RIHS small amateur hunter championship results

Dumfries-based Ellen Bell landed her first ever victory at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) in the Polly Coles RIHS small amateur hunter championship riding her own and her father’s bay gelding Irish Invention.

The six-year-old, who is known as Jack at home, is by Gallant Cavalier out of Seren Du.

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

TOPICS

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.

Six-year-old gelding wins rider first ever RIHS title, as amateurs take to the stage

He impressed judges Ian Smeeth and Lesley Jones enough to reign over the second placed Wentworth, who was ridden by his owner, Jane Jones.

“He came over from Ireland last year and this is his second season under saddle,” explained Ellen, who works for Cornthwaite Group and keeps Jack with Scottish producer Kirstine Douglas.

Kirstine was delighted with the duos’ performance:

“He’s a lovely, willing horse who always wants to please,” she said. “He’s still so young and has so much to give. He’s been the perfect horse for Ellen to move into horse classes from intermediates.”

It took Kirstine and her team eight hours to travel from their Scottish base to Hickstead.

“It’s a long way but we had a good run, with plenty of stops on the way,” she said.

Ellen and Jack will be back in the ring later today to contend for the overall Polly Coles amateur hunter supreme championship, alongside the winning lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight contenders who are yet to be decided.

You might also like to read:

Crescendo leads the choir as coloured horses and ponies kick off 2022 RIHS

Are you up to the challenge? Walk the 2022 RIHS working hunter course

‘Our hard work is being recognised’: home-produced New Forest mare leads 29-strong RIHS amateur field