand prix on the 12-year-old Emerald son, Ernie Of Greenhill Z. On the Moura Tour in Valencia, Sandy McLean scored in a 1.45m with his great partner Gino F.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Guy Williams has become the only rider to have taken the London International Horse Show puissance title five times, clearing 2.18m on Mr Blue Sky UK, the combination’s third London crown in a row.

The ExCeL was treated to a nail-biter of a competition as the 12 starters were whittled down to three in the final round.

Guy and Caroline Phillips’ superstar 14-year-old, who has won nine international puissances with Guy, including four at London, were the first combination to go in round five, and they took on the wall as if it were three feet lower, and as if they could have cleared a foot higher.

Next in Mark Edwards and Montreuxs Tale clipped a brick out of the wall, so the only question was whether Guy would share the win or take it outright. And when the two-time Horse of the Year Show puissance winner Commandant Geoff Curran found himself and Bishops Quarter in a less than ideal spot, and pulled up, Guy and the Chacco-Blue gelding had the spotlight to themselves.

Asked what makes Mr Blue Sky such a puissance specialist, Guy said: “I just think he has natural ability to jump a massive jump and he enjoys it. A lot of horses win a few then go by the wayside but I don’t think it takes too much out of him; he hops over it five times and then goes back to bed. I think he finds it quite easy and that’s why he keeps winning.”

Guy added that the gelding is sharp, can be strong, and is prone to nerves.

“If you can contain that nervousness, it’s fine but when he gets nervous he gets strong and is so brave he gets in trouble sometimes,” he said. “But when you get him right, he’s super – and hopefully it won’t be the last one he wins.”

Guy has said before that Blue Sky is a “family horse”; his daughter Maisy has been riding him since she was 14, and the Phillips have owned horses with him for years.

“He’s just an important part of our family,” he said. “There’s a lot of children who like him too, he’s a real favourite and kids absolutely love him.”

This is Guy’s fifth win of the London International Horse Show puissance, including a joint victory on Richi Rich in 2011, but no less special for that.

“It’s very special,” he said. “I come to win and luckily we’ve won so I’ll drive home happy!”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Maisy Williams, the teenage daughter of big-wall aficionado Guy Williams, proved herself a chip off the old block when she was the sole rider to clear the big wall at 2.05m (6ft 7in) to win the Dodson & Horrell puissance at the ALX Horseboxes Major Showjumping Championships (18-24 September) at Arena UK, Lincolnshire.

It was only 17-year-old Maisy’s second attempt at tackling the big wall, having also jumped the puissance at Arena UK last December, where she finished fourth. She triumphed this time, again riding the 14-year-old Dalton D’Hoyo (Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Parco).

“He’s a small horse — about 16.2hh — but with a massive heart, so you can trust him to jump whatever you put in front of him,” Maisy said. “He can jump a massive fence, you just need to see the right stride, and he’s really easy and straight.”

Puissance tips: ‘My dad told me to grab some mane!’

“For the first three rounds my dad told me to keep travelling so he gets brave, but for the last two rounds, to come round the corner, wait and hold and let him jump it,” added Maisy, who was part of Great Britain’s bronze medal-winning junior team at the European Showjumping Championships in the summer.

Maisy lost a stirrup on her final trip over the wall, but stayed skillfully in the plate.

“My dad told me to grab the mane! I thought he’d just pop it but he jumped it really well,” she added.

Dalton D’Hoyo has been with the Williams family for nearly seven years and has previously jumped grands prix with Guy, although Maisy has ridden him more in recent years.

“I took him away to France and jumped a few rankings classes on him. He is kind of like a family horse — my mum rides him and my brother even had a go on him, he’s so easy,” explained Maisy.

“Dad will be taking him to Horse of the Year Show [HOYS] this year while I take a few others to Vilamoura. I’d love to jump the HOYS or London International Horse Show puissance on him but you have to be 18 — so I’ll have to wait til next year, but I’ll be taking my top horse to London for the young riders,” she said.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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There has never been another puissance combination quite like Guy Williams and the brilliant Mr Blue Sky UK. Over the past five years they’ve claimed all of the country’s major puissance titles and they were back for more at Bolesworth — taking the £3,570 first prize as the sole partnership to clear the wall in the fifth and final round.

Both Guy and Ireland’s Brendan Murphy (Erne Riverrun) had jumped the wall at 6’11” (2m10) and decided to come forward for a final heat despite Guy struggling to hold the big, strong grey, as he’s injured his back.

Brendan, 23, was contesting only his second ever puissance and delivered fabulous performances right until the end, when the 10-year-old gelding dragged the bricks down behind.

Mr Blue Sky, however, cleared the massive wall with ease, giving it air behind.

“I came back in as I know he’s nearly a guarantee [to win it],” Guy said. “He makes the fourth or fifth round every time. He jumps it effortlessly — up to 2m15 he’s in his comfort zone.”

Guy said he was going to ask Richard Howley, who lives nearby, to ride Mr Blue Sky as he was struggling with his bad back.

“I had eight weeks off after Spain, I jumped at Windsor but I was bit sore. I went to France and I won a couple of classes there, and it’s getting better, but he gets quite strong so it was making it a bit sore.

“I was going to get Richard to ride him, but I thought ‘I probably need a few quid to pay the bills, so I’d better jump it’.”

Guy has lost count of the number of puissances Caroline Phillips’ 14-year-old Chacco Blue gelding has won to date.

“The biggest he ever went to was 2m24 in Rouen,” Guy said.

All bar one of the nine horses forward had jumped cleanly until the fourth round, where six combinations, including last year’s winners Mark Edwards and Montreuxs Tale, all caught the wall behind.

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Guy Williams’ multiple puissance-winning ride Mr Blue Sky UK has shown he is just as good, if not better, without shoes.

Guy and Caroline and Rupert Phillips’ Chacco-Blue gelding retained their London International Horse Show title on Thursday (15 December), clearing 2.15m to take the win jointly with Joseph Trunkfield on Cruze.

The 13-year-old is a superstar over the red wall, winning at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), Rouen and Liverpool as well as the previous three London titles. He finished third in the class at HOYS 2022, which Guy said was ‘probably the only time he’s had the wall down”. But he has since come back in style.

Guy told H&H his daughter Maisy has been competing the versatile grey in young rider classes – he has previously joked about his “family horse” – and it was she who proposed the change.

“My daughter took the shoes off her stallion and he’s been jumping clear at 1.45m and going better, so she asked if she could take the shoes off all hers, and I said yes,” he said.

“I was going to put them back on but thought I’d leave him; I haven’t been riding him much but he came here and jumped super.”

Guy added that he is “not a [barefoot] convert yet but we’ll see”.

“We’ll play it by ear,” he said. “Everyone in Europe seems to be jumping without shoes so why not try it? I think they lose a bit of stride [length] which has been handy for Maisy because he’s a big horse.

“So maybe it’s helped him – but it certainly hasn’t hindered him!”

You might also be interested in:

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Two flying greys shared the honours in the LeMieux London Horse Show puissance this evening, both clearing 2.15m.

The horses were at opposite ends of the experience scale, with Guy Williams’ class specialist Mr Blue Sky UK lining up alongside Joseph Trunkfield’s ride Cruze – who was in only his second puissance – to take the winners’ spoils.

Joseph , 27, was the joint winner of the puissance at Horse of the Year Show last year on Senators Rhondaigo. He defended his title this year on James Ingham’s 11-year-old Cruze, who finished equal sixth, experience which the rider said helped the horse tonight.

“The horses has heaps of jump – in the last round it was a case of over or through it coming down to it and he found it so easy,” said Joseph, who said this was a “massive” result for him as an up-and-coming rider.

“He’s quite a tense, nervy horse and obviously there’s a lot of atmosphere going on. He got a little bit excited in the warm-up tonight, so the last few rounds we decided just to leave it, just to go in [without warming up] and it seemed to pay off better that way.”

Caroline Phillips’ 13-year-old Mr Blue Sky UK has won every major puissance in Britain and this was his second year running winning here in the London Horse Show puissance after victory last year.

“He jumps the wall very well and actually his hardest rounds are the first couple as he’s a little bit spooky, but I think that’s what makes him jump it so well, because he’s so careful at it. We have more trouble at the triple bar than we do the wall, to be honest,” said Guy.

The Chacco-Blue son – who is kept fresh between puissance appearances by jumping young rider classes with Guy’s daughter 16-year-old Maisy – likes to be allowed to run freely to the big wall. The crowd had their hearts in their mouths as the horse appears to get very close to it, but he clearly knows what he’s doing.

“I think the last couple of times I’ve tried to ride him properly to it and actually he just likes to run and jump it,” said Guy. “He can jump anything when you’re just running and letting him jump.”

Four made it through to the fourth round over 2.13m. Sebastian Hughes followed Guy in and seemed to have a miscommunication with the 10-year-old Colorado Volo on the approach to the wall and pulled him up in front of the fence to finish fourth.

William Whitaker’s ride Flamboyant III, who had shared third with Guy and Mr Blue Sky UK at Horse of the Year Show, tipped the top of the wall with his back legs on the way down for third.

There were two surprise exits earlier in the competition. Daniel Delsart and Granby were joint second here last year but had the first fence down in the first round this time, though they cleared the wall. And this year’s Horse of the Year Show winners, Ireland’s Geoff Curran and Bishops Quarter, dropped out of contention when the horse just touched the wall with his front legs in the third round.

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Keep up to date with all of the action from London International, including breaking news and behind the scenes insight from each day of the show, with no limit on how much you can read, from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Join now

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The 2022 Longines Global Champions Tour reached its thrilling conclusion in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night (22 October) when Ben Maher smashed into the record books with a historic hat-trick, while 23-year-old Mikey Pender also stole the spotlight with a breathtaking grand prix performance. The Longines FEI World Cup jumping series rolled on to Helsinki, Finland, where Swedish rider Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli said her tactics for securing a big class double was just to “keep calm”. Meanwhile, in Portugal, one of our favourite stallions on the circuit, the eye-catching Ernie Of Greenhill Z, earned his first moment of grand prix glory under an expert ride from Guy Williams.

Here is H&H’s weekly round up of international action from the world of showjumping over the past week, plus showjumping results.

‘Ernie was due a win’

On the CSI3* Villamoura Champions Tour in Portugal, Guy Williams and the 10-year-old Emerald stallion Ernie Of Greenhill Z (main image above) landed Sunday’s grand prix after a thrilling six-way jump-off. Guy only took the reins on Ernie earlier this year and targeted this feature class on week two of this Tour, winning in impressive style from his countryman Adrian Speight riding Millfield Baloney.

