Innholdsfortegnelse for 3-Aug-2023 i Horse & Hound

A NEW standard for equestrian air jackets is in the pipeline, with hopes it will give additional confidence to manufacturers and riders. Air vests from reputable brands already undergo significant safety testing and product development. All safety products marketed in the EU must be CE certified to show they comply with personal protection standards. The same applied for Britain, where at present, they must be CE or UKCA certified. But there is not as yet a British or European-wide CE standard specific to equestrian airbags, in the same way as there is for body protectors and hats. The CRITT (Regional Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer) in France published an equestrianspecific standard in 2022 (NF S72-800-2022), which is part of its CE certification testing process for riding air vests. The…

WHEN Davy Harvey arrived at Hartpury for the 2023 Winter Dressage Championships, he’d never won a national title. But five days later, he had three to his name. He scooped the prestigious inter I gold crown on Hawtins Rossana, and then an advanced medium double with Diamond Blue. In doing so, he became the most talked about rider of the championships, partly for his hat-trick, but also his heartwarming reaction to his achievements. “You never think it will be you, or that you could be good enough,” he said at the time, overcome with disbelief and amazement as title after title came his way. And even when we speak, just over six weeks later, he admits he isn’t sure if his success so far this year has quite sunk in.…

BRITAIN has been extraordinarily dominant since the inception of the European Championships, claiming 42 gold medals since 1953 – which sounds even more impressive when you realise Germany is second in the gold tally with 12. The squad riding under the Union flag will start as favourites, with six superb combinations heading out to France. All the British pairs are either five-star winners or runners-up and they all have individual medal chances. Five of the six – Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo), Laura Collett (London 52), Yasmin Ingham (Banzai Du Loir), Kitty King (Vendredi Biats) and Tom McEwen (JL Dublin) – can challenge for the dressage lead. The non-British competition, in this phase and throughout, is likely to be led by German maestro Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH, who narrowly bested…

THE current HOYS champion, hospital site manager Charlotte Leonard’s showy six-year-old stallion Amblynn Tiramisu (Teddy, pictured), retained his title as the circuit’s star of the miniature scene as he trotted to the British Miniature Horse Society supreme miniature horse accolade. Remarkably, Charlotte’s two-year-old Scotts Olympic Dream, led by friend Mia Hiscock, finished reserve supreme. “We had four horses here, and we’re coming away with three wins and a second,” said Charlotte. “I lost my dad a year ago; he was my biggest supporter and Teddy was his favourite. I just wish he could have shared these special memories with us. Without the rallying around from family and friends I couldn’t have kept showing.” ON FORM…

SUPERSTAR pony Annandale New Approach (Roach) and 10-year-old Felicity Watts put their all into a mega worker test to win the 122cm final. Felicity was one of the youngest jockeys in the class, and it was her first time jumping at Hickstead. It was a dream come true for the home-producing family. Mother Sharon Watts had admired Roach for many years, before the chance to buy him arrived in January 2023. “We just wanted them to get through the finish flags today,” Sharon added. FIRST RIHS WIN…

THE opening five-star class, the mammoth 82-starter Royal International vase against the clock, was won by Italian showjumper Francesco Turturiello and 11-year-old mare Happiness. This was the Milan-based rider’s first time jumping in Great Britain and he really did his homework, crediting hours spent watching YouTube videos of action from the unique Hickstead ring for his debut success and his fourth-place finish in Sunday’s King George. On Thursday, he defended strong challenges from second-placed Joe Whitaker riding Icaterina, with Guy Williams third on Dalton D’Hoyo. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but my horse felt fantastic inside this amazing grass ring. So then I said, ‘OK, let’s go and try and win this’ and we did it,” said 46-year-old Francesco, who complimented the underfoot conditions in Hickstead’s international arena after…

SHOWJUMPING LONGINES ROYAL INTERNATIONAL National classes THE Breen Equestrian Queen Elizabeth II Cup was yet another Hickstead coup for Shane Breen, who not only secured back-to-back wins with Old Lodge’s wonderful grey Haya (see box, p70) but also extended his tally to four victories, making him the most prolific winner of this class since 2008 – although he is still to rival the record of the great Liz Edgar, who won it five times when it was a women’sonly class. “I’ll win it again next year!” said Shane, who, as Breen Equestrian, was also the class’s title sponsor. “Maybe next year I should sponsor the King George too!” Seven made the jump-off, of whom the final three – David Simpson (Flashback VL), Shane and Harriet Biddick (Night Of Glory OL)…

