Amateurs at the Royal International – Connemara lifts his third Hickstead title, with home-produced Fell in reserve

A Connemara pony returned to the Agria Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) stage to claim the 2024 UKPH/Anthony Evans Insurance amateur riders M&M championship with his owner on board.

Megan White steered her own home-produced dun gelding Thunderbolt Fairy Robin Bambi before judges Angela Calvert (ride) and Caroline Hamilton (conformation) to hold onto a top initial pull after the go-round. This was the second time in their partnership that this consistent combination have won this crown.

Back in 2021, Robin won this title under Lancashire-based Megan. Later that day, he scooped the overall young riders tricolour with junior jockey Grace Litherland in the saddle.

Now 13, the Coral Bambi son is co-owned by Megan and her mother Suzanne White.

He has been the pony to accelerate Megan to the top in showing. In 2018, the pair made their debut at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) after winning three qualifiers and they also finished third in the SEIB Search For A Star championship at Your Horse Live.

“I wasn’t going to bring him back to the RIHS,” said Megan, who works on a dairy farm. “We did one qualifier to have a go, which he won. I never expected him to come back and do it again. He loves his job and he’s known as Mr Reliable. I always enjoy riding him, win or lose, as he always gives me the best ride.”

Robin was also third in the junior large breeds final with Jennifer Sellers.

Reserve for the 2024 UKPH/Anthony Evans Insurance amateur riders M&M championship was seven-year-old Fell stallion Greenholme Larry, owned and ridden by Jessica Morgan.

Larry, who is by Greenholme Diego, was bought three years ago from Steph Peto. Jessica and her mother, Debra, were not in the market for a pony at the time:

“But Mum fell in love with him so he came home,” said Jessica, who works as a care worker. “We’ve just pottered around with him for the past few seasons as he’s taken a while to mature, but he’s stepped up and done so well this season.”

This term, Larry booked his open RIHS pass at BSPS Area 9B, when he was also section champion, and two weeks prior to the RIHS final he qualified for HOYS for the first time.

“He has exceeded all of our expectations,” Jessica added. “He’s totally home-produced, with Mum and I doing it all together. We go to a show most weekends; it’s our time together.”

Third position was taken by another Connemara, Murvey Dodgy, a nine-year-old by Banks Timber ridden by his owner Heather Carey-Gwyther.

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