Eleanor Hirst riding Noble Gladiator winners of the The NAF Five Star Heavyweight Working Hunter during the Royal Windsor Horse Show, held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in Berkshire in the UK between 10 - 14th May 2023
Ellie Hirst, 26, couldn’t hold back the tears as she left the Castle Arena aboard her own Noble Gladiator after he’d secured top honour in the prestigious NAF Five Star Royal Windsor working hunter championship on day one of the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Earlier in the morning, the upstanding grey gelding had jumped one of three clears to win the heavyweight section, the class he’d stood second in 12 months earlier.
The championship win marked a career first for Ellie:
“We were second and reserve here in the workers last year, so to come back and win it means the world to me,” she said. “Today has been a dream come true. This was definitely on the bucket list; he keeps ticking them off for me. This was a real achievement for me as a rider, too, and I’m so shocked to win it.”
“OB” has been based with the Hirst family since he was a five-year-old. Now a 12-year-old, the Dunkerrin Leader son who was bred by Elaine Keeting, was supreme working hunter champion at the Royal International (RIHS) last year, and he’s been a consistent campaigner on the county show circuit as a working hunter, a middleweight and as a ladies’ ride.
Ellie noted that OB made light of the 12-fence track that stood before them during the class:
“He found it really easy and he didn’t look at a thing,” she said. “He loved it from the moment he trotted in. He’s my best mate in the world and he tries so hard for me.”
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The winning lightweight, Kay Wilson’s mare Nelly Newton, scored reserve in the Royal Windsor working hunter championship, under Libby Cooke.
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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.