HIGHLIGHTS 17–23 July DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THIS PAGE? HAVE YOU WON A CLASS? Email jennifer.donald@futurenet.com within 24 hours of your event and please include a contact telephone number Chard CSI2*, Somerset TWO world-class riders prevented all others getting a look-in in Chard’s 1.45m CSI2* grand prix, with Scott Brash taking first and third with Hello Vittoria and Folie De Nantuel and Shane Breen slotting into the runner-up spot with Haya. Scott took an early foursecond lead with new ride Folie, an eight-year-old mare formerly ridden by Frenchman Marc Dilasser, who is now owned by Breen Equestrian. Shane himself then stole a 0.18sec advantage, riding the Old Lodge’s 11-year-old mare Haya, who has recently returned from a string of five-star duties on the Global Champions Tour and went…

Hartpury Summer Spectacular, Glos INDEPENDENCE TN proved unbeatable against the clock to take his first area trial win with Helen Tredwell, topping the decider with the fastest of five double clears. Despite miserable weather, seven had jumped first-round clears, including two rides for Helen – Wayne Cox’s nine-year-old gelding and her own home-bred mare Luikan. Second and third in the jump-off, she set a strong target on first ride Independence TN, which held until the end, parrying a close bid from Adrian Whiteway and the stallion Chacco Volo, who were just 0.31sec adrift. “We thought we’d give it a go as we were early on and there were quite a few fast ones after us,” said Helen, who also won the international stairway at Suffolk with the consistent gelding this…

HIGHLIGHTS 17–23 July HAVE YOU HAD A NOTABLE WIN IN THE SHOW RING? Email alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com within 24 hours of the show for your chance to appear in this section Arab Horse Society National Championships, David Broome EC, Monmouthshire A MARE who occupied the reserve supreme position at this fixture in 2021 as a first-season novice went one better to land the overall supreme ridden crown, also providing her rider with her own bucket list win. Megan McCormick’s Emerald J seven-year-old Saphiire was on fire over the weekend, beginning her campaign with a win in the British national championship (BNC) ridden mares final, before she captured the gold championship and finally, the overall ridden supreme crown, ridden by Sian Warman. “She won the same mare class last year, so I’m delighted…

Warwick Hall (2), Cumbria LUCY ORMROD cemented her partnership with a relatively new ride, Wolke Midnight, by winning one of two novice sections. With heavy rain pounding down on the Cumbrian estate, conditions were less than optimal, but Lucy and the Wolkenderry gelding cruised through the mud, adding just one pole down in the showjumping to their dressage score of 31.5. “This is my first season with him and he’s been getting better and better,” said Lucy of the 11-year-old owned by Leesa Darlington Davies. “He can be sharp and difficult at home, but when he gets to an event he puts his game head on.” Twin sisters Vicky and Katie Edgar claimed the top two places in the open novice with Ballingowan Flash and Ringwood Dalto respectively. Katie’s been…

HUNTING Life catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 A RARE outing to the show ring by the Belvoir hounds resulted in victory at Blaston in the old English doghound championship with Gentry, who had earlier taken the stallion hound class. The Percy, who often travel down from Northumberland to Blaston, took the bitch title with winning brood bitch, Cookie, and reserve with Sparkle. Seven packs turned out for judges Bruce Durno and Stuart Barton. Peter McColgan and Chris West judged the modern English classes. The Wheatland and the Albrighton and Woodland battled it out for supremacy in the doghounds, but the Thurlow took the championship with Steadfast ahead of Wheatland Reigate in reserve. The result was reversed when it came to the bitches, with the Wheatland taking the title with Refuge and the Thurlow…

