A delightful Connemara took the overall supreme at the 2019 Virtual Royal Windsor Horse Show, topping 24 other class winners who were crowned from more than 4,200 international entries.
Emma James’ dun gelding Glenmore Gwennic (Glen) was judge Nigel Hollings’ choice for both the mountain and moorland (M&M) open ridden and working hunter pony classes. With two different photographs, Glen displayed versatility as well as breed type to remain unbeaten throughout the week.
“I promise you, I did not know this was the same pony that had won the working hunter pony, too,” said chief judge Nigel. “I could see this pony in the main ring at Windsor on its lap of honour.
“The minute I opened that photograph it made my heart sing, and it made me smile all day.”
Commentator Nick Brooks-Ward said Glen was a “clear winner” in the supreme reckoning.
“This pony jumped off the screen when I first saw it, and it went straight down at the top of the list,” added championship co-judge John Peacock.
The winning duo received a Voltaire Design bridle and a Holland Cooper jacket alongside their championship rosettes.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“I didn’t really know anything about virtual showing all when I entered having never done anything like this before,” said Emma. “The whole thing has been so professional and well thought out. We were very surprised to win not just one class, but two and a supreme. I’m also overwhelmed with the generosity of the sponsorship; we’ve won some fantastic items.”
Reserve supreme was Ella Pybus and show hunter pony victor Just Murphy II.
“You could make this pony into a bigger version and still have a true stamp of a show hunter,” said Nigel. “Its movement and energy are remarkable, and it’s such an amazing photograph with atmospheric background.”
Second reserve champion and best turned out was Tony Munt’s driving outfit with horses Achilles, Hektor, Rossi and Zenda. “They are beautifully turned out and going so well,” said John. “It’s so difficult putting something like this in among all these wonderful ponies, but that’s where it deserves to be.”
We continue to publish Horse & Hound magazine weekly during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as keeping horseandhound.co.uk up to date with all the breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions (six issues for £6) and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.
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
Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
