‘We weren’t sure if she’d come back’: pony who survived freak lorry accident reigns at Royal International

Alex Robinson's avatar
By
Published In News
Penrock Perfect Puzzle
at The AGRIA Royal International Horse Show, The All England Showground, Hickstead, Sussex, United Kingdom. July 23rd 2024
(Image credit: Bootsandhooves)

A home-produced coloured mare enjoyed a superb run at her first Agria Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) as she won the small plaited coloured ridden pony class on day one of the show. Megan Champney and her mother Jan Champney’s Penrock Perfect Puzzle (Portia) were initially pulled in eighth after the go-round, but a dazzling show accelerated them up the line-up.

“It was a big shock to win,” said Isle-of-Wight-based Megan, who works front line for the emergency services. “I knew we had nothing to lose, so I rode a walk-to-cancer serpentine and had a really good gallop up the hill. Portia can be a tricky mare, but she pulled it out of the bag. This was my first time riding my own pony at the RIHS final, too.”

Alex Robinson
Alex Robinson
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.