BILLY WALKINGSHAW THE former huntsman to the Mid Antrim in Northern Ireland died on 26 June, aged 92. Mr Walkingshaw took up the post at the Mid Antrim in 1959 after carrying first whip to his father at both the Iveagh Foxhounds and the County Down Staghounds under the recommendation of future prime minister of Northern Ireland Brian Faulkner, and the mastership of Roddy Bamber. He produced some very nice show ponies and horses with his daughter Pamela, some of which were highly placed at the Balmoral and Royal Dublin. But his real passion was hunting and his hounds. A formidable horseman across some of the most trappy country in Ireland, he gave a good day’s sport to young and old. He also helped train point-to-pointers and was a good…

A SEVERE lameness would be described as one that is visible at the walk or causes the horse to become non-weight bearing. It can be alarming to discover as an owner, but as with any injury or illness, it is important to remain calm so you can gather all the necessary information. Around 15% of Equicall equine emergency service visits are for lameness issues, of which most are severe due to the nature of out-of-hours work. In most cases, irrespective of the underlying cause, the horse will at least require analgesia and anti-inflammatories. These are prescription-only medications, so veterinary attendance will be required. Common causes of a sudden severe lameness include: • A foot abscess. This is a frequent occurrence. While an abscess might require veterinary attention, it is not…

ROS CANTER, 37 HORSE: Lordships Graffalo, 11 BREEDING: Grafenstolz x Rock King OWNER: Michele Saul GROOM: Sarah Charnley BEST RESULTS: fourth World Championships 2022; first Badminton CCI5* 2023 FORM: among the favourites after great performances throughout his career. Superb championship rider Ros has five senior medals – so far. LAURA COLLETT, 33 HORSE: London 52, 14 BREEDING: Landos x Quinar Z OWNERS: Keith Scott, Karen Bartlett and rider GROOM: Tilly Hughes BEST RESULTS: Olympic team gold medallists 2021; first Badminton CCI5* 2022 FORM: triple five-star winners who many will tip for the podium. Had a run-out at last year’s worlds but won Luhmühlen convincingly since. YASMIN INGHAM, 26 HORSE: Banzai Du Loir, 12 BREEDING: Nouma D’Auzay x Livarot OWNER: The Sue Davies Fund GROOM: Alison Bell BEST RESULTS: second Kentucky…

LONGINES ROYAL INTERNATIONAL Ponies AN adored working hunter contender shone against animals less than half his age in the Supreme Products supreme pony championship to win the title on a score of 28/30. Claire Collier’s evergreen 143cm contender Beech Hall Ryan and Izzy Hartswood-Collier, 15, were last to go. Supreme first-timer Izzy was the consummate professional as she steered the 16-year-old gelding to produce a flawless display, sealed with a true worker gallop down the grandstand. As the scorecards were raised, it took Izzy a little while to realise what had just happened. When everything came into focus, she put her hand to her mouth, dropped her reins and threw her arms around her pony. “I was just happy to be here,” said an elated Izzy. Earlier in the week,…

LONGINES ROYAL INTERNATIONAL Natives HOME-BRED Welsh section C Danwood Llewellyn (Lewi) ticked off another dream on his connections’ bucket list as he triumphed in The Corroconsult BSPS Heritage mountain and moorland (M&M) supreme. Hannah and Linda Atkinson’s beloved gelding topped a competitive Welsh section C and D class during the morning, partnered by Hannah, making light of the less-than-ideal ground conditions caused by a downpour the night before. “They had to perform and go” PERFORMANCE JUDGE KATHRYN LLOYD Judges Kathryn Lloyd (performance) and Anthony Perkins (conformation) said the Wyken Rob Roy 12-year-old upped his game in the championship. “He coped very well in the class, and in the main arena he stood out with his faultless performance,” said Anthony. “Some of the heavier breeds did struggle with the conditions, but…

LONGINES ROYAL INTERNATIONAL Coloureds and seniors THE immaculate cob Red Rock III (Red) continued his reign as he became the new Oyster Wealth Planning supreme skewbald and piebald Indian Trail ridden champion. The 11-year-old and his pilot Janay Atherden had been the bridesmaids here 365 days earlier, finishing second in their class, reserve horse champion and reserve overall supreme. However, this year it was undoubtedly their time as the pair remained unbeaten across the judging. Ben Hester was ride judging the horse classes, and he and his co-judge Nigel Fuller immediately pulled the gelding in top after the go-round. “He was a showman throughout and he just oozed quality,” Ben enthused. “During the ride, I felt like he’d have given me anything I would have asked for. He sat up…

