Hickstead enjoys bumper M&M showing entries at RIHS

Royal International showing classes gathered momentum today (Friday), with three rings in action at Hickstead. A huge turnout of mountain and moorland ponies gave judges plenty of food for thought.

Collecting the first championship of the day was Greer Taverner, who took the Torne Valley Ltd’s BSPS Heritage open M&M championship riding Claire Smalley and Jill Stapleton’s Pennal Calon Mai. An eye catching Section D chestnut mare, the Pennal Calon Lan seven-year-old has only been beaten once this season. Standing reserve was Mrs S Atherden’s Castle Hill Flash.

Six-year-old Poppy Carter clinched the mini M&M title riding Margaret Cartlidge’s Abbeybells Queen Adelaide who won a huge lead rein section. Only a five-year-old, the mannerly grey mare gave a lovely championship show. Taking the reserve were the first ridden winners Oliver Shuttleworth and Waxwing Thumbs Up.

The final M&M tricolour was earned in the working hunter ring, where Sarah Please clinched the NPS Topspec championship riding Tawbitts with a super jumping round.

Jayne Webber is proving to be in great form. After gaining the first championship of the meeting with Elaine Place’s ridden coloured horse Red Andes on Tuesday, Jayne claimed the Garrick Surface Coating’s Ltd’s riding horse title with Carol Bardo’s The Philanderer, who won his large section. Taking the reserve was Robert Walker riding Mary Rose Boundy’s small winner Silken Story.

Both champion and reserve in the Kelanne Stud’s working hunter championship came from the lightweight section, with winners Libby Cooke and William Bonney taking the tricolour, over runners up Louise Bell and Cruise Control. While 10 produced clear rounds in the lightweight section, just Michaela Bowling and Laughing Larry managed to leave everything intact in the heavyweight section, and they ultimately finished second to Stephen Norris riding Beinn Bhan.

After three marathon amateur hunter classes, Irene Susca took the Greenwoods Communications tricolour riding her lightweight winner Swansea Gale. In their first season together, the pair had previously taken the titles at Hambleton and the Scottish championship. Reserve were the middleweight winners Sara Wicks and Criminal Justice.

Results Friday 25 July

Garrick Surface Coating Ltd riding horse – small – 1 & res, M Boundy’s Silken Story; 2, J Barton’s Dutch Dame; 3 Massey Group Plc’s Intuition II. large – 1 & ch, C Bardo’s The Philanderer; 2, HM The Queen’s Petition; 3, P Atkinson’s Broadstone Doulton. Greenwood Communications amateur hunters – lightweight – 1 & ch, I Susca’s Swansea Gale; 2, P Merton’s Penstrumbly Our Abram; 3, C Kwek’s Be Cool. middleweight – 1 & res, S Wicks’s Criminal Justice; 2, M Bates’s Oscar J; 3, K Talbot’s Vivaldi III. heavyweight – 1, D Ramm’s Swaggerman; 2, K Ledger’s Noble Clover; 3, A Brewster’s Dramore. NPS Topspec M&M WHP 122cm – 1 & ch, S Please’s Tawbitts Mystic Maggie; 2, J Barton’s Moortown Honey Man; 3, J Guy’s Highland Jury. 138cm – 1 & res, C Dicker’s Brimstone the Prospector; 2, Mr & Mrs Boyles’s Wortley Grenadier; 3, F Goodsir’s Falfield Silver Slipper. exc 138cm – 1, S Challinor’s Rebel’s Flight; 2, S Heelis’s Foxglen Romeo; 3, R Leavsesley’s Chilham Panache. Kelanne Stud’s working hunter – 1 & ch, L Cooke’s William Bonney; 2 & res, L Bell’s Cruise Control; 3, A Brewster’s Freckleton Maximus. heavyweight – 1, S Norris’s Beinn Bhan; 2, R Bowling’s Laughing Larry; 3, J Callwood’s Thor. Torne Valley Ltd BSPS Heritage open M&M small – 1, M Nevin’s Bengad Rumex; 2, Newberry & Lampard’s Lickfords Snowstorm; 3, Mr & Mrs Taylor’s Uppacutt Marjosse. Welsh B&C – 1, L Steves’s Rhoson Shem; 2, Mr & Mrs Ashington’s Pittybeck Prince Charming; 3, A Abrahall’s Wyken Lady Jasmine. New Forest/Connemara – 1, V Green’s Millfields Sonnet; 2, H Somerset’s Tyan Tullamore; 3, L Bates’s Cloonahinch Tallman. Fell/Highland/Dales/Welsh D – 1 & ch, Smalley & Stapleton’s Pennal Calon Mae; 2 & res, S Atherden’s Castle Hill Flash; 3, E Briant’s Colliery Charm. lead rein – 1 & ch, M Cartlidge’s Abbeybells Queen Adelaide; 2, J Painter’s Pendock Jade; 3, S Manners’s Breamish Julian. first ridden – 1 & res, Shuttleworth & Leeming’s Waxwing Thumbs Up; 2, M Alford’s Waxwing Paintbox; 3, J Hawkins’s Pendock Pennyworth.

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