The final championship on Wednesday at the Royal International, the BS Winter Grades B&C Championship, was won by Helen Tredwell with the very smart nine-year-old Independence TN.

Of the 24 finalists for the prestigious B&C title, eight made it through to the jump-off where Helen and the son of I’m Special De Muze, out of a Heartbreaker mare, took the crown from second-placed Alex Bishop riding Thomascourt Emirates. In third was Damian Charles with the Old Lodge’s eight-year-old Desert Encounter OL.

“He seems to love it in that ring,” said Helen. “I just got in a forward, open canter as much as possible and just tried to be as quick as possible and hope that the others couldn’t catch me!”

Helen has been producing the gelding since taking over from Adam Ellery in 2020 and the pair have enjoyed some good recent results on the county circuit.

“I got him in lockdown, so I’ve had him for a couple of years,” explained Helen. “We’re slowly building a really good partnership and he’s starting to step up to the big classes now. I think he’s going to be a really good one.

“I’d quite like to come back here again to some of the Derby meetings and things like that, do some trials and stairways and see where we go from there.”

Helen describes Independence TN as “a bit on edge and a bit of a worrier”.

“You have to be quite sensitive with him,” she said. “He can overreact to a lot of things so you have to be quite quiet and careful with him, but when he gets there, he wants to jump the fences and he wants to please.”

Royal International: Pavitt takes the winter novice title

Earlier in the day at the Royal International, the SEIB Winter Novice Championship provided top sporting action as the lead changed hands again and again — and the win went to the very last combination.

Eight of the 24 starters jumped clear in the first round, and of those it was Nicole Pavitt on Leigh Collier’s six-year-old mare Colliers Carlotta who took the title.

Nicole had already clocked up a good time, with four faults, on her first ride, her mother Sandra’s six-year-old stallion Genial Du Dalot. John Crippen on Pearl WL, Leo Lamb on Gmail, Harry Bateman on Cruising to Paris and Lorraine Lock on Billy Gobi each went into the lead in turn, before Nicole sealed the deal with her second ride

“The turn inside to the second-last is where I had the fence down with the stallion so I took it a bit straighter with her and got a better line; that’s the bonus of having two in it!” Nicole said.

“Going first gave me the lie of it but then they were going quicker and quicker, and I knew I could use her stride. She’s very athletic and nimble, and I allowed her to cover the ground.”

Carlotta had not competed between the Hickstead Derby meeting in June, when she won the six-year-old title, and Tuesday’s qualifying class.

“She must like this ring!” Nicole said. “I’m so lucky; everyone is to be able to qualify for and jump in it. I think she’ll be quite good, and to be able to get into a ring and an atmosphere like this is good for them at a young age.”

After the Royal International, the mare will be aimed at the Bolesworth Young Horse Championships next month, and “hopefully”, Nicole said, the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in September.

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H&H wishes British showjumper Helen Tredwell a very speedy recovery after a fall from a horse resulted in a broken ankle.

The Buckinghamshire-based rider is having to endure a spell on the sidelines after a fall from a five-year-old last week (21 February) resulted in a broken fibula and partially dislocated tibia.

“I went down a long, four-stride distance, she jumped big and instead of going left, she landed and turned right towards the gate,” said Helen, who runs a yard near Finmere, Bucks.

“She half unseated me but then she turned and leapt at the same time to avoid the wall which shot me up in the air and I landed on my right foot.”

Helen, a prolific winner on the county show circuit for many years, was taken to hospital and underwent an operation on her ankle on Friday. The 38-year-old rider is now back at home recovering but does not know when she will be back in the saddle.

“I’ve had it realigned and a metal plate inserted and I’ll be in a cast for six weeks,” said Helen. “I won’t know how long I’ll be out until I return to hospital in two weeks’ time.”

Helen, who won the prestigious Foxhunter final in 2003 with Opportunity B and headed the 2016 International Stairway series, had been enjoying a busy winter season on the national circuit with her talented string of horses. She conjured up some big international success at Horse of the Year Show in October last year when she shared top honours in the Five Fence Challenge riding Sebastian VII.