LONGINES ROYAL INTERNATIONAL Longines King George V Gold Cup THE dust had barely settled on Friday’s triumphant Nations Cup before the Whitaker family had further cause to celebrate with an emotional victory for Robert in the Longines King George V Gold Cup on Vermento, who is owned by Caroline Blatchford and bred by the rider’s father John. An illustrious list of riders have their name etched on this solid gold trophy, including a hat-trick for John and a four-timer for his brother Michael. But it had been more than a quarter of a century since a Whitaker had lifted the King’s Cup. However, in an exhilarating afternoon, Robert produced the sole double clear to the delight of an already buoyed crowd to stake his place in Hickstead history. “This is…

IRISHMAN Fred Scala and 15.2hh mare Corriebeg Supernova became the new Ashby Underwriting eventers’ challenge champions, snatching the crown from Gemma Stevens, whose valiant efforts left her in second and third. “I have wanted to do this class for ever. Growing up, it was always a highlight on the telly, it’s just been a dream,” Fred said. “I had a little horse who is fast and careful, and if there was a class she was going to be good at, it was going to be this one.” The challenges posed by the course and this unique ring were ones the plucky little mare ably lived up to, tackling the notorious permanent fences – including the Derby bank, Irish bank, Devil’s Dyke and road crossing – boldly. “The horse really moved…

HH PRINCE TORKI BIN MOHAMMED AL SAUD a great supporter of showjumping who “loved to win”, would have been thrilled to see his horses take first and second in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. But the same day as Shane Breen and Harriet Biddick topped the podium in their Old Lodge Stud livery, news broke of the Prince’s sudden death. “He’d have been very proud of that result,” said Shane, whose partnership with Prince Torki goes back many years, beginning with the great stallion Golden Hawk. “He always loved having a winner, but he’s had Olympic medal success [a bronze in 2012 with Sultan V, whom he bred] and it meant as much to him as it did winning a newcomers. He was just a real supporter of horses and…

SHOWING ROYAL WELSH 24–27 July Royal Welsh, Royal Welsh Showground, Powys UNBROKEN in his stride and unwilted to the end, 12-year-old Welsh Cob stallion Gwynfaes Seren Wledig had the heart to go all day and won the show’s overall title under a crowd vocal in their support. His presence and flair were used to full effect as he powered his way through the championships, collecting the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in-hand supreme ticket en route to the supreme of show accolade. Owned by Meirion, Dianne and Caleb Evans, he is produced by Dorian and Michelle Lloyd. “He was sold to Canada as one of two foals to make a driving pair but our son Caleb, who was five at the time, didn’t want to sell him and he…

PROGENY from Paul and Frances Atkinson’s exceptional “D” family reigned once again in the Anglo and part-bred section at the Arab Horse Society National Championships, with yearling D’Aamietta (pictured), who is co-owned by Daniel Lukasek, clinching the junior part-bred national title and overall Anglo and part-bred supreme on her show ring debut. Ben Hester was at the filly’s head, and the victory marked Ben’s fifth Anglo and part-bred national supreme win with an Atkinson-bred horse. Maintaining the family form book was D’Aarwin, who brought home the senior part-bred national title. Both D’Aamietta and D’Aarwin are by warmblood Flammengold, out of beloved home-bred mare D’Aamsen, a national champion herself during her youth. Their full sibling is the Atkinsons’ 2022 national supreme ridden champion D’Aamascus, also a winner of this Anglo and…

MR GREY (pictured) scored an intermediate victory, following three wins at the lower levels. The eight-year-old has moved through the grades quickly since his first BE100 last August. “His owner Helen Collin sent him in for schooling, I said I’d do a couple of one-days to give him experience and he ended up being so good I’ve kept him,” said rider Charlotte Donald, 25. “He’s really a hunter and wouldn’t be your typical event horse – he’s Irish, not light warmblood breeding like my others, but he has an amazing brain.” Charlotte is based on former top rider Helen Bell’s yard at Breckenbrough in North Yorkshire, riding chiefly for Helen. Georgie Goss scored her second win since her return from maternity leave in the other intermediate, on Molly Fisher and…

