Robert Walker once again proved a force in the novice hunter ranks, and landed the 2026 Royal Windsor novice hunter championship, sponsored by Alan Marnie.
The Cheshire-based producer steered Jill Day’s Ground Control (Sundae) – a five-year-old by Lagans Obus – to the title.
Sundae has been a member of Team Walker since last summer.
“Just before Dublin, PJ Casey rang me and told me he had a horse that might suit us. He sent us a video of him and Jill bought him from the video,” explained Robert. “The first time we actually saw him was at Dublin.”
Despite being immature, Sundae stood four-year-old champion at Dublin, and moved to the Walkers’ base afterwards where he was turned away for a break until Christmas.
This was the quality gelding’s third outing on English soil – he won the previous two – but his first major question.
“I have rides on him at home where he gives me goosebumps, but was a bit babyish again today,” admitted Robert. “There’s still so much more to come of him yet.”
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Robert also won the heavyweight novice division aboard Jill’s BC Fox Rock.
The six-year-old gelding by Reach For The Stars was also bred in Ireland.
“Some friends – Amy Stunt and Brian Murphy – had him and Jill bought him from them. He’s a big horse and a big mover, so again, there’s more to come from him.”
In reserve was another Cheshire-based competitor. Vicky Smith rode her mother Angela Smith’s Tremarl Timber (Tim) to the reserve spot in the 2026 Royal Windsor novice hunter championship having stood second in the lightweight division.
The six-year-old Timolin gelding first made headlines in 2023, when despite being only lightly shown, he claimed one of the biggest prizes on the in-hand showing calendar: the Price Family Supreme in-hand championship at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), handled by Simon Charlesworth.
Since then, Tim has been carefully and slowly produced by Vicky with a clutch of solid novice wins, including at the 2025 British Show Horse Association (BSHA) championships.
Bred in the purple, Tim’s full sister, Tremarl Timpani – still owned by their breeder Jane Davies – is the reigning HOYS riding horse of the year, and stood reserve at both Windsor and RIHS last term.
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Bethan joined Horse & Hound as showing editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Showing World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she started showing as a teenager and has enjoyed wins at major shows up and down the country, including Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, as well as HOYS, RIHS and London. She is particularly passionate about Welsh breeds and is also a Welsh language commentator.