“I was second to go and I just went as quick as I could and clear,” said Guy. “Adrian was just behind me then Piergiorgio Bucci [who finished third] was right behind him. The course-builder told me when I was walking the course that he was hoping for five or six clears, so he was spot on – it was a nice course and the time was all right. Luckily I was at the right end of the final six.”

Guy and Ernie, who is registered as bay but has very unusual white markings, jumped their first grand prix in June and this is the first time they’ve found the winning formula.

“He hadn’t done an awful lot when we found him, he’s come on a lot and he’s jumped clear in a few grands prix now, but he’s just been a bit unlucky really,” said Guy. “He was making a few silly mistakes but we’ve rectified that and he was due a win. I didn’t jump the first week as I thought I might be able to win on this second week and it all went to plan! Every other week here there’s a four-star prize fund for a three-star show, it’s really good.”

Guy also debuted the new nine-year-old mare Namika, jumping some lovely clears in the process.

“I’ve only had her a week so I don’t know too much about her yet, the owners have sent her to me and we’ll see how she goes,” said Guy, whose daughter Maisy is also in action at the show.

Villamoura Champions Tour showjumping results

Mikey Pender’s 300k jackpot

Mikey Pender, 23, landed his second grand prix of the Longines Global Champions Tour when beating his three jump-off rivals in Saudi Arabia, to win Saturday’s €900,000 (£782,000) Riyadh grand prix. Drawn third, Mikey and Marion Hughes’s huge striding Irish-bred HHS Calais (Cavalier Royale x Obos Quality 004) smashed the previous times set by Jur Vrieling (Long John Silver 3) and Harrie Smolders with Monaco NOP.

The 11-year-old gelding HHS Calais, expertly ridden by the young Irishman, flexed every muscle to clear the fences and they were just 0.01sec up on the clock at the split. They then pirouetted round the bends and executed a breathtaking twist over the vast final oxer to soar into top spot in a time of 35.78sec. The penultimate rider, Malin Baryard-Johnsson with H&M Indiana, rocketed round but faulted at a late oxer, leaving Mikey to collect the €300,000 top prize, following up on his previous victory in Valkenswaard.

“I can’t believe it, my horse jumped unbelievable,” said Mikey. “It’s emotional and I’d like to thank the team at home. Without them, days like this wouldn’t be possible.”

The top-placed British rider in Saturday night’s grand prix was Harry Charles (Borsato) in ninth after succumbing, like several combinations, to the middle part of the treble combination in round one. Even the world champions Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward showed a rare moment of vulnerability, coming home with 12 faults, while Shane Breen and Vistogrand suffered the agony of tipping the front rail of the final oxer in an otherwise foot-perfect performance to finish on four faults, just out of the money.

LGCT grand prix of Riyadh results

Ben Maher’s historic hat-trick: “He’s a real champion”

Great Britain’s Ben Maher announced he “couldn’t be prouder right now,” after becoming the first rider in Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) history to claim three championship titles.

The Hertfordshire rider collected four faults in round one of the feature class riding Oakingham Stud’s 12-year-old stallion Faltic HB (Baltic VDL x Concorde), the slightest error coming at the triple bar, three fences from home. But when his two key rivals, Pieter Devos with the barefoot mare Mom’s Toupie De La Roque and Christian Ahlmann on the mighty stallion Dominator 2000 Z, came home with eight faults apiece on Uliano Vezzani’s testing track, the 2022 LGCT title went to the seemingly invincible British rider.

“It’s been an incredible year,” said Ben, who was crowned LGCT champion of champions in 2018 and 2019 and until this weekend had stood alongside Scott Brash and Edwina Tops-Alexander as the only riders to have earned dual LGCT championships. “Faltic’s been an amazing horse – it’s the first year he’s come to this level and unfortunately we didn’t win a grand prix this year, but he’s been unbelievably consistent, with many top placings.”

Ben’s groom in Riyadh was Derrin Lake, and third-placed Christian paid tribute to the winning team: “Big congratulations to Ben, he’s a real champion, he has nothing to prove anymore and he claimed the most points over the season so he’s the deserved winner and the one to beat next season!”

LGCT of Riyadh results

“Dream” double for Swedish contender and “feisty” mare

Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli of Sweden scooped victory in the second leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup in Helsinki, Finland, riding the “feisty” 12-year-old mare Kalinka Van De Nachtegaele (pictured, above). This superb win came after the pair’s victory in the previous day’s CSI5* Defender Grand Trophy.

“I know my horse is super quick but I had to stay calm or she would get too excited,” said Angelica, who was drawn last in a 10-strong jump-off and received advice from her husband Marlon, who was also in action in the class. “I had my plan and went as fast as I could while keeping her under control and it worked.

“She’s very special, she’s very delicate and sensitive but when she enters the arena she wants to win. She’s been extra amazing over the last six months and I think her best years are still to come – she’s getting better all the time!”

Marlon added: “I’m so happy for Angelica, it’s a dream for us to be in the top sport together!”

Three members of the Whitaker family were in action in the qualifier – Robert, Donald and Jack, who finished ninth with four faults in the jump-off riding Equine America Valmy De La Lande. Donald also claimed a superb five-star win the previous day riding the 11-year-old mare Little Khira H.

Sixth-placed World Cup rider Victoria Gulliksen of Norway and Equine America Papa Roach now head the overall standings in Europe ahead of the third leg in Lyon, France, this Sunday.

Helsinki International Horse Show results

Express success for Burke

Irish rider Jessica Burke, who will be the guest on this week’s Horse & Hound Podcast, won the Masters at the CSI4* St. Lo, France, riding Express Trend. Liam Nicholas’s 12-year-old gelding remained faultless over the five rounds to claim the E3,000 top prize.

CSI4* St Lo showjumping results

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A world class international field of horses and riders have flocked to Hickstead for this year’s CSI5* Longines Royal International Horse Show, but among the many familiar combinations in action are a few new pairs to catch the eye.

British rider Guy Williams made his Hickstead debut with a Portuguese-bred grey with the very catchy name, First Colt, in Thursday’s Royal International Vase, a 1.45m speed class won by William Whitaker.

Their bold bid for victory only came amiss at the final fence but the pair seem ideally suited in the ring, despite Guy only taking the reins last week.

Guy explained that the 12-year-old by Coltaire Z has been ridden for the past four years by one of his pupils, Indian showjumper Maryk Sahney, and is with Guy to eventually sell. But the pair have already hit winning form, winning last week’s grand prix at Royal Lancashire before arriving at Hickstead for the Royal International.

“Maryk is based in France and I train him a bit and I help him buy all his horses,” said Guy, who originally bought First Colt through David Simpson and Shane Breen, who had acquired him from his breeder in Portugal.

“Maryk sent him to me to be sold, so I’ll ride him a bit, hopefully win a bit, and then sell him. He’s a lovely horse who jumped loads of grands prix with Maryk.

“I’ve only had him a week and he’s already won at Lancs on Sunday. Then I brought him to Hickstead to see how he gets on. He’s a nice jumper who fits in well with my string.”

Ben Maher at the Royal International: ‘I think he’s exciting’

In the same class on Thursday, Ben Maher impressed with new ride Ici, a nine-year-old son of Douglas, who has been sent to Ben by Holger Hetzel. The pair jumped a smart clear to finish 10th on day one of the international classes.

“This is our first show,” said Ben from the Royal International. “I jumped him the other day in the 1.30m and he was clear, he felt very good. I’ve only had him three or four weeks but he has some good two-star results.”

Irish rider Shane O’Meara had been producing him until recently for Manton Grange Stables.

“We’re lucky to have him,” said Ben. “He’s not so big, but he rides big. He was a bit strong in there [for the Royal International Vase] – we need to get the communication going more – but I think he’s exciting.

“He has it all, we just need to produce him a bit. We’ll give him another round and then we’ll go a bit bigger,” he explained.

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Young British riders flew the flag this week, with Harry Charles and Matt Sampson taking top-level wins. Here is your weekly round-up of just some of the international sporting action from the world of showjumping.

Another top win for Harry Charles

God Save The Queen played in the Zoute Plage arena at Knokke Hippique, Belgium, this weekend, as Britain’s young superstar and his fantastic ride Stardust, owned by Pembroke Holdings and Stall Zet, won the CSI5* 1.55m class.

Harry and the 12-year-old Chacco-Blue mare, one of four rides with which Harry has been named on the World Championships nominated entries list, were the fastest of eight in the jump-off to take the win.

More Knokke Hippique results

Sampson continues to impress

Hot on the heels of his first five-star win, in Spruce Meadows, Canada, on Fabrice DN, young British rider Matt Sampson scored another CCI5* victory, this time on Ebolensky.

Matt and the KWPN mare, whom he owns with Rachael Evison, took the 1.50m AKITA Drilling winning round on 9 July. This was Matt’s 10th win of the 2022 Spruce Meadows summer series.

Full Spruce Meadows results

Irish victory across the pond

Paul O’Shea won the ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows on Imerald van’t Voorhof on 9 July. The combination jumped one of seven first-round clears, then clocked up just a single time-fault in the second round to clinch the win.

“He’s a great water jumper and very brave. I had a feeling if I brought him here he would excel,” said Paul.

Speedy Guy takes a win

Guy Williams and his superstar stallion Rouge De Ravel added yet another win to their impressive CV in Tops International Arena, Valkenswaard.

Guy and his lightning-fast 17-year-old stallion claimed the biggest win on the first day of action as the Tops International Arena season was officially declared open. The combination came home over two seconds faster than Emanuele Gaudiano on Nikolaj de Music, with Ireland’s Daniel Coyle in third on Ivory TCS.

More results from Valkenswaard

Shane on form

Shane Breen picked up a couple of good placings at CSI Ommen, The Netherlands, this weekend.

The Irishman took second and fourth in 1.45m three-star classes, on Haya and Cuick Star Kervec respectively.

More results from Ommen

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

It may have been two years since there has been an Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby meeting but prolific winners here Guy Williams and Harriet Biddick have lost none of their prowess.

Sixty-nine competitors came forward for the opening FEI class, the Stoner Jeweller’s vase, but it was these two Hickstead titans who topped the line-up, spearheading the pack of Brits filling the top five places.

Harriet and the 12-year-old mare Night Of Glory OL had managed to narrowly overtake a long-standing lead from Nicole Lockhead Anderson and Miss Aragona PS but Guy and his 17-year-old stallion Rouge De Ravel smashed the target by almost 3 sec. There was an almost 4 sec gap between the top three riders and the remainder of the field.