FIRST WIN ABI SCOTT and Red Rendezvous (Ronnie) made their first trip to Childeric Saddles Little Downham (2) a winning one when they headed the novice masters in emphatic style, leading from the outset to finish on their dressage score of 29.9. “The cross-country hasn’t always been our strong point and the course here was big and technical with a tight time, but my competitive streak came to the fore and we were one of only a handful to beat the clock,” said Abi, who is nearing the end of a gap year that has been spent focusing on horses. “I spent a month in America with Canadian five-star rider Dana Cooke and learned a lot there that I’ve brought back home with me and put into practice, including building…

Myerscough College Area Festival, Lancs COMPETING while five months pregnant, equine vet Emily Westwood was most worried that she wouldn’t fit into her show jacket – alongside the pressure of her gelding Rummaggio’s current good form. The 16-yearold Dimaggio son recently returned from a six-year competition break while Emily studied at vet school in Edinburgh, starting in the arena again in May. “I couldn’t sleep for knowing that he was going so well. I didn’t want to mess it up for him,” said Emily, a novice silver champion with “Rummie”. “I’ve had Rummie 10 years and know every bit of him; at five he was a handful, but I think he knows I’m pregnant. He looked after me so well.” Emily Entwistle took the medium bronze with her “horse of…

THE future of the Hickstead Nations Cup leg hung in the balance as H&H went to press, days after Britain’s historic win. The FEI was due to decide on Monday (31 July) which venues would run legs from 2024 until 2027, in a series that will have a new name and new format. The FEI confirmed in June that 18 organisers from Europe, North America and the Middle East had submitted bids to host one of the five qualifiers and final in the new League of Nations. One of those that submitted bids was Hickstead, which has hosted the British Nations Cup leg since 1929, but the decision had not been confirmed as H&H went to press. “It’s going to be trimmed down to five venues – three in Europe,…

TWO riders will make their championship debut at the para dressage European Championships next month, alongside two experienced Paralympic and World Championship medallists, as the British team is announced. British Equestrian and the British Dressage para selectors have confirmed Grade I rider Gabriella Blake and her own 14-year-old gelding Strong Beau, and Grade V combination Charlotte Cundall and the Veyron Partnership’s 13-year-old gelding FJ Veyron will make their first championship appearance in Riesenbeck, Germany, on 5–10 September. They will be joined by experienced team riders Georgia Wilson and her parents’ Geoff and Julie Wilson’s nine-year-old mare Sakura in the Grade II, with seven-year-old gelding Faside Got The Love as direct reserve, and Sophie Wells and the Lady Joseph Trust’s seven-year-old mare LJT Egebjeggards Samoa in Grade V. Liz Geldard and…

GEORGINA REES’ Bellflower became the new O’Donnell Family pure-bred ridden Arabian on her Hickstead debut. The 10-year-old mare was also providing Georgina with a first-ever RIHS victory. By Psalm and out of Wentworth Estate Bellissima, Bellflower was described by Georgina as a “later starter”. “We got her when she was a five-year-old and she was started last season as a novice; this year is her time,” said Georgina, who qualified the home-produced mare for HOYS at Royal Norfolk. Georgina’s friend Darren Crowe took her reins in the supreme to finish on 23/30 after a lovely account. FIRST RIHS WIN…

ON one of their annual equine shopping trips down south, Cheshire producers Adam Forster and David Jinks returned home with two half-brothers, and a new favourite tea room. The purchases are now in their first showing seasons, and at this year’s RIHS Anton Scandal eight-year-old Show Them George (pictured), ridden by Reise Shakespeare, was second in the large intermediate show riding type final, but not before he’d clinched the Harrison Civil Engineering BSPS Anglo and part-bred Arab title. The Leander-sired five-year-old Louie Chantry stood second in the small intermediate show riding type final with Jack Owen in the saddle. Both horses were bred by Jacqui Dawe out of former 148cm HOYS and RIHS finalist Sycamore Showgirl “They were living in a field behind Jacqui’s tea room in Devon, so we…