Continues below…

Man who tried to ride loose horse in field sues for broken leg

‘People seem to see a horse and think they can do what they want’

Top judge suffers broken leg when kicked at show

Richard Mills was overseeing the Hunter Supreme Championship at Balmoral Show in Belfast

Tales from Stoneleigh: ‘I’m riding with a broken leg’

Meet the rider who won't let an injury get in her way

We very much hope to see you back in the saddle before too long, Helen!

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There has been talk about whether HOYS should be upgraded to a four-star show. While there are plenty of different ways for British riders to qualify for here, the fact it is a three-star show does give the riders who aren’t at the top of the rankings, like myself, the experience of riding in this kind of environment.

If it were a four-star show, I probably wouldn’t have the chance to come here, and riding at HOYS helps both me and my horses to improve.

The top riders, like the Whitakers and Ben Maher, also use this show for their second-string horses to gain valuable experience. Plus, with three world-ranking competitions already in place, I don’t think the quality of international classes is disappointing.

I qualified via the wildcard system at Bury Farm with my home-bred mare Larksong, which then allowed me to bring three horses to HOYS. In the end, a wild card was my only route to the show, as qualifying through the gold league is restricted from April to July. My mare was only just stepping up to this level in April, so it was just too soon for her — if the gold league had run until mid- September it would have suited us better.

I think it is great that county shows host stairway classes — it gives riders who don’t have a big team of horses, but who want to ride at HOYS, a route to the show. I am a huge supporter of the county show circuit.

Acclimatising riders

I agree with Graham Fletcher’s comment that there should still be young rider classes at HOYS. It should be about showcasing future talent and it is a great experience for the youngsters. When I first jumped here there were both under-18 and under-21 classes. I definitely found jumping in that atmosphere as a young rider beneficial, the more times you can do it the better.

It was amazing to jointly win Friday’s five-fence challenge with Sebastian VII. It was the first time both of us had done that type of class and I really enjoyed it. He does tend to get a bit tense indoors, so to keep going back into the arena for each round was good for him and he kept on improving with every round and that is the beauty of that format.

I would be really pleased to see more passes offered to riders at HOYS. At the moment, each horse gets three passes, however, a few of my horses are owned by couples and by the time you’ve included grooms and family, it does become restricted. The price of buying extra wristbands has also risen. Showjumpers are expensive horses to own and I think syndicates should be encouraged, like in racing, but three passes among a syndicate is problematic.

Keep the Foxhunter magic

Having won the H&H Foxhunter with my mare Opportunity B in 2003 (pictured) it is one of my favourite classes. It is so historic and the one everyone wants to win. There has been talk about changing it to an age class, which I don’t agree with; it would be a huge shame — the H&H Foxhunter is unique.

I was delighted with how Balouetta jumped in it on Thursday, and even more chuffed that her owners and breeders, Philip and Jane Tuckwell, won the British-bred breeders award.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 15 October 2015

Helen Tredwell’s prolific showjumping mare Opportunity B has given birth to a chestnut filly foal by Luidam.

“Just what I ordered — I love my chestnut mares!” Helen told Horse & Hound.

“She has a bit more white on her, so I think she’ll be a flashier version of her mum.”

The as yet un-named foal, who was born on Monday (28 April) is the first offspring to come from 2 former H&H Foxhunter winners — Helen and “Oppy” won in 2003, while Luidam earned the title in 1999 under John Popeley.

The now 18-year-old Scottish Sports Horse mare Opportunity B, by Jurius out of Kariba B (Furioso II), took Helen to countless victories on the domestic circuit as well as Nations Cup appearances in a long and illustrious career.

“The foal was up within 10min of being born and Oppy took one look at her and said “What on earth is that?” but I think she’ll be a great mum,” said Helen.

What do you think the chestnut filly should be called? Post your name suggestions below…

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Strong, dominant and potentially hormonal, mares can be, forgive the pun, a nightmare. However some of their other qualities — inquisitiveness, loyalty, competitiveness — can give them the edge that makes them a winner

If you ride a mare, here are nine tips, gathered from top mare owners, that may give you something to think about.

