‘I don’t mind being beaten by him’: Best friends do a one-two in amateur riding horse championship
For the second consecutive time, electrician Glen Allen captured the amateur riding horse tri-colour at the 2021 Royal International Horse Show (RIHS), making his journey from Cumbria well worth the effort.
His ride was the stunning Greylands Amois eight-year-old Greylands Ace High (Ace) who came through from the small division and was making his first of three 2021 Hickstead appearances after also qualifying for the open riding horse and intermediate show riding type finals held later in the week.
In 2019, Glen took the same title here with his former ride Helsington Tailor Made who retired from the show ring at the end of that season.
“Ace is a pretty chilled horse in general,” said Glen, of his Team Helliwell-produced gelding who was bought just backed directly from the Greylands stud. “He gave me a great ride today.”
“We’re just delighted,” added Glen’s aunt Kath. “ Glen absolutely adores Ace and we’re so proud of them both.”
Reserve was fellow northerner Callum Potts, another former winner of this title, aboard his grandfather Ian Darcy’s 13-year-old small Westerdale Regal Max.
Max is based with Jack and Harry Moore in Cheshire and Callum runs his own car detailing business. Max has been a big winner for Callum and Ian, previously winning as an intermediate at both the RIHS and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
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“Glen is one of my best mates so being beaten by him isn’t too bad,” said Callum.
Winner of the amateur large class was Clare Judge piloting her home-bred RIHS debutante Bowerhall Blue Moon. The Up With The Lark eight-year-old is out of Clare’s mare Little Gem, who won the same class here 20 years ago for Clare.
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Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.