“I’ve missed it a bit!” Guy said of the Derby meeting’s return. “I always like to win here and he’s a good horse for trying to win on.

“He’s feeling really good, we jumped a smaller class today but we’ll do the rankings class on Saturday. He’s got a bit of age to him now but he’s really enjoying it here.”

Guy and Harriet are familiar with tussling on Hickstead’s hallowed turf, having battled it out in the speed derby several times in the past decade. Guy’s most recent of four wins came in 2014 and 2015 with Casper De Muze, while Harriet is the reigning title-holder, having won in 2016 and 2019 with Silver Lift.

This year, the now 17-year-old Silver Lift, who has also been runner-up in the class on several occasions, will return to defend his title, while Guy will be partnering his daughter Maisy’s usual ride, the 15-year-old stallion Triomphe Kervec.

While Guy is still riding at the top of the sport, having just returned from four weeks competing in Belgium and France, he has been dedicating more time to supporting his daughter’s show jumping career.

“Maisy is doing her exams this week, so I’ll be back running around after her next week!” he said.

“I’m giving Triomphe Kervec a jump in the speed derby as next year Maisy will be riding in it, so I’ll be giving him some experience for her. I’m going to try and win it though. He’s a good horse and he’s really fast, so if it goes well, he won’t be far off, that’s for sure.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

After a two-year hiatus, we are really looking forward to the 60th edition of the legendary Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby on Sunday 26th June. Ahead of this year’s class, we’ve been speaking to some of the Derby’s past winners to hear their stand-out memories from over the years.

Here is what Guy Williams, who won the Hickstead Derby in 2010 riding the lovely chestnut Skip Two Ramiro, had to say…

First Hickstead Derby memory

“I remember watching the likes of John Whitaker and Michael Whitaker, Nick Skelton and Peter Charles,” says Guy. “They were great inspirations growing up and back then we only had normal telly so Hickstead and Horse of the Year Show were all we watched! I always went to Hickstead as a kid.”

First Hickstead Derby experience

“I can’t remember exactly but it must have been aged 18 or 19 when I worked for Cyril Light,” recalls Guy. “I would have ridden a few of his young horses – including Skip Two Ramiro as a seven-year-old, who I ended up buying off him and winning the Hickstead Derby on.”

The time it all went right in the Hickstead Derby

“I jumped it a few times on Skip Two Ramiro so he’s probably my all-time Hickstead horse,” says Guy. “We used to practise over makeshift Derby fences at Cyril’s and the year I won it I’d built a dyke at home – it definitely gives you an advantage and I think everyone that’s won it had one at home.

“When you’ve tried so hard to achieve something, to win it was a very good feeling. My family was there, my kids were watching and everyone was so happy. If you have a nice Derby horse it’s still the class we all want to win.”

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

At the age of just 19, Lily Attwood has already made a glittering name for herself on the international showjumping circuit, following her five-star debut at La Coruna World Cup show in December.

She is trained by Guy Williams and earlier this year, Lily was part of the bronze medal-winning young riders team at the European Championships.

Unfortunately a bad fall at Vilamoura, Portugal, in November resulted in a broken collar bone and put her out of action for a few weeks before she made her comeback in December and jumped in the five-star classes at the London International Horse Show for the first time. Lily is now raring to go again in 2022 – with plenty of big ambitions.

“Recently, I have been climbing up in the rankings, but due to my injury I think I will drop back down,” she says. “My main aims for 2022 are to compete in a few World Cups and step up to five-star level. It has been difficult to move up to five-star level this year due to Covid-19 and all the other riders trying to compete at that level, as well.

“I am also aiming to build up my string of horses; I have a few young ones coming up who I think are very exciting. I have three older horses, with whom I have had great success in the last few years, so I would love to move up to the next level with them.”

Lily has enjoyed some big wins with horses such as Cor-Leon VD Vlierbeek Z, her London GCT winner, Karibou Horta (pictured below) and Calvaro’s Up To Date. But she is particularly excited about the six-year-old Lee May (Lavagon x Rocket Star), who came from Irish showjumper Richard Howley.

“I took her to Vilamoura and she jumped eight out of nine clear rounds so I was really pleased with her, especially as she is still very green,” says Lily. “She learnt a lot at the show; she is very careful and has a great brain. I plan to take her slowly to let her progress, and hopefully have a successful seven-year-old year.”

‘A senior European or Olympic medal would be my goal’

Lily has the Aachen grand prix on her bucket list – as well as to represent Great Britain on championship teams.

“I love representing my country and riding on a team, so a senior European medal and an Olympic medal would be my other goals,” she says.

Lily’s breakthrough victory came in 2019 a young riders class at Amsterdam, soon after she’d come off ponies.

“I had only had the horse [Karibou Horta] for a month and I won the grand prix,” she says. “It was the start of my career, when I decided that winning the big classes in front of a crowd is what I want to do for the rest of my life – it was amazing.

“Winning my first ranking class was also amazing. I won quite a lot when I first came off ponies; I definitely could not have done it without the help of my trainer, Guy Williams. Lastly, my final proudest moment is being selected for the senior Nations Cup team at 18 years old.”

What has Lily Attwood learned from her mentor Guy Williams?

Lily pays tribute to all the help she’s received from Guy Williams.

“As a young rider you don’t know it all, and you can’t do it on your own – you need a very good team around you,” she says. “I have excelled more than I thought I would do by this age because of Guy. It is not just about being good on the horse, it is about being a great horseman on the ground. He has taught me how to manage my horses, from their feet to their feed, what I have learnt from him and his groom, Nat, has been invaluable. It is more than just riding; the horses have to be properly managed if you want to do well.

“You need to know that 99.9% of the time it is not the horse’s fault and you cannot get angry with them,” she adds. “You cannot get frustrated after a bad round, you have to just breathe and come out the ring, trot them off, then come back to see how you can improve. They are not machines and they can only do what you say. On ponies I was quite hot headed and Guy has really taught me to calm down, and I have a lot. You can’t get angry with the horses after a bad round, even if you are frustrated.”

‘John and Michael Whitaker are true horsemen’

Lily has also been inspired by John Whitaker and Michael Whitaker.

“They are true horsemen and I always watch their rounds,” she says. “I watched John at a show last week, and it was like watching poetry in motion; he makes it look so effortless – like he is doing nothing!”

Climbing up the world rankings – she’s currently 127th – Lily has come close to jumping at her first five-star shows, just missing out on a spot at Royal Windsor and the London International, while the Rolex Grand Slam is another goal.

“They are such great shows, and especially being in my home country, makes me motivated to be consistent and climb up the rankings so I can compete there next year,” she says.

“The Rolex Grand Slam is something that all riders dream of winning; I think that it has brought showjumping to the next level. I also think that the Rolex Grand Slam has made the sport more accessible to the general public and more globally friendly, as people want to watch top level sport that has high stakes. The Rolex Grand Slam has the best grands prix in the world.”

With thanks to Rolex Grand Slam.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

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In the week that historically hosts the Liverpool International Horse Show, we take a trip down memory lane to the year when four riders shared puissance honours and set a new show record height

Four riders shared the honours at 2.21m — a record height for the show — in the Hope Valley Saddlery Puissance at the TheraPlate UK Liverpool International Horse Show.

They included the joint Olympia winners — William Whitaker with RMF Charly and Mikey Pender with his Hickstead Derby hero Hearton Du Bois Halleux — and Guy Williams with his puissance specialist Mr Blue Sky UK, who took the Olympia puissance in 2018 and the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) class this year.

But they were joined by a new face, Harry Whall. The 28-year-old, competing in his first puissance competition with new ride Quality Old Joker, came close to tipping off on landing in the first round, but grew in confidence as the five rounds went on.

“That was the best buzz ever!” exclaimed the 28-year-old from Market Rasen. “It is a dream come true. I didn’t expect him to jump so high in the first round, but once I got on the right spot it was great.”

Harry bought 11-year-old Quality Old Joker, who won this class at Liverpool in 2017 and the puissance at Olympia in 2016 with former rider Holly Smith, a couple of months ago.

Holly won last night’s big class, the Horseware Ireland-sponsored 1.50m competition, on former event horse Denver, owned by Ian Dowie. The 11-year-old competed up to CCI4* level with Emilie Chandler and Constance Copestake before turning to showjumping with Holly this summer.

Tabitha Kyle’s outstanding year continued with victories in both the Wicks Group 128cm championship and the P Gowans Civil Engineering 138cm final.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

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Red-wall specialists Guy Williams and the “family horse” Mr Blue Sky UK were the only combination to clear 2.10m to win the London International Horse Show LeMieux puissance.

Guy and Caroline Phillips’ 12-year-old gelding took the honours in a four-round competition with Mathieu Billot on Dassler and Dan Delsart on Granby in joint second.

The versatile Chacco-Blue gelding, who has recently been jumping national classes with Guy’s 15-year-old daughter Maisy, was back to his puissance best, having knocked the wall to finish third at Horse of the Year Show two months ago, making two metres look like two feet.

Video courtesy of London International Horse Show

“I made a mistake last time, at HOYS,” Guy said. “So I did have a little practice before I left home and he jumped it so well at home, I thought good, he’s fine, back to his usual self.”

Guy said his method of riding the big gelding is to come three times slow and “risk maybe having a little rub”.

“But I don’t think he’s going to knock it down the first three rounds,” he said. “I don’t really want to run at it too many times; I let him run a bit the fourth time but then if you’re riding forward at it, he’ll jump it the last time, almost every time.”

The class was worth £7,560 to the winner, and Guy joked that “we can eat this year, so that’s good!”

“My daughter was jumping young riders two weeks ago in Scotland on him; he looks after her unbelievably,” he said. “He’s a good schoolmaster as well; the whole family ride him.

“We’ve had him a long time; Caroline and Rupert own him, and they’ve been really good friends of mine ever since I started so it keeps it all bonded.”

Guy said the arena at the ExCeL felt packed for the London horse show puissance, with a good atmosphere.

“There were a lot of people out there, all shouting your name but you’re trying to concentrate,” he said. “So I do my job first and then I can wave at them. I’m not very good at waving before I’ve won!”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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Lily Attwood may have called Guy Williams a rather rude name as his round secured the Thistledown Cup at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Guy and 19-year-old Lily, who is based at his yard, took first and second, on Rouge De Ravel and Cor-Leon VD VlierBeek Z respectively, Guy crossing the finish line almost exactly a second ahead.

Both riders had jumped clear in the first round, and in this competition the first-round times decided the jump-off order so Guy, as the fastest, was last to go of the six clears.