1. Be flexible in your approach to management and training. Eventer Jo Aston suggests that you try to make your mare believe it’s all her idea.

2. Be prepared to alter your riding style to suit her individuality. Showjumper Ben Maher found that if he stayed more forward in his upper body than he normally would it better suited Cella.

3. Does you mare thrive on individual attention? Showjumper Helen Tredwell, successful with mares such as Opportunity B and Naomi V, believes that in some cases this is the answer. Be prepared to spend more time with your mare or consider a smaller yard.

4. When training your mare, make use of her feminine instincts. Victoria Panizzon’s Borough Pennyz, who finished 7th at Badminton and 8th at the Europeans last year, didn’t want to get her feet wet until a handsome gelding led the way. And Michael Eilberg confesses to using a bit of charm to sweeten the ground rules with his dressage mares.

5. Learn to recognise when your mare is having a bad day. H&H’s dressage editor Alice Collins who competes at elementary on her 7-year-old mare Faconnable, suggest you might need to ask a question slightly differently.

6. What sort of mood are you in? Does your mare respond to your mood? Victoria Panizzon recognizes that she needs to be in a positive frame of mind if she wants Borough Pennyz to co-operate.

7. If your mare is prone to tying up, Jo Aston recommends making sure she is fed a diet high in fibre and oil and that you spend plenty of time warming up and cooling down.

8. Is your mare more reactive to your aids during her season? Consider using lighter aids when she is feeling more sensitive, suggests Alice Collins.

9. Alice Collins uses massage to help relax tight muscles behind the saddle when her horse Faconnable is in season. Magnetic rugs can help too.

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A silent auction with lots that include a lesson with Helen Tredwell, a morning with the Funnells and an evening at the races with Channel 4’s Derek Thompson will be hosted at Bicester and Finmere Show this weekend (6-7 August).

Funds raised will go to the Back Up Trust and Spinal Research.

As well as showing classes and top showjumping, the show also boasts an annual jockeys’ showjumping competition, which has attracted top names including AP McCoy and Sam Thomas in the past.

For more information visit www.bicesterandfinmereshow.co.uk

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (5 August, 2011)

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Helen Tredwell’s successful 11-year-old bay Hanoverian mare — Naomi V — was put to sleep on Monday morning after breaking her pastern in the area trial at Pembrokeshire County Show on Thursday (19 August).

Naomi’s leg was successfully operated on and pinned at the Cotts Farm Equine Hospital in Narbeth, Pembrokeshire, on Saturday, but she developed a muscular complication and it was decided to put her to sleep.

Helen, from Finmere, Buckinghamshire, bought the mare aged eight in Belgium, after she had bred a foal.

Naomi was becoming a useful second-string to Helen’s top horse Opportunity B, and was currently sitting in second place in the 2010 International Stairway series behind the chestnut mare.

“She was a bit of a late starter, and it’s such a shame as she was still improving,” said a devastated Helen.

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The atmosphere at the Blue Chip Championships was electric as 13 tackled course-designer Steve Renouard’s formidable grand prix jump-off track.

Keith Shore’s hopes of collecting the £1,000 bonus on offer for winning both Thursday’s A and B and the grand prix died when Stranger faulted, eliciting groans from spectators, who urged crowd-favourites Helen Tredwell and Opportunity B to victory.

Tina Fletcher on Promised Land had already bettered Mark Armstrong’s early lead with Caleta, but Helen and Opportunity B — fresh after a month off — gave enormous leaps over the big fences, drawing gasps from the crowd, to finish over two sec ahead.

“She loves it here,” said Helen, who won this class two years ago, “and the crowd really got behind us. The Blue Chip Championships are a fantastic end to the winter season.”

Back-to-back wins were the order of the day as both Emily Davies and Beth Vernon repeated their 2009 victories.

Emily took up the Blue Chip Dynamic B and C honours on Granita, a 12-year-old who has enjoyed recent success in Norway.

“My mum [Helen] couldn’t see the point of competing one horse when there’s so many to ride at home, but I got up early.” said Emily, “I can’t wait to ring her.”

