A Welsh section D came to the fore at the Olympia International Horse Show as he trotted away with the Lemieux BSPS Mountain and Moorland (M&M) championship, giving his rider her first Olympia title.
Producer Emma Boardman piloted her own nine-year-old Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso to advance on their third place achieved last season. The pair qualified for this year’s show at Westmorland County.
Picasso has been a regular at the championship since qualifying at his first ever ridden show as a four-year-old.
Bred by Gwyneth Griffiths, Picasso was a winner at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) this season where he stood reserve champion and was also M&M supreme at the Great Yorkshire Show in July.
Standing reserve was Melanie and Gemma Stanford’s prolific Highland stallion Benbreac Of Croila ridden by Matthew Cooper. The 12-year-old was making his final apperance under saddle before retiring to stud.
Sam Roberts and her own Welsh section B gelding Colby Silver Sprite stood third and top of the small breeds.
The top 10 results were as follows:
10 — Nipna Golden Poppy (Dales)
9 — Okedene Justin (New Forest)
8 — Lunesdale Dixie (Fell)
7 — Highland Chief Of Talisker (Highland)
6 — Cadlanvalley Buzby (Welsh B)
5 — Cashelbay Rocket (Connemara)
4 — Shilstone Rocks North Westerly (Dartmoor)
3 — Colby Silver Sprite (Welsh B)
2 — Benbreac Of Croila (Highland)
1 — Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso (Welsh D)
Other best of breed awards:
Shetland — Firle Ricardo
Welsh A — Llandrith Nemesis
Welsh C — Lynuck The Showman
Exmoor — Stowbrook Red Kite
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