Major Moylaw stands hunter champion at Royal International

Loraine Homer clinched the coveted Royal International Horse Show hunter tricolour riding Alan and Isobel Hall’s Irish-bred Major Moylaw at Hickstead on Thursday.

The Romabo-sired six-year-old franked his recent form after taking the hunter championship at Great Yorkshire.

“He was foot perfect today, he gave great rides, and I thought we were in with a great chance” said Loraine, who has backed and produced this majestic chestnut gelding throughout.

“I gave up the ride to Dad (David Tatlow) at Great Yorkshire, but I have loved being back in the saddle today.”

Quality and quantity stretched right down the line in all three hunter weight classes, and Danielle Heath riding Sally Iggulden’s impressive Oathills Take The Biscuit took the reserve after standing top of a 31-strong middleweight line-up.

First blood in the early hours of the morning went to Robert Walker, who won the lightweight class riding Jill Day’s Hitman.

After standing second in their large (riding horse) division here last year, Helen Whiteley John and Sea Ocean Field stepped up a place to win this time, and they went on to take the amateur riding horse title.

Helen is entering her third season with Sea Ocean Field, who is produced by Katie Jerram. Although Helen finds it difficult to fit in riding with a full time job, she registered a good early win this season when standing top at Windsor.

“He is the easiest horse in the world to ride” said Helen.

Taking the reserve were Clare Heseltine and Funtime Franky, who registered a third consecutive win in the small (riding horse) class.

Another who improved on their 2010 placing was Laura Rowe who won the ladies hunter class riding the home-bred Millrowes Say No More, a 14-year-old by Sylvio out of the dressage mare Donida.

Laura and Say No More stood second in the line-up last year, but gave a flawless display and excellent ride to top the line up this time. Laura has the distinction of having two winners already this week as the Lancashire rider won the large ridden coloured pony class with Kavanaghs American Beauty on the opening day.

Thursday 28 July showing results

Leeman ridden hunter (Mr J Trice-Rolph, Mrs L Brudenell) lwt. 1, J Day’s Hitman; 2, H Le Moignan’s Regal Wood; 3, C Kwek’s Academy Award. mwt. 1 & res, S Iggulden’s Oathills Take The Biscuit; 2, J Day’s Pride & Joy; 3, C Bardo’s Knightsbridge Court. hwt. 1 & ch, Mr & Mrs Hall’s Major Moylaw; 2, C Bardo’s Silverstream; 3, Beaverfast Ltd’s Foxcourt All Talk. ladies (Miss S Chapman, Mr J Keen). 1, L Rowe’s Millrowes Say No More; 2, G Chapman’s Rougemont; 3, A Tate’s Shanbo River King. Hutton Management amateur rh (Mr J Keen, Miss S Chapman) sml. 1 & res, C Heseltine’s Funtime Frankie; 2, W Ryle’s Regal Request; 3, R & M Cooper’s Foxy Formula. lge. 1 & ch, H Whiteley-John’s Sea Ocean Field; 2, E Curtis’s Double Chance; 3, L Ahmet’s Aquilas Stud Nigia.

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