Winner in 2009 with Falaza, Beth Vernon, 14, retained her Blue Chip Pro Sparkle JC/JA championship, riding Allyson Blagg’s JA Cinderella Girl in a final-round flyer despite JC ponies outnumbering JA’s by two to one.

“She jumps well when she’s being mareish” said Beth, “and she kicked me in the stable yesterday.”

Geoff Luckett was at his speedy best to land the Halsall Electrical 1.25m despite not having sat on Loughnatousa Rafa for a month.

“It’s the way to do it, don’t ride him for a month and then come and win,” said Geoff, who has spent the last four weeks competing in Italy.

Blue Chip Championships results: day three

Blue Chip JC/JA. – 1, Floating Change (L Edwards); 2, Cinderella Girl (B Vernon); 3, Grangeview Iceman (C Duggan). Blue Chip Pro Sparkle JC/JA ch. – 1, Cindrella Girl; 2, Lassbar Royal Mystery (H Rawson-Smith); 3, Tireve Midnight Express (J Cain). Halsall Electrical 1.25m ch. – 1, Loughnatousa Rafa (G Luckett); 2, Trueleva (R Steels); 3, Larkspur (H Tredwell). Blue Chip gp. – 1, Opportunity B (H Tredwell); 2, Promised Land (T Fletcher); 3, Caleta (M Armstrong). Nedz Bed 1.15m. – 1, Exercising Decorum (R Davidson); 2, Utah Van Het Indihof & Inki II (E-J Slater). Halsall Electrical 1.25m. – 1, Cobham Up To Date (C Webley); 2, Warendorf (R Ellis); 3, Co Co Mademoiselle (L Ryan). Horse Health nov. – 1, Rahorn (F Carter); 2, Zula Maeva (M Russell); 3, Casimir II (E-J slater). Nedz Bed 1.15m winter classic final. – 1, Trendsetter Teranimo (R Keevil); 2, Pimosa (H Rees); 3, Tanja (S Stockdale). Horse Health winter classic nov final. – 1, 2 & 3, Kimba Calypso, Cosmic Savannah & Casimir II (E-J Slater).

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Helen Tredwell and Laura Newman will join top riders at the British Open Show Jumping Championships (16-19th April) at the Birmingham NEC).

The riders snatched the last two tickets for the international competitions at the Addington Manor Classic qualifier on Saturday (28th March).

Helen and the very popular Opportunity B (pictured) jumped superbly to finish top of the points table, scoring a total of 55.

Then Laura riding the very sharp Running on Red put in a fast round to claim the second wildcard, snapping at Helen’s heels to finish on 51 points.

Tickets are still available for the British Open. To book, call the NEC Box Office on 0844 581 1301 or go on the website www.britishopenshowjumping.com

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Helen Tredwell and Andrew Davies will now contest the international classes at this year’s Horse of the Year Show (8-12 October) after claiming their ticket at the Unex Towerlands wildcard show (26-28 September).

The points table used at the show to determine who qualifies was headed by Philip Spivey riding the 2005 Foxhunter champion Romanov II. However, Philip has since gained a place at both the Oslo (10-12 October) and Helsinki (16-19 October) World Cup qualifying shows meaning he will not be able to compete in Birmingham.

“It’s not every day you get to jump at World Cup shows,” he said. “It’s a big opportunity for me.”

Three classes are used to determine the overall winner, with points given for places.

Riding her 2003 Foxhunter winner Opportunity B, Helen finished second to win her place at HOYS. With Philip not taking his ticket, third-placed Andrew Davies secured his passport to the NEC.

www.hoys.co.uk

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A daring round by Helen Tredwell and Naomi V clinched victory in the Horse & Hound Foxhunter Masters in Stafford’s Bingley Hall Arena at the easibed BSJA/Scope Festival 2008.

Two turns gave Helen and her Hanoverian mare the edge, immediately relegating Geoff Billington and Uppercut II to second spot. “These turns were tight, but she is good at landing and dropping” said Helen.