Lily had taken the lead with a super fast round but speed specialist Guy’s 16-year-old stallion, who loves to run and jump, was galloping from start to finish, turning on a sixpence and with no chance of touching a pole.

“Lily made me work for it!” said Guy. “She’s very fast; we both know what the other does, and both our horses jumped well, so we’re happy.”

Guy said his Ultimo Van Der Moude stallion, who won and came second in two CSI5* classes in St Tropez at the end of September, is “probably one of the fastest horses in the world”.

“Today’s course really suited him,” he said. “This show isn’t the best for him, he gets really feisty and stallion-like around the ponies, so in the first round, I wasn’t trying to go the fastest, he was just quick anyway, and he jumped so well.”

Guy said Lily will go a long way.

“She’s deadly in the ring,” he said. “She takes chances other people wouldn’t, and she’s got a bit of grit about her. She’s not unlike me, quite an aggressive rider, but horses jump well for her.”

And asked if he knew what Lily said when she saw he had beaten his time, Guy said: “I can imagine!”

Guy had a good first day at HOYS as well as the Thistledown Cup win, coming third in the Stoneleigh Stakes on Mr Blue Sky UK, and second in the Grandstand Welcome Stakes on Cicero II.

“We’re happy to be back here,” he said. “It’s probably one of the best three-star atmospheres you’ll ever get.”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

William Whitaker has caught the ride on Laura Renwick’s Top Dollar VI to jump the big red wall in the Dodson & Horrell Bolesworth International Horse Show puissance tonight (10 July).

Seven combinations feature on the start list for the Equitop GLME puissance class, which starts at 7.45pm

The Whitaker-Top Dollar VI partnership is an exciting addition to the class as this is the second time the chestnut stallion has been a catch ride in a puissance class.

In 2018, Laura asked Matthew Sampson if he would ride the horse in the puissance at the TheraPlate UK Liverpool International Horse Show, less than an hour before the class started.

It turned out to be a recipe for success, as Matthew shared the title with Ireland’s Mikey Pender (Hearton Du Bois Halleux).

“I just tried to ride forward and give him a little bit of room as he is such a big horse and keep him confident,” Matthew explained at the time.

“It was easier as time went on as I figured out how to ride him and trusted him a bit more.”

Article continues below…

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Joining William on tonight’s start list is Guy Williams and his puissance star, Mr Blue Sky UK, who has six wins over red walls to his name.

Bolesworth’s 2019 puissance winner, Elliott Smith and Flamboyant III, who shared the prize with Alfie Bradstock and H. D’Or during the young horse championships, and who also took a 2020 puissance win at Bolesworth during the relocated 2020 British Showjumping National Championships will be looking to collect another crown. Derek Morton (KBS High Quality), a puissance winner here at the 2020 young horse championships, and Ireland’s Jack Ryan (KBS Major Player) will both be seeking to add the 2021 Bolesworth puissance title to their name.

Jack Whitaker brings forward his new ride, Flinstering, for the horse’s first international puissance. Jay Halim’s ride, Gentleman VD Riethandel, will also be making his puissance debut at Bolesworth.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Find out what happened in the puissance at Royal Windsor today when a first-timer went head-to-head with one of the best puissance combinations on the circuit...

Judging by the sizzling audience reaction to every round on Thursday night (1st July), the return of the Royal Windsor Horse Show puissance was gloriously welcome.

It’s been 12 years since the big red wall was last built under the shadow of Windsor Castle and on a breathtakingly beautiful summer’s evening, two riders showed bravery, expert horsemanship and determination to clear 2.10m (just over 6ft 10inches) in the fifth and final round to share the spoils.

It came down to a battle of the greys with the experienced duo of Guy Williams and his multi-puissance winner Mr Blue Sky UK going head-to-head with 21-year-old Joe Stockdale, who was jumping in his first puissance on a horse he’d never competed before, Florida VDL.

Both had look perfectly poised through each of the preceding rounds as the wall rose higher and higher and the tension reached a crescendo for the fifth and final round where the wall stood at 2.10m. But despite facing such lofty dimensions, each combination put in copybook displays of puissance jumping to clear the final obstacle with apparent ease and take home a cheque for £2,500 each.

“My heart is jumping out my chest,” said Joe’s mother Laura Stockdale before her son made his final approach. “I’ve trained him a bit at home for this, but just for Joe to get used to the horse more than anything.”

The 11-year-old gelding Florida VDL is owned by the Bussey family and normally ridden by daughter India but Joe was taking the reins for the first time in a competitive environment – although you certainly wouldn’t have guessed it from their foot-perfect performances.

The 12-year-old Mr Blue Sky UK, on the other hand, has taken many top spots in puissance classes over the years, including at Liverpool, at Horse of the Year Show, Olympia in 2018 and Rouen twice, although most recently has been ridden in showjumping classes by Guy’s 15-year-old daughter Maisy.

Dropping out of contention with faults in round four to share third place honours were Robert Whitaker with Major Delacour and Shane Breen riding Can Ya Makan.

Twelve years is a long time in the sport of showjumping and when the last Royal Windsor Horse Show puissance took place in 2009, it was a 20-year-old William Whitaker and Cyber Space who cleared 7ft to take top honours.

Will the Royal Windsor Horse Show puissance return once again in 2022? We certainly hope so!

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James Whitaker won the Equerry Horse Feeds Under-25 Grand Prix on the first day of the TheraPlate UK Liverpool International Horse Show. Riding the Lutener family’s 11-year-old Caloro Ex Z, the 22-year-old member of showjumping’s most famous family produced one of only two double clear rounds.

Stopping the clock at 42.75 seconds in the jump-off, James overtook fellow British rider Robert Murphy and Highgrove Violet, who completed Alan Wade’s track in 43.25 seconds.

Faster than them both in a time of 42.68 was Harry Wainwright on Pinheiro Beech, but a pole down in the first round meant they could only finish third, while Ireland’s Jason Foley, the only other first-round clear with Castlefield Cass and last to go in the jump-off, hit two fences and took fourth place.

James only took over the ride on the Candillo Z gelding from Elizabeth Lutener four months ago.

He said: “We didn’t have the best of weeks at Olympa, but we’ve come back, tried harder and got stronger for it. You’ve got to learn from your mistakes, and this was just as tough a course as Olympia.

“Going second-last in the jump-off played into my hands a bit as I could put pressure on Jason in pole position. This is a great way to end the year.”

Continued below…

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‘With such a strong line-up for this year’s event, we are set for a real treat ’

It was a British clean sweep in the showjumping classes at TheraPlate UK Liverpol today, as Harriet Nuttall took both of the first two competitions — the opening 1.40m two-phase on Night Of Glory, and the Ifor Williams Trailers Ride & Drive with Silver Lift.

Guy Williams won the Pullman Hotel 1.45m speed class on the experienced Rouge De Ravel.

“He’s probably won about 20 rankings classes this year and something like this is right up his street because he’s very fast,” said Guy. “The only person I was worried about was Lily [Attwood, who finished second] — I train her and I know her horse is really fast too.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Guy Williams and Robert Whitaker cleared a seriously impressive height of 7ft2in (2.20m) to win the Ripon Select Foods Puissance at Horse of the Year Show on Saturday night (5 October).

In front of a packed-out crowd, a field of 12 starters were whittled down to four for the fifth and final round over the big red wall.

Robert Whitaker and class debutant Major Delacour were the first to leave the bricks untouched before Guy Williams, who shared victory in this class last year, returned with his high-jump specialist Mr Blue Sky UK to soar over the imposing obstacle and make it four wins out of four on his puissance record.

“He’s a really good horse and he just takes you to the fence,” said Guy. “It’s almost like the bigger it gets, the better he jumps. He hasn’t done a puissance since Olympia last year, it’s not something you want to do too often.

“In a puissance it is really tempting to attack the fence early on, but I try and hold them until the last round,” explained Guy. “It’s a fun class to ride in and the audience really enjoy it which makes you want to win. My kids beg me to do this class every year, they just love it. I used to come and watch at HOYS with my mum and dad so it’s great to now be here with my children.”

Robert was equally delighted with his performance.

“I just knew he’d be a good puissance horse,” he said. “I’ve been riding him now for about a year and he is a very brave jumper. I couldn’t have asked any more of him tonight, he felt better and better each round, I even think he could have kept going. There’s always a good crowd here on a Saturday night and it’s a good one for them to get behind. I’ll probably do the puissance at Olympia and see if we can win there too.”

Don’t miss the full report from Horse of the Year Show in this week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday, 10 October.

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The CSI5* grand prix at the Glock Horse Performance Centre in Treffen, Austria, went down to the wire this afternoon (3 February), with Germany’s Christian Ahlmann pulling off a brilliant jump-off round to secure victory.

This is the first time the Glock Horse Performance Centre has hosted a winter show at CSI5* level, having upgraded from CSI3* for 2019.

Christian and the 10-year-old grey stallion Clintrexo Z shaved almost two seconds off the time of Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (Icarus) in the jump-off, with the Olympic rider daring the son of Clintissimo Z all the way.

“My horse did a really great job today. I took full risk and he did everything perfectly, so I am very proud of him,” said Christian, who also won the Mechelen CSI5* World Cup qualifier with this horse at the end of December. “I had a really good feeling from him in the first round and he took that with him into the jump-off.”

Guy Williams finished best of the Brits, with a stylish double clear aboard his ride of only a few weeks, the 12-year-old Cicero II, putting him in seventh.

“I’ve only had him since December and he hasn’t jumped a big grand prix like that before so I was really pleased. He’s improving every week,” Guy told H&H.

Britain’s Scott Brash was also one of 14 to reach the jump-off, but had a pole down with he 12-year-old stallion Hello M’Lord.

Earlier in the day Irish rider Denis Lynch claimed his second win of the CSI5* with his new ride, Pretty Little Liar. The 12-year-old Indoctro mare, who was previously partnered by Israel’s Danielle Goldstein, topped the Glock’s Perfection 1.50m class on both Saturday and Sunday.

For the full report from the Glock Horse Performance Centre, don’t miss the next issue of Horse & Hound, on sale on 7 February.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Britain’s Guy Williams (Mr Blue Sky) and Frenchman Mathieu Billot (Dassler) shared the spoils in Olympia’s Cayenne Puissance, when they cleared the big wall at a mighty 7’4”/2.23m to equal the show’s modern record.

The winning duo came to London fresh from another joint puissance victory at Rouen four weeks ago, where they had jumped a fraction higher at 2.26m.

