15 outstanding natives that turned heads at the BSPS Heritage championships
Two full days of BSPS Heritage championships (15-16 September) saw a plethora of native ponies bidding for an Olympia ticket — and some standout animals earning a winner’s sash. Take a look at 15 of the victors below:
1. Lunesdale Dixie
This Team Jinks-produced Fell collected his Olympia ticket — a first-ever for the stallion and his rider, Christina Clare — when he topped a large breeds semi-final, winning by a convincing 13 marks. The pair also headed their RIHS qualifier and stood section champions.
2. Waxwing Penny Farthing
This Welsh section B capped his first season by taking the Heritage novice title, piloted by Charlotte Thompson for owner Katrina Kozersky.
3. Carrwood Shimmering Gold
This stallion claimed his Olympia ticket in the Welsh section B breed qualifier with owner Lucy Glover in the saddle.
4. Aleanto Bon A Parte
Simon and Alison Walker’s Welsh section D stallion stood Heritage restricted champion, ridden by Aimee Devane. The five-year-old is in his first season under saddle.
5. Maesyfelin Llew Du
Alice Cook only teamed up with this seven-year-old two weeks earlier and these championships were the pair’s show ring debut together. They headed a strong Welsh section D semi-final as well as their Blue Riband section.
6. Broekland Allesandro
Gemma Pallett was in the saddle of Mandy Burchell Small’s Welsh section A stallion, who topped the A and B semi-final.
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7. Ellister Islay Mariner
Tamsyn Cornall-Howe’s home-bred stallion topped the Highland breed qualifier. The six-year-old was campaigned by Sarah Field.
8. Springwater Sadlers Wells
He was contesting his first-ever show under saddle, and this lovely Dartmoor made his mark by standing supreme of show. The four-year-old, who is co-owned/produced by Craig Elenor and Sara Parrott, was ridden by seven-year-old Cate Kerr. They also collected the restricted mini and overall mini titles.
9. Lynuck The Snowman
H&H columnist Becki Penny partnered this six-year-old stallion, a Welsh section C owned by Lynn Scott, who won his Olympia semi-final.
10. Bricklefield Jack
Kimberley Bates piloted this home-bred section B to stand overall young rider champion.
11. Popsters Joe Black
This five-year-old section C stallion is heading to Olympia for the first time, qualifying with Sam Roberts for the Bates family.
12. Rockyview Eclipse
The open working hunter title went to this Welsh section A 122cm winner, piloted by Chloe Lemieux.
13. Shilstone Rocks Firestone
Terri Gregson and her mother Debbie’s six-year-old stallion was crowned the Dartmoor novice and restricted winner.
14. Tulira Darog
Serena Cookson’s Connemara impressed in worker ranks, taking the top spot with Amy Tough in the saddle.
15. Nire Valley Charlie
Vicky Hesford produces this Connemara, who was ridden in the ring by A level student Charlotte Alford. Charlie collected his Olympia and Royal International tickets.
Don’t miss the full report in the current issue of Horse & Hound (27 October).
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Aimi was responsible for Horse & Hound’s showing, pointing and veterinary pages, as well as assisting with eventing content. Aimi also edited Horse & Hound’s popular occasional magazines, Ask The Vet and Ask The Trainer. She is the former deputy editor of Eventing magazine. She left Horse & Hound at the end of 2017 to take on new challenges in the publishing industry and is now editor at Your Horse.