As Helen and Geoff have already qualified their rides, the HOYS tickets passed down to Louise Whitaker (Contesse SZ), Daniel Moseley (U2 the First), Emma Saywell (Cornelius 27) and Dave Quigley (Ulot).

Four more HOYS ticket were hotly contested in the Blue Chip Feed Balancer Junior Newcomers Masters competition, which was won by Emily West riding Scharonie. “She loves tight turns, so this track suited us” said Emily.

With Scharonie already qualified for the junior Newcomer and Foxhunter finals at Birmingham, the Kent rider firmly set her sights on winning, and against her father Paul’s advice, pulled off two crucial turns to finish ahead of Jessica Mendoza (Razorlight II) and Pippa Allen (Rusty Boy).

With the top 3 ponies already qualified, the HOYS tickets went to Rachael Connor (Kelly’s Mirah), Stephanie Babes (Cassandra Van Het Roelhof), Pippa Goddard (Edenside Blue Eyes) and Lizzy Aldridge (Lemington Anastasia).

Horse & Hound Foxhunter 2007 finalists Lance Whitehouse and Tors La Loi triumphed in the George Babes Young Riders B&C championship. With double clears becoming progressively faster, Lance had to shave every inch from the course.

Another Kent rider, Pippa Goddard triumphed in the Equitrader National 1.15m Members Cup championship. Riding Mr Rojo (26.33), Pippa found a good turn inside the water feature to clip 2secs from Amelia Green’s opener with Up To Trix II (28.69).

“I watched Amelia’s round, and thought it pretty fast, so we had to find an extra turn somewhere” said Pippa. Posing a serious threat from penultimate draw, Jordan Nason took second spot riding Drumcahy Ringo (28.66).

Lauren Edwards, riding Peter Lamb’s Mr Bon Ami produced the only double clear to win the inaugural White Horse Shavings Children on Horses championship.

“He’s a great ride. Nothing fazes him, and no course is too tricky” said Lauren, who just meets up with her partner at shows. Three contested the jump off, Nicki Freeman taking the next places riding Rococo CH and Canudos.

From an original entry list of over 200 horses, and after two preliminary rounds, 32 starters contested the Katherine James Novice Championship. Heading a blanket finish was Carl Freeman riding the Traleigh Stud International’s T Quest, who finished ahead of Chris Moyce (David C) ad Charlotte Foreman (Urio).

Stay in touch with the latest news from Scope Festival on HorseandHound.co.uk

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Helen Tredwell and Opportunity B raised the roof at Hartpury after taking the £5,000 prize in the gold tour grand prix.

Helen and her incredible little mare jumped the faster of only two treble clears to defeat a top-class field. Jo Pay and Randi’s Gold franked the supremacy of the lady riders with second place and a £3,500 payday.

“I can’t explain what ‘Oppy’ means to me. She is my horse of a lifetime and I wouldn’t swap her for anything,” said an emotional Helen afterwards.

After another tense 10-horse jump-off, Billy Twomey and his long-term favourite, Anastasia III, took the honours in the silver tour final.

The Cheshire-based Irishman and the 13-year-old German-bred mare used all their experience to reduce the time set by Tim Gredley on Timo by 1.5sec.

“She’s such a fantastic mare,” said Billy of the versatile chestnut who has won every type of class from speed to Super League Nations Cups.

Alec Trickett went into the record books as the show’s first champion. The PennyStaffordshire-based rider partnered Barrie Nuttall’s mare Just Teasing to a stirring victory in the bronze tour final, reducing the standard set by Joe Davison on his father Richard’s lovely Irish-bred Kildalton Holly by a cool 2sec.

Alec has produced Just Teasing since the mare was three, but has had a quiet season after she was injured in February.

“It’s lovely to come back with a good win at such a lovely venue,” he said.

Charlotte Platt’s show had already been good, but it got even better when she rode Sunflower P to victory in the morning’s accumulator. The pair jumped the faster of only two maximum scores to hold off Lynne Bevan and Top Gun IV by a large margin.