Guy has forged a brilliant track record in this class with the big grey Westfalian this year, also splitting first place at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) with Alfie Bradstock (H D’Or) when they cleared 7’1”.

Dassler, formerly owned by Billy Twomey, also arrived with plenty of experience in the class, having won at Liverpool with Louise Saywell in 2017.

Four riders made it through to the fifth and final round, having all cleared the wall at 7’2”. Last year’s victors Laura Renwick and Top Dollar VI had jumped clean in the previous round but elected not to come forward again.

Joining Guy and Mathieu in the final showdown were Alfie, jumping very consistently with Darragh Magner’s huge-striding grey, and Karline de Brabander with her top horse, the homebred stallion Fantomas de Muze who was jumping here for the fourth year.

First into the ring, Alfie and the 11-year-old gelding had a good shot but just took out two white bricks from the top line. He was followed by Mathieu and Guy, who both produced flawless clears.

Last in, Karline de Brabander had been hesitant to enter her top horse in the final round, and while he had produced a beautiful, confident jump in the fourth heat, this time the 13-year-old stallion partially took off before saying no, tipping Karline off the back.

“They persuaded me to come in but I hadn’t realised how big it was going to be,” she said, confirming the horse was unhurt. “I think he was probably the smartest horse in it for saying no!”

Continued below…

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Guy said Mr Blue Sky’s recent performances made him think his horse could be a potential record breaker.

“Shane Breen said to me I should go for the record,” he said. “The thing with him is he just jumps it like it’s a normal fence.”

While the “high jump” record at Olympia was set by Nick Skelton and Lastic over 7’7 5/16” in 1978, Olympia’s record over the Puissance wall is 7’5 ¼”, set by Patric Caron on Gui Sanda in 1980. The record over the modern, lighter wall however is 7’4” inches, which was last jumped by John Whitaker, Robert Whitaker and Markus Fuchs in 2006.

Don’t miss H&H’s extensive coverage. Check out dressage and Wednesday-Saturday showjumping reports in the 28 December issue (out Friday, not Thursday this week because of Christmas schedules), while showing, driving and Sunday showjumping coverage will be in the 3 January 2019 issue.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Hi everyone,

Welcome to my second blog. Some of you may have seen, but it has been quite an eventful time out here in France, with lots of demonstrations going on which have led to road blocks and some serious traffic jams all across the country. As you can imagine, this has made travelling horses and making plans quite difficult! However, us horsey lot have to be resilient and there has been lots of last-minute changes, but sadly we did have to admit defeat with a few shows as we just couldn’t take the risk of being totally stuck on the roads with horses on board.

We did make it to Rouen with my main girl Thais. In my vlog this week I go through all the show prep we do at home before we head off to competitions. Watching it back made me realise how much we all put in to get to shows, whatever the level, but it is usually always worth it and it was for Thais and I this week.

We had a fab time, getting placed in the 1.45m and, wait for it — also jumped our first Puissance. What an experience! I have to say that big brick wall is quite intimidating when you walk into the ring, especially when you are not on an overly big, typical Puissance type horse. Luckily Thais doesn’t know this and would take on the world if we asked her to, which is a nice feeling when you are approaching a huge obstacle!

She was amazing and went three rounds, which we are all mega pleased with and I can’t wait to give it another shot. This mare just keeps on amazing me with her bravery and scope— I am so lucky to ride her.

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So that is it for us at Team Williams in terms of competitions for 2018 and all the horses will have a bit of break before we hit the road (hopefully!) again in January. It’s been a great season for me, with brilliant highlights with Thais, especially in the Hickstead Speed Derby and this weekend in the Puissance. She’s proved herself to be pretty multi-talented and I can’t wait to see what next year brings.

In the meantime, I will be heading to Olympia next week then catching up with my family in the UK over the festive break — I’m very excited about that, and the turkey!

I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and I will catch up with all of you in the New Year.

K x

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine out every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

This is my first H&H Vlog, in fact it’s my first ever vlog of any kind! So I guess a very good place to start is with who I am. I’m Kirstie Leightley, I am a showjumper and I live and breathe my job.

I’m lucky enough to be the stable jockey at Guy Williams’ yard out here in France, so I really do get opportunities to ride some of the most amazing horses, which I absolutely love. I have been here for three years and before that, was based with Portuguese rider Joao Charlesworth in the UK.

I don’t come from a particularly horsey family but I do come from a very supportive one. Growing up, my parents have always been there to support me with my riding, despite wanting me to follow the traditional route of A levels followed by university, I made the decision having finished my A levels to pursue a full-time career in showjumping.

Out here we are more often than not travelling to or from a show around Europe and get the opportunity to compete at some great venues. Last week we were at St Lo CSI2*, and next up is Ruoen CSI4* Deauville.

We’ve had a great year with the team and my highlight so far was probably taking the win with Thais (more on her later) in the 1.40m Derby in the Le Touquet three-star Derby in May and finishing in the top 10. Oh, and we had a great time jumping in the Speed Derby at Hickstead too!

However recently I’ve had a very rare week at home, so I’ve taken this opportunity to give you a quick look around the yard and show you what the team and I get up to on a daily basis.

As you can tell from the video, the majority of what I do is ride. First up is Thais D’la Verrerie (Tilly), seen jumping the grand prix, who is strutting herself in the arena at St Lo. I absolutely adore this mare. Guy found her at a French stud a few years back. She is a real blood type and before she came to us no-one could really get on with her. When she arrived off the truck she was only tiny and rode like a pony — it was love at first sight! We took her straight to Hickstead popping round the novice classes and she then qualified for the Horse of the Year Show on the final day! We then stepped up from there jumping world ranking classes by the end of the year, and the following season jumped in some international four-star classes and the speed derby. Guy has nearly sold her on a number of occasions but I’ve always managed to persuade him otherwise, and as you can imagine, I put up a hell of a fight and wouldn’t let him — we now share the ride. Although she is sharp, she has such a super big heart and has done so much for me as a rider.

Continued below…

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The other horses in the video are five-year-old Bella (who is one of my favourites), the grey is creatively named Blue and finally we have Haras de Lillebecs Vindaloo do Vercol, who you can see me schooling at home.

I literally love what I do and can’t imagine doing anything else but horses. I am so grateful to Guy and the team for helping me to realise my dreams. I am really looking forward to giving all the H&H readers a bit of an insight into showjumping life French side and sharing the highs and lows of competition as well, plus how we do things at home.

Until next time.

Kirst x

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Alfie Bradstock and Guy Williams were crowned joint winners of the Thistledown Puissance at the 2018 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Alfie, who was riding on H. D’Or, and Guy aboard Mr Blue Sky UK — both striking grey horses — were the only two combinations to clear the massive 7ft 1inch (2.16m) wall in the fifth round of the hotly-contested class on Saturday night (6 October).

This was the second puissance class Alfie has ever contested, the first being at Arena UK last month.

The 24-year-old had a successful eventing career before focusing on showjumping, winning team gold at both the pony and junior Europeans. He represented Britain at the young rider showjumping European Championships in 2015 after switching disciplines.

Alfie took being cool under pressure to a new level, producing five foot-perfect rounds aboard the 11-year-old gelding, owned by Darragh Magner.

After landing, clear, over the wall for a final time, he punched the air before patting and pointing to the eye-catching Catwalk Van De Helle gelding as the crowd cheered.

He modestly summed up his masterful victory to the audience.

“It wasn’t too bad,” he smiled in his post-win interview with host Gareth Jenkins . “It means a lot as I’ve only just set up on my own after being with the Fletchers, so it means a lot.”

Earlier in the class, he admitted to Gareth that he wasn’t really feeling the nerves.

“The worst he is going to do is knock it down, so there’s no need to get nervous,” said Alfie.

Guy and the nine-year-old gelding, owned by Caroline Phillips, also made the huge effort look easy, producing five lovely clears to share the glory.

“He’s a bit green and there’s not much steering, but he jumps big jumps,” said Guy.

“It’s good [to win], the public all come and it’s a really popular class.”

In third place was Leicestershire-based Joss Williams — who was riding in memory of teenager Bradley John — aboard the fantastically brave 18-year-old mare, Culmore Prospect.

The Irish-bred chestnut mare, owned by Joss and Cheri Williams, looked to be relishing the atmosphere, just catching the final wall.

Fourth went to Kimberly White, who made it to the fourth round with her own 13-year-old gelding Catapult.

Article continues below…

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A total of 14 riders from three countries came forward for the Saturday night showpiece at the NEC, which boasted a prize pot of £15,000.

Bob Ellis built the wall at 1.80m to start and there was action from the outset, with two fallers (Murray McLeish and Dominic Webb), one retirement and 10 combinations making it through to the second round.

Dominic slid out the side door after the triple bar following a miscommunication with Rockstown Park, resulting in elimination. However he quickly hopped back aboard and despite Nick Brooks-Ward’s protestation’s of “no, no, no!” over the PA, he pointed the 15-year-old chestnut gelding at the wall, clearing it with ease.

Dominic, who had two rides in the class, was among the seven combinations to make it to round three, which he did aboard his other mount, Cycloon W.

This was where the competition ended for him and for Mennell Watson — riding his first puissance in 10 years — aboard Holly Smith’s 2016 HOYS puissance winner Quality Old Joker, who knocked the wall for four faults to finish fifth.

This was also the end of the 2018 HOYS puissance road for Dutch rider Hendrik-Jan Schuttert and Bangelo. The 12-year-old gelding’s “day job” until three years ago was jumping 80cm in the family’s riding school.

“It was by accident [that we decided to take his jumping further]— he jumped out over the gate from the field and we thought maybe it would be a good idea to jump him over the [puissance] wall,” said Hendrik-Jan, who was making his HOYS debut.

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Guy Williams’ top ride Titus has picked up a potentially career-threatening injury during the Nations Cup at Aachen today (20 July).

The 17-year-old gelding was pulled up before the final fence by the British rider and was clearly in discomfort having put a foot in the water jump at fence six.

They were competing in a quartet alongside Scott Brash, Robert Smith and Nigel Coupe and were the first to go in the team, when the son of Lancelot put down with his near-fore leg in the water. The pair went on to have the next three fences down before Guy retired him and dismounted in the ring. The gelding was taken out of the grass arena by a horse ambulance (pictured, below).

“It appears Titus may have strained a ligament,” said the British chef d’equipe Di Lampard. “His leg will be scanned tomorrow by the vet and then we will know more. Obviously, at his age it could be career threatening but we don’t know yet — fingers crossed it won’t be. Guy thinks it did happened when Titus stepped back with his front leg in the water.”

The French-based showjumper has enjoyed success with the gelding, owned jointly by himself and Charlotte Baines, and have made several British team appearances — they were members of the bronze medal-winning team at the 2011 European Championships in Madrid, alongside Nick Skelton, Ben Maher and John Whitaker.

Titus was sold to Australian rider Edwina Tops-Alexander ahead of the London 2012 Olympics — during the round of horse trading before the closing date for Olympic registrations in December 2011. However, Guy regained the ride on the gelding five months later but Titus’ change of nationality meant the pair were no longer in contention for Team GB at the London Olympics.

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Guy Williams has paid tribute to his “brilliant” horse Depardieu Van T Kiezelhof, who has died of a heart attack.

The 14-year-old gelding was with Lambourn-based racing trainer Charlie Mann, a friend of Guy’s, to get fit for the Hickstead Derby (25 June) when he collapsed on the gallops a week ago last Friday (26 May).

“You try to do the best thing by them [the horse] and something like this happens,” Guy told H&H.

“I think that’s the worst thing — that he wasn’t at home when it happened.”

Guy said the 18hh Belgian gelding had “only been cantering early in the morning, but he’s a big horse”.

“We had him checked before he left and he was fine and he’d never had any heart problems before,” he added.

“But it could have happened at any time and I’m just grateful it didn’t happen in the ring.”

Guy and Depardieu Van T Kiezelhof had enjoyed numerous international successes, with their most recent win coming in a four-star grand prix in Vejer de la Frontera in March.

“He’s been a brilliant horse for us — we’ve had him nine or 10 years, his whole career basically,” Guy said. “He’s won so much for us and Lindsay [Doran]has been such a loyal owner with him.

“They’ve become family friends rather than just owners. They’ve been so understanding.

“It’s hard to lose any horse, but it’s so much harder when you’ve had them so long. We’ve had him cremated.”

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Charlie told H&H the horse had been “going super”.

“He loved it,” he added. “He was in good form.”

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Former Hickstead Derby winner Skip Two Ramiro has died at the age of 20.

Guy Williams said it was with “great sadness” that he heard of the death of the Belgian warmblood gelding, with whom he took the Derby title in 2010.

Guy said: “He was a real soldier, winning just under £400,000, most of which was won on the national circuit.

“He made my dream come true in 2010 when he won the Hickstead Derby, jumping a double clear finishing over 10 seconds faster then Promised Land [ridden by Tina Fletcher]!

“He had been enjoying his semi-retirement with my friends the Boulter family, jumping a few shows and spending time in the paddock.”

Shirley Light of Brendon Stud, who bought “Barney” as a two-year-old from his breeder in Belgium, said he died last night (31 August) from a heart attack.

“He was a great horse,” she told H&H.

“He was bought on the same trip as we got Unbelievable Darco [who went on to win the Foxhunter championship and was a successful showjumping sire] so it was a good shopping trip all round.

“The Flintstones film was released that day, hence the stable names Fred and Barney. We knew he was a good horse.”

Shirley was at the All England Jumping Championships at Hickstead when she spoke to H&H today.

“It’s fitting as this was his favourite showground,” she said.

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“He loved it from when he was a youngster, winning young horse classes here. He won at Hickstead from the word go.

“I remember he did the Masters at Arena UK as a seven- or eight-year-old and Michael Whitaker rode him. He said: ‘Is he called Skip Two Ramiro because he skips?’

“I said no, it’s because he’s by Skippy II but he would always do a little skip to the side – he skipped through life from beginning to end.”

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Britain finished fourth in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup in Aachen tonight (Thursday, 14 July).

“It’s a good result for us as everyone else had their Olympic team here,” said Guy Williams, who jumped a second round clear on his own and Charlotte Baines’ Titus.

While most nations fielded some Olympic riders and horses, Britain had just one Rio rider (Michael Whitaker) here and none of the equine stars headed to the Games, so this was a strong result.

Scott Brash was the team’s leading player with a double clear on the Harris’ and Kirkhams’ Hello Guv’nor.

Every rider contributed to the result. Nigel Coupe had just a foot in the water in the first round with Susan Simmons’ Golvers Hill, although he was the discard score in round two after knocking the second part of the double at five and the final upright at 12, as well as incurring a time-fault.

Michael Whitaker steered his wife Melissa Braybrooke’s Viking to a fault-free performance in round one and had the last part of the treble at eight down in the final barrage.

Guy recorded the discard score in round one with eight faults — the first part of the double down and a foot in the water.

“He felt better in the second round — but I rode better in the second round,” he said candidly.

Michael added: “Scott was excellent and Guy’s second round was very good, while Nigel’s first round was strong too. The three teams that beat us were all top teams.”

Germany won the class on a zero score. Once Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum had secured the home nation’s third clear in round two on the big-jumping Fibonacci 17, it was up to the final US rider to jump clear and force a jump-off for the honours. But Beezie Madden and Cortes ‘C’ splashed into the water to give Germany the win and leave the USA equal second.

Germany’s other riders were Christian Ahlmann, who had four faults and a clear on Epleaser Van’t Heike, Marcus Ehning (double clear on Pret A Tout) and Ludger Beerbaum (also fault-free on Casello). This was the home side’s first win in the Aachen Nations Cup since 2008.

“We’ve tried a couple of times to win and it’s never worked out, and this year it worked out and the performances were really good,” said Ludger. “This wasn’t just a win but one of the best wins.”

France shared second with the US, led by double clears from Pénélope Leprovost (Ratina D’La Rousserie) and Roger Yves Bost (Qoud’Coeur De La Loge).

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Guy Williams was disqualified from his runner-up spot in this year’s British Speed Derby on Saturday (25 June) at Hickstead.

The 2015 Speed Derby victor returned for this year’s contest on last year’s winning ride Casper De Muze and initially slotted in second behind Harriet Nuttall and Silver Lift.

An official at Hickstead detected blood on Casper De Muze’s flank after his round and the information was passed on to the show organisers and an investigation started immediately.

However, the results weren’t amended until the following day (Sunday, 26 June) by which time the ground jury had had time to thoroughly investigate all the video evidence and discuss the incident with Guy.

“The FEI officials were clear in stating that this was an unfortunate accident, and that there was no misuse of spurs, but the presence of blood on the horse’s side means instant disqualification under FEI rules,” said Hickstead’s director Lizzie Bunn.

The spur mark is thought to have been sustained at the Irish bank when the gelding jinked slightly.

Guy’s disqualification resulted in Harriet’s other Speed Derby ride Highland Cruiser II moving up to second and the 26-year-old claiming a one-two in the class.

A deluge of rain at the West Sussex venue meant ground conditions were different to those last year and of the 28 starters, nine failed to complete.

French-based Guy and the 14-year-old gelding last year smashed the course record when winning the Speed Derby, having also triumphed the previous year. He also became the first rider to take the title for a fourth time.

There was further drama in Saturday’s feature class when Captain Geoff Curran — who had set an early lead aboard Seapatrick — was then disqualified under the FEI rules when his horse pulled up with a nosebleed. He took prompt action by dismounting in the arena.

The FEI blood rules have caused controversy in the past. In December, Irishman Bertram Allen was eliminated during the Olympia grand prix having produced the winning round. His horse Quiet Easy was found to have blood coming from a small cut on her offside caused by Bertram’s spur when they left the arena.

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The British riders who will make up the Team GBR squad for the home leg of the Nations Cup have been revealed.

The Furusiyya FEI 5* Nations Cup will take place at Hickstead, during the Royal International Horse Show, on Friday 31 July, kicking off at 2.15pm.

The squad selected is as follows:

Holly Gillott from Loughborough, Leics, with her own 10-year-old liver chestnut gelding Dougie Douglas.

Ben Maher from Bishop’s Stortford, Herts, with Tatiana Korsakova’s 10-year-old chestnut mare Diva II.

Jessica Mendoza from Chippenham, Wilts, on the 14-year-old brown mare Spirit T owned by Sarah Mendoza.

Michael Whitaker from Notts, and the 10-year-old grey stallion Cassionato owned by Beverley Widdowson.

Guy Williams based in France with his own and Charlotte Baines’ 15-year-old chestnut gelding Titus II.

Britain is in division one of the series with Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

Britain currently sits in fifth on the table after five legs of the competition. The team picked up the full 100 points winning in Rome (21 May) and Rotterdam (18 June) so have 200 points.

France heads the division on 310 points, with Belgium in second and Sweden third. The next leg is in Falsterbo, Sweden, on Friday (10 July).

William Funnell (Billy Congo), Yazmin Pinchen (Ashkari), Laura Renwick (Bintang II), Michael Whitaker (Calcourt Falklund) and William Whitaker (Fandango III) are the named combinations for that competition.

The squads have been chosen by British Equestrian Federation world class performance manager Di Lampard. They are key competitions that will aid her in her selections for the British showjumping team in the run up to the European Championships in Aachen next month (11-23 August).

At the Europeans Britain must finish in the top three of the unqualified nations to secure the country’s spot at Rio 2016, after failing to qualify at last year’s World Equestrian Games.

The class will be shown live on www.feitv.org.

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Horse & Hound's coverage of The Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting (24-28 June) is brought to you in association with Equestrian.com

Guy Williams and Depardieu van’t Kiezelhof (pictured) scooped the Bunn Leisure Derby Tankard on the first day of international classes at the Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby meeting (25-28 June).

The British showjumper, who recently moved to France, was pleased to return to home soil and winning at his favourite show made it all the more worthwhile.

Guy rode the 12-year-old grey gelding by Thunder van de Zuuthoeve to victory in the hotly contested class.

“I like to win at home and I’ve been away for a bit — I moved to France to concentrate on my job more,” Guy told H&H. “This is my favourite show.”

20 of the 49 combinations made the jump off and 19 presented (William Funnell and Billy Congo opted out).

Shane Breen was second-to-last to go, but narrowly missed out on the top spot with Farao van’t Vennehof.

Irish riders dominated the first international class of the show, the Stoner Jewellers Vase.

Richard Howley and Verlindo, a 13-year-old gelding by Numero Uno, took the premier position and fellow Irish rider Michael Duffy took second place.

“It’s super to win a class at Hickstead, especially being a four star, it’s my first four-star win,” said Richard.

“I will jump him in the Derby Trial tomorrow.”

National classes

Douglas Duffin secured an impressive one-two in the Spillers Grade C Championship and was the only rider to go clear in the class.

The Scottish showjumper took the premier position in the single-phase championship with Djoel, a seven-year-old chestnut gelding by Hamlet.