Results

Biotal Equine Gold Accumulator with Joker

1. Sunflower P (Charlotte Platt)

2. Top Gun IV (Lynne Bevan)

3. Akosie Du Wonderland (Ben Maher)

Motorail Logistics Bronze Tour Grand Prix

1. Just Teasing (Alec Trickett)

2. Kildalton Holly (Joe Davison)

3. Loughnatousa Raven (John Crippen)

Saracen Horse Feeds Silver Tour Grand Prix

1. Anastasia III (Billy Twomey)

2. Timo (Tim Gredley)

3. Goldex (Billy Twomey)

Hartpury Home Farm Stud Gold Tour Victor Ludorum

1. Opportunity B (Helen Tredwell)

2. Randi’s Gold (Jo Pay)

3. Rolette (Ben Maher)

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A packed house at Hartpury College enjoyed some exciting sport on the first day of the first major show jumping show since the centre’s multi-million pound revamp.

A £40,000 prize-fund attracted some of the country’s best riders and there was good money on offer in every class. And Helen Tredwell’s round on the amazing Opportunity B to take the £1,000 prize in the major class of the day certainly lived up the show’s billing as a Spectacular.

Twenty-one reached the jump-off in the gold tour class, where Guy Williams set a good standard on Skip Two Ramiro. But an absolutely brilliant round from Helen reduced the time by 2.5sec and no one could get near her. The closest challenger was penultimate-drawn Mark Armstrong, who was still 2sec in arrears on Lavaletta.

Helen had not been too hopeful beforehand because “Oppy” was just back from a holiday.

“But with 21 in the jump-off and only 20 to qualify for the grand prix, I had to have a go,” she said.

Berkshire-based teenager Laura Mantel was the star of the first two classes — the Blue Chip Performance and Dynamic qualifiers. Her early round on the little mare Truly Scrumptious proved too good for her rivals in the former, while her Olympia young riders ride, Fair Chance II, got ready in exactly the right way by taking the Dynamic honours.

“That’s it for this show. I couldn’t have had a better warm-up,” said Laura.

The main classes at this show are divided into bronze (1.25m); silver (1.35m) and gold (1.45m) tours. The opening bronze tour two-phase produced a hugely popular winner in one of the most local riders, Johnathan Bowman, who galloped to victory from final draw on Marcel Des Rosiers.

Johnathan had plenty of problems en route to his win. His lorry broke down close to the venue and he arrived too late to walk the course or watch any of his rivals.

“I just followed the numbers and hoped I took the right course in the jump-off,” joked Johnathan.

Carron Nicol has enjoyed a terrific season with her stallion Hollywood, a horse she has owned since he was two. They added to their record here by heading a classy 26-horse silver tour jump-off from ninth draw. Their closest challenge came from Ireland’s Billy Twomey on a new ride, another stallion, Goldex.

Warwickshire-based Carron has been dealing in horses for 25 years, but Hollywood is not for sale.

“He’s my favourite horse and he’s more like a pet to me,” she explained.

RESULTS

Blue Chip Karma Performance

1. Truly Scrumptious III (Laura Mantel)

2. Twister (Matt Lanni)

3. Urval (Andy Austin)

Blue Chip Dynamic B & C

1. Fair Chance II (Laura Mantel)

2. Murka’s Nevada (Peter Charles)

3. Frankland (Tina Fletcher)

Woof Wear Bronze Tour 2-phase

1. Marcel Des Rosiers (Johnathan Bowman)

2. Just Teasing (Alec Trickett)

3. Keano (Grace Horsley)

Marquis VMS Silver Tour jump-off

1. Hollywood (Carron Nicol)

2. Goldex (Billy Twomey)

3. Power (Chris Smith)

Gold tour jump-off

1. Opportunity B (Helen Tredwell)

2. Lavaletta II (Mark Armstrong)

3. Skip Two Ramiro (Guy Williams)

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The female of the species proved deadliest at the BSJA Stallions and Mares Show at Unex Towerlands (12 October), where mares took every individual honour.

Helen Tredwell’s Opportunity B galloped to a £1,000 victory in the 1.40m open. Louise Whitaker finished third on her mother Claire’s big Darco mare, Azucar, behind Ben Maher on Quainton Stud’s scopey stallion Quainton Quirifino Z.