Douglas was last to go with his second ride, eight-year-old Beechfields Mastermind, who also finished with a clear round, but was slower than Djoel against the clock.

“It’s a great start to the week. Hickstead’s my favourite show — I love coming here and winning in the main ring so hopefully it continued for the rest of the show,” said Douglas.

Continued below…

Julian Mincher was on flying form in the Hickstead Novice Championship and won the class with six-year-old Eindhoven G H, a Valiant bay gelding.

“Yesterday I had him in a new bit so I didn’t go too crazy, but today it’s the championship so you want to win it,” said Julian.

“He is a very competitive horse and he likes to win.”

Nicole Pavitt and Shahenaz took the Camardo Coffee 1.35m Open Championship securing one of only two clears in the single-phase championship class.

The grey 10-year-old mare by Shilano Z completed a speedy clear almost five seconds faster than Emily Whiteside who was placed second with Tarzan III.

“Emily produced a really nice clear round and I knew it wasn’t overly quick and my mare’s quite quick so I didn’t push her too much,” said Nicole. “But I knew I had Trevor [Breen], Joss [Williams] and Douglas [Duffin] after me so I knew I had to do enough to keep them from beating me.”

Keep an eye out for further updates from the Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby meeting on horseandhound.co.uk. Also, don’t miss full coverage and insight in next week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out next Thursday (2 July)

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Top British showjumper Gorre has been put down after an accident in Poland at the weekend (14 June).

The nine-year-old gelding was competing in Poznan with Joe Clayton when the the horse injured himself during the grand prix. It was found that Gorre had broken his leg and was put down. The rider was uninjured in the accident.

“We were in the grand prix and we’d done three or four jumps and came to a combination,” said Joe.

“He jumped the middle part fantastic, but then we can’t work out whether he injured himself on landing or take off before the third part, but he couldn’t do anything behind.”

The horse was competed in two-star competitions with Pippa Goddard last year, before moving up to three-star with Guy Williams. Gorre then moved to Michael Whitaker’s yard where Joe Clayton took on the ride at the start of this year.

Under Joe the pair won at the CSI3* in Lummen in April. They also finished third at Hagen later that month.

“Gorre was an unbelievable horse, he loved jumping so much,” Joe told H&H.

“He gave every jump 110% and was so careful too, he never wanted to touch a jump, he was very exuberant.

“Gorre was a superstar, he was really quick against the clock too — he had everything really.

“He was nice to have around too and would always put his ears forward to say hello. He’d only entertain you for so long though, then he’d get back to minding his own business.”

The bay Belgian warmblood was owned by Valerie Whitfield and Mark Williams.

Gorre was produced by Leicestershire-based James Williams, Mark’s son, from a three-year-old until he was eight.

“Gorre was one in a million, who never got the chance to show his full potential he was such a character and always tried his hardest for you,” James told H&H. “I’m also so sorry for Joe, who is equally devastated and had to go through such a tragic experience.”

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British stars from showjumping and dressage will head to Cheshire next month for the Ashford Farm CSI4* Bolesworth International (18-21 June).

Last year’s grand prix winner William Whitaker will return to defend his crown and competes for a total prize-fund at the show of £250,000.

The 25-year-old will be joined at the spectacular venue by at least three members of his famous family including uncles John and Michael Whitaker and cousin Robert.

British number eight Guy Williams will be in action at the four-day show, up against some of his British team-mates, including Spencer Roe and 2012 Olympic gold medallist Nick Skelton.

Ireland, too, will be represented by individual bronze medal-winning rider Cian O’Connor, as well as Billy Twomey, Cameron Hanley, Trevor Breen and Dermott Lennon.

From further afield, we welcome Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander, ranked number 19 in the world, Laura Kraut and Lauren Hough from USA, Belgian rider Jos Lansink, Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt and don’t miss puissance hero Daniel Bluman of Columbia over the big red wall on Friday night.

“Bolesworth International is a world-class venue, it’s one of the best shows I’ve jumped at and to have a new CSI4* in Britain is exciting,” said William Whitaker. “The arena is unique and the surroundings are spectacular. The whole event is so welcoming, the show has left a impressive mark on the equestrian calendar.”

Thursday’s Equestrian.com intermediate dressage to music class has attracted entries from 2012 Olympic gold medallist Laura Tomlinson and European team bronze medal-winning rider Michael Eilberg.

Fans of the hit 1990s TV series Gladiators are also in for a treat on Saturday when the famous referee John Anderson will be presiding over eight teams, including some stars of the original line-up, such as Hunter, and some intrepid riders in a relay challenge.

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British riders took the top two places at the Lummen CSI3* grand prix in Belgium at the weekend (12 April).

Showjumper Guy Williams beat Holly Gillott by a fraction of a second to take home the €7,500 (£5,400) first prize.

A dozen combinations went clear in the first round with eight producing another clear for the final jump-off in the €30,000 (£22,000) class.

Guy took the honours with Zaire, an 11-year-old bay gelding owned by Caroline Phillips, with a double clear in a time of 36.60s.

“It was a good weekend. The horses are all on form,” Guy told H&H today (13 April).

“Zaire has been on holiday since Mechelen in December. He was seventh last week in a grand prix (also in Lummen) and won yesterday. I was pleased with him.”

Fellow British rider Holly Gillott was just a fraction of second slower in a time of 36.85s to take the runner-up spot.

She was riding Dougie Douglas, the 10-year-old liver chestnut gelding which she jointly owns with Graham Smith.

Belgium rider Karel Cox took third place with Gentleman.

The fourth prize was shared when both New Zealand rider Bruce Goodwin on Cayenne 175 and Frank Schuttert with Winchester for the Netherlands stopped the clock in 37.75s.

There was also a British victory in the CSI1* show running alongside the CSI3* at Lummen, when 15-year-old William Rekert jumped the fastest of seven double clears with Flair Van Overis Z.

William is trained by Guy and is based with him in France.

“William won a 1.30m class in Lummen in the first week, was second in the qualifer and won the one-star grand prix on Saturday, which is quite an achievement for a young lad,” added Guy.

The win for Guy comes three weeks after he landed the final CSI3* on the five-week Spanish Sunshine Tour.

The win for Guy on nine-year-old Basic was a one-two for Di and Pennie Cornish, who also co-owned the runner-up Caritiar Z, ridden by Phillip Miller.

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British and Irish flags were flying worldwide at the weekend (21-22 March) as four grands prix — from USA to Italy — were won by the home nations.

Guy Williams and nine-year-old gelding Basic landed the final CSI3* grand prix on the five-week Spanish Sunshine Tour in a one-two for Di and Pennie Cornish, who also co-own the runner-up Caritiar Z, ridden by Phillip Miller.

“He had a good rest before we brought him here then he’s been jumping in the main ring here once a week. This class was the main aim so it worked out,” Guy told H&H.

On the CSI3* Toscana Tour in Italy, 18-year-old Jessica Mendoza triumphed in the 1.50m grand prix riding the 14-year-old mare Spirit T.

“Spirit T loves the grass here — she always jumps amazingly well,” said Jessica, drawn second last of the 15 jump-off contenders, four of whom produced double clears.

Over in Germany at the CSI4* Braunschweig, Denis Lynch and Abbervail Van Het Dingeshof not only scooped Sunday’s grand prix — and collected the keys to a Volkswagen Tiguan car — but the victory sealed an outstanding hat-trick of wins over three days with the 15-year-old gelding.

“He’s had an unbelievable amount of seconds in his career so it’s great to get the wins in,” said Denis, recording his fourth five-star win of 2015 with the son of Non Stop.

“I just had one tactic in that jump-off and that was to win — it’s worth giving it a shot when you’ve got a jeep on offer!”

In Florida, the 1.60m World Cup qualifier grand prix at Live Oak International went to Cian O’Connor, who has a serious prospect in the form of the nine-year-old stallion Good Luck. Going head-to-head with Beezie Madden (Vanilla), the Irishman recorded the only double clear of the competition to lift the $16,500 top prize.

“This is only our seventh show together so I’m very excited about this one — he just cruised round,” Cian told H&H. “It was difficult to go clear, but that’s what a World Cup qualifier is supposed to do. Good horses, like good cream, will rise to the top.”

Don’t miss the full details about how the British and Irish riders got on abroad — and see the full scope of Cian’s new stallion in images — in this week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday, 26 March.

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Guy Williams’ former top showjumper Torinto Van De Middelstede has been put down after suffering an elbow injury in the field last week.

The 19-year-old gelding, who proved a prolific winner during a long and illustrious career with the Kent rider, had been enjoying his retirement at the Williams family home for the past couple of years.

“We brought him in from the field and he obviously wasn’t right,” Guy told H&H.

“So we had him scanned and found he’d done something to his elbow and there was nothing they could do. We still don’t really know how he did it.

“It’s been really sad — all the family have been upset about it — but he’s had a good life, we’ve looked after him and he’s enjoyed being out in the field for the past couple of years since he retired.”

Guy first teamed up with “Eric” in 2008, after a friend recommended he try him at the Belgian yard of breeder Eric Larnen, after whom the gelding is named.

“I saw him jump one cross-pole and immediately said that I’d have him,” said Guy.

Guy and Torinto proved formidable opponents against the clock, but he and the Belgian-bred son of Remondo could turn their hands to almost every type of competition — and win.

Their victories included everything from a Nations Cup in Abu Dhabi in 2010, where they jumped double clear and earned the British Showjumping accolade of “performance of the month”, to Horse of the Year Show, Antwerp and Olympia.

Guy also credits Torinto as the horse who really helped to kick-start his international career.

“One of his best moments was winning the five-star grand prix in Mechelen [in 2009] — in fact he won two grands prix there — in front of his owners,” said Guy, who is now based near Deauville in France. “But he won anything and everything — there aren’t many places in the world that he didn’t win!”

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British team manager Rob Hoekstra has named his squad for the Nations Cup at Hickstead next month (1 August).

Guy Williams, Ben Maher, Robert Whitaker, William Whitaker and Jessie Drea will represent the country at the show, part of the Furusiyya FEI 5* Nations Cup series.

The Hickstead competition will be the third of four within the series in which Great Britain aim to secure a place in the final and in next year’s series.

Hickstead Nations Cup squad

Jessie Drea and Touchable, a 13 year-old chestnut mare owned by Lynne Humphries and Equine America.

Ben Maher and 11-year-old mare Wings Sublieme, owned by Stone Ridge Farms LLC.

Robert Whitaker, with his parent’s (John and Clare) 11 year-old stallion Catwalk IV (pictured top).

William Whitaker with his partner’s (Elisabeth Fredlund) 11-year-old bay gelding Fandango.

Guy Williams and 10-year-old bay gelding Zaire, owned by Caroline Phillips.

Don’t miss H&H for full coverage on the Nations Cup (7 August issue) and follow online.

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Great Britain secured victory in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup in St Gallen, Switzerland last Friday (30 May) after a thrilling tussle with Spain.

The squad of Robert Whitaker (Catwalk IV), Guy Williams (Zaire), Dan Neilson (Varo M) and Guy Williams (Zaire) held their nerve and produced some classy performances to finish 1 penalty ahead in a tough competition where time-faults proved hugely influential.

“To say we are delighted would be an understatement,” said performance manager Rob Hoekstra. “As a non-point scoring leg of the series, we came out with a team of younger horses to give them experience of competing at this level along with some younger riders, who are still very much cutting their teeth on senior teams.”

Results

•  Great Britain 3 faults: Varo M (Daniel Neilson) 12/0, Wonder Why (Spencer Roe) 1/1, Catwalk IV (Robert Whitaker) 0/1, Zaire (Guy Williams) 0/9.
• Spain 4 faults: Darius (Manuel Fernandez Saro) 1/1, Prunella D’Ariel (Paola Amilibia) 6/5, Rico Revel (Eduardo Alvarez Aznar) 1/1, Zipper (Sergio Moya) 0/0.
• Sweden 10 faults: Casello (Douglas Lindelow) 4/4, Titan (Emma Emanuelsson) 5/1, Caral (Niklas Jonsson) 10/0, H&M Sibon (Peder Fredricson) 0/0.
•  Switzerland 14 faults: Toulago (Pius Schwizer) 4/0, Castlefield Eclipse (Paul Estermann) 5/8, Pablo de Virton (Jane Richard Philips) 8/0, Nino des Buissonnets (Steve Guerdat) 1/4.
• Ukraine 16 faults: Vivant (Cassio Rivetti) 5/0, Charlie (Katharina Offel) 1/0, Chadino (Ferenc Szentirmai) 1/9, K Club Lady (Oleg Krasyuk) 8/9.
• Belgium 19 faults: Loro Piana Once de Kreisker (Philippe Le Jeune) 1/9, Cabrio van de Heffinck (Olivier Philippaerts) 1/4, Domino (Jos Verlooy) 5/5, Cortez (Nicola Philippaerts) 4/4.
• France 20 faults: Reveur de Hurtebise HDC (Kevin Staut) 8/0, Padock du Plessie HN (Timothee Anciaume) 4/0, Carlitto Van-T Zorgvliet (Anne Sophie Godart) 16/24, Qarat de la Loge (Julien Epaillard) 4/4.
• Netherlands 31 faults: Vignet (Johnn Pals) 1/4, Alex (Maureen Bonder) 9/1, Dynamite V Hazelarenhoekje (Jody Van Gerwen) 11/5, Interline H (Robert Vos) 17/8.

Don’t miss the full report from St Gallen, plus an international round-up in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (out Thursday, 5 June).

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The British showjumping squad travelling to La Baule, France, for the 2nd leg of the CSIO 5* Furisiyya Nations Cup competition on Friday 16 May has been announced.

Team manager Rob Hoekstra is taking Joe Clee, Tim Gredley, Ben Maher, Michael Whitaker and Guy Williams.

Joe, who is based in Belgium, is taking the 10-year-old bay stallion Utamaro d’Ecaussines owned by Ludwig Criel. The pair had a grand prix win at the CSI3* in Lummen.

Tim will be riding his own 13-year-old grey gelding Unex Chamberlain Z. They jumped double clear for Great Britain in the FEI Nations Cup team in Wellington, Florida earlier this year.

World No 2 rider Ben Maher is on Urico a 13-year-old bay gelding owned by Jane Clark. The pair won the $150,000 Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

Michael Whitaker will make his team debut with the exciting 10-year-old grey mare Elie van de Kolmen.

Guy Williams’s ride Zaire, owned by Caroline Philips made an impressive debut at Nations Cup level with the only clear in the team at the opening leg of the series in Lummen last week.

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Guy Williams has won the Land Rover grand prix at the CSI5* in Bordeaux.

The British rider won the 1.60m grand prix with Caroline Philips’ Zaire at the weekend (7-9 February).

The pair had already taken the 1.45m speed class the day before.

Guy and the 10-year-old Zaire finished ahead of French rider Penelope Leprevost and Nice Stephanie.

“Zaire had a good week, he’s a horse that stays calm and won because he’s self assured,” said Guy.

“He is extremely respectful and when he jumps well in a smaller competition like the one he won yesterday (the speed class). He gains confidence and performs better in a bigger class like today.

“When I saw all those fast clear rounds in the jump-off, I told myself that it was not going to be easy. To win a grand prix in Bordeaux, you need a certain amount of luck, which I had today.”

For more don’t miss Brits Abroad, in the next issue of H&H — out on Thursday 13 February.

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Top showjumper Guy Williams launched a line of merchandise last week (1 November) in time for Christmas shoppers.

The collection will be available from an ebay store and includes Team Williams branded polo shirts, t-shirts, teddies, mugs and mouse mats.

“The range is designed to be stylish enough for the high street and durable enough for around the yard,” said Team Williams’ Amy Doran.

“We want to connect to the fans and make them feel part of the team.”

For more information visit www.teamwilliamsgbr.com

Guy Williams has been reunited with his former top ride Titus who was sold in December.

Guy lost the ride on Titus in the round of horse trading before the closing date for Olympic registrations.

The horse was bought for Australian rider Edwina Tops-Alexander to compete.

But Guy has the ride back and will compete Titus at Bourg-en-Bresse in France this weekend.

“I can’t say much at the moment,” said Guy. “Titus arrived at the show yesterday and is back with me again.”

Edwina is currently recovering from a fall at Wiesbaden at the weekend.

However Titus’ change of nationality means he and Guy are not in contention for Team GB at the Olympics.

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Britain came into the first leg of the Top League Nations Cup as one of the favourites, but could only finish equal fifth of the eight teams in La Baule, France.

The competition was won by Belgium after a tense jump-off with the Netherlands.

Sweden impressed for third on a team total of five, with all four riders jumping clear in round two, while Germany took fourth place on six.

Great Britain, Ireland and Switzerland all tied for fifth on 12 faults while France – who decided to field their “B” team after an equine virus outbreak in Normandy – trailed in eighth.

The most exciting performance came from Nick Skelton, who rode one of seven double clears in the competition with Big Star. Peter Charles scored 0 + 4 on Murka’s Vindicat W, Ben Maher and Tripple X III came home with 4 + 4, while Guy Williams (Depardieu Van’t Kiezelhof) finished on 4 + 8.

There was better news in the pony Nations Cup in Moorsele, Belgium, where the British team of Beth Adams (Some Like It Hot), Darby Ward (Maradonna), Alex Chitty (Amelie JR Z) and Emily Ward (Dafina K) landed a tremendous victory. The

Don’t miss full reports in next week’s Horse & Hound (out Thursday 17 May)

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There’s a new lady in Guy Williams‘ life. But his fianc ©e Rebecca has nothing to worry about because the female in question is a two-year-old bitch called Airforce Diva.

Yes, not content with Olympic selection, Nations Cup appearances and five-star grands prix on his plate for 2012, Guy Williams has ventured into greyhound ownership, and in Airforce Diva he seems to have found the canine equivalent of his equine speed merchant Djakarta.

Airforce Diva’s recent seven-and-a-half-length win at Tralee, Ireland, has whipped the greyhound industry into a frenzy and the dog is hotly tipped to win the Irish Puppy Oaks and Oaks proper in the summer after she won her heat at Shelbourne Park (Dublin) last week.

She will then continue her campaign in England when she will be sent to leading trainer Mark Wallis. Guy bought the dog in partnership with friend Simon Wooder.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (26 April 2012)

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Click here for Runners, Tips and Free Bets on the Grand National 2012

The riders who will represent Great Britain at the first Nations Cup of the 2012 promotional league season, at Lummen on (3-6 May), and at the opener to the top level competition, La Baule (10-13 May), have been announced.

The team for La Baule is:

• Nick Skelton with Big Star, owned by Beverley Widdowson
• Ben Maher with Tripple X III, owned by Ben and the Quainton Stud
• Peter Charles with Murka’s Vindicat W, owned by Olga White and Tara Charles
• Scott Brash with Intertoy Z, owned by his father, Stanley Brash
• And Guy Williams with Depardieu Van’t Keizeilhof, owned by Lindsay DoranAnd at Lummen:
• Robert Whitaker with USA Today, an 11-year-old bay stallion owned by Mandy Hall.
• Tina Fletcher with Ursula XII, an 11-year-old bay mare owned jointly owned by Lady Kirkham and Lady Harris.
• Will Funnell with Billy Angelo, the 9-year-old chestnut gelding owned by Julie Slade.
• And John Whitaker with Maximillian, an 11-year-old chestnut stallion owned by Clare WhitakerThe team for Lummen is sponsored by Champion.

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With immaculate artificial surfaces allowing showjumpers year-round competitions, whatever the British weather throws at us, are riders – and horses – losing the skills and fitness needed to compete on grass?

With this in mind, top showjumpers Tim Stockdale and Guy Williams give their tips for winning on grass.

Up the tempo

“You usually have more space in a grass arena with longer stretches between fences, so it’s important to up your tempo to avoid time-faults,” says Tim Stockdale.

Consider the gradients

“When you’re jumping downhill, it’s easy for the horse to fall on to his forehand and gain ground,” says Guy Williams. “Sit up and ensure you stay in good balance. Jumping uphill requires extra effort. You need more oomph to make sure the horse clears the back rail of an oxer.”

Ride according to the conditions

“Negotiating soft ground requires more energy, so it’s important to ride the horse in a stronger rhythm to ensure he has the impulsion to get his feet out of the ground,” says Guy.

Stud up

A horse can quickly lose confidence if he slips. “When you walk the course don’t just learn your route, but assess the state of the ground and the studs you will need,” advises Guy.

Play to your horse’s strengths

“Because there is more room on grass, there are usually more options when it comes to finding the best line,” says Tim. “Study the course and play to your horse’s strengths – you can decide whether to keep up a gallop throughout or stay tighter to the fences.”

For the full feature on jumping on grass plus an exlusive interview with Rolf-G ¶ran Bengtsson and all the latest riding boots on the market see the showjumping special (29 March) out now

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