Courtesy of the BSJA’s stallion committee, there was terrific prize-money on offer all day. An inspired Mark Armstrong took the £500 first prize in the 1.30m open on the French-bred mare Kannelle De La Baie, ahead of Philip Spivey on the consistent mare Nenagh.

Simon Crippen stood top of the line in the grade C, with a lovely, smooth round on Matilda M proved far too good for their 10 jump-off rivals.

The five-year-old title went to Valizise, partnered by Tim Davies. The pair wasted no time to demote Nicole Pavitt on Chakira Van Het Hek, a tall daughter of Kannan.

The joint-winners of the four-year-old class were Charlotte Flack on Clarendon Winston V (by Voltaire out of an Irco Polo mare); Allan Clutterbuck’s ride Temple Wovaldi (Indoctro-Wolfgang) and Caroline Healey with the Irish-bred Into Touch, a big son of Touchdown.

Read this report in full, including details of the stallions taking part which achieved their gradings, in today’s Horse & Hound (18 October, ’07)

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

Helen Tredwell (pictured jumping at HOYS) recorded her third consecutive Area Trial win at Henley Show (8 September) with the eager little mare and former H&H Foxhunter winner, Opportunity B.

Julie Draper and the former driving horse Qui Vive had to settle for second place, with Angie Thompson’s Oksana W in third.

The in-form partnership of Keith Doyle and Punch De Sohan netted the accumulator with joker. Buckle Goddard took second spot on his 10-year-old mare Syrana.

Read this report in full, plus other show jumping reports from top shows around the country, in today’s Horse & Hound (27 September, ’07)

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

Helen Tredwell and her talented chestnut mare Opportunity B delighted the large crowds at Devon County Show when she won the first leg of the Renault Jump nine-strong county show series.

Of the 33 starters, only six were clear around the testing 1.45m track in the first round. Helen produced a second clear round in an impressively quick time that proved unbeatable, despite the best efforts of her rivals. Guy Williams finished second on Una II, with Duncan Inglis on Sunkist in third. Jackson Reed-Stephenson picked up four faults with the grey stallion Crown Rhondonite to take fourth, ahead of Ryan Prater and Otagein fifth, leaving Jo Pay on Randi’s Gold sixth.

A delighted Helen Tredwell said: “This is just fabulous for us. When I heard about the Renault Jump series I always had it in mind for us – but also knew that I couldn’t just expect Opportunity B to come and be as consistent as she was last year. She’s such a tremendous mare; I absolutely adore her and it’s great that she’s come out and jumped like this today”.

Devon County is the first show of the Renault Jump series. Each class has a generous prize fund and riders receive league points with the overall league winner receiving a Renault car at the final show of the series at Royal Berkshire in September.

Don’t miss H&H’s full report on all the jumping and showing action from Devon County in this Thursday’s magazine (29 May, ’07)

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

Helen Tredwell won the closing grand prix at Addington’s Premier Show on her little mare Opportunity B in front of a full house with commentary provided by Nick Brooks-Ward.

Twelve of the 55 starters provided a thrilling jump-off, with the opening round from Simon Davies on Rolette setting the standard. Charlotte Platt edged Paulien into a brief lead, but they had to concede to Helen and 11-year-old “Oppy”.

Billy Twomey was celebrating after taking the winter B and C Hickstead qualifier on Allegro, while his stable jockey Anthony Condon headed the BEF Young Riders class on Killy Jones. The second RIHS ticket went to John Renwick on Twister X.

Geoff Luckett headed both the dynamic B and C (Dottie Z) and winter Grade C qualifiers (Sinault). Kent-based Charlotte Foreman brought Alimo to the fore in the Blue Chip Performance qualifier, while Sophie Tobin captured the accumulator on Top Tack Unicento.

Read this report in full with photos, plus reports from Bordeaux World Cup, Arena UK, Patchetts EC, Blewbury, Cresswellshawe, Longwood, Quob Stables, ExeterEC, Solihull and The Hand EC in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (15 February, ’07) – the first of three show special issues

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