TRADITIONAL powerhouse The Boss landed the New Horizon Plastics Co. Senior Showing and Dressage Ltd (SSADL) ridden title. Owned by rider Loren Gaskin and her sister Laila, the Horse of the Year Show-bound 15-year-old stallion also competed in the ridden coloured finals earlier in the week. “Every time I get on him I’m smiling, no matter what the result,” said Loren, who is involved in the running of her family’s riding school. “I couldn’t do it without Laila, and our results are a complete team effort.” The Richardson family’s legendary Welsh pony Thistledown Van Der Vaart, also 15 and contending the seniors at Hickstead for the first time, trotted into reserve with Penny Richardson. The 20-year-old thoroughbred Twelve Bens (Henry) took the in-hand spoils. Owned by Gary Thorpe, the big-moving…

LONGINES ROYAL INTERNATIONAL CSI5* classes BRAZIL’S Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa celebrated his 45th birthday by claiming the Royal International speed classic for the second consecutive year with his enviably fleet mare Catch Me Marathon. The pair demonstrated there had been no dip in their form over the past 12 months by winning the opening fivestar two-phase and proved just as untouchable in Saturday’s speed, where they held the lead from fifth-to-jump in a field of 42 horses. “I was early to go in and I knew I had a lot of fast horses coming after me, so I tried to do my best. I think there were two or three who went faster than me but they all had fences down,” Francisco said. “She’s quick over the ground and she’s…

LONGINES ROYAL INTERNATIONAL CSIYH1* THERE’S no finer place to showcase some of the most talented young horses in the sport than Hickstead’s international arena. A quality field of 20, representing Britain, Ireland, France and Germany, qualified for the Clipmyhorse. tv CSIYH1* grand prix. More than half jumped clear, with six seven-year-olds and five eight-year-olds lining up for the jump-off. Standout performances came from Lizzie Bunn’s duo of seven-year-olds – Billy Be Boss (Billy Congo x Kannan) with Jessica Burke in the saddle and Billy Mufasa (Billy Mexico × Billy Congo) expertly piloted by Pippa Funnell – before the speedy combination of Nicole Lockhead Anderson with Conthargo PS snatched the lead in 37.92sec to be crowned best of the seven-year-olds, having also won a qualifier earlier in the week. “I’m so…

WINTER JC victor Lauren Wilkins had some help from a Hickstead master before her win on Eloclea Ro. Del Colle San Marco, namely this year’s Derby winner David Simpson. Pony riders have limited opportunities to compete on grass, so Lauren went to train with David before the show. He also gave her some pointers ahead of the class, as her usual coach Jason Moore was at the pony Europeans. “David is very local to us and he was so kind to give her a couple of lessons on his fabulous grass arena and then course-walk with her in the morning,” Lauren’s mother Victoria said. “His key tips were to establish an open canter through the turns and then to support the pony once she is straight to the fence. He…

EVENTER and farrier Steve Garrod picked up two HOYS tickets in two weeks with his former four-star ride Ufonzo, heading a bumper Events Through A Lens talent seekers qualifier at Field House a fortnight after qualifying for the grade C final at Ashby. A mighty 94 starters contested the talent seekers, with 31 making it through to the jump-off, where Steve was drawn first. The 14-year-old grey gelding, known as Ash at home, made use of all his ability to angle fences, learned during his former career in eventing, to lead the competition from the front. “It was one of those situations where you had to go for it and see what happens. I think I got them chasing, there wasn’t a clear round for quite some time,” Steve said.…

Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show, Salesbury Hall Estate NATIVE ponies were in vogue as a Connemara, a Dartmoor and a Welsh made light of testing weather conditions to lift three of the supreme titles. Saturday’s supreme champion was the foot-perfect trio of Amanda Wilding leading her daughter, Alyssia Jones, nine, and their 10-year-old Dartmoor gelding Nappa Pericles (Percy). The gelding last hit the headlines this time last year when he won the Pretty Polly mini Heritage supreme at the Royal International (RIHS). They also picked up their firstever HOYS ticket at last year’s Great Yorkshire. “We were reserve supreme here at Royal Lancs, one of our local shows, last year,” said Amanda, who produces the gelding from home in Blackpool and qualified him for Hickstead in the Pretty Polly and open…

HIGHLIGHTS 21–23 July DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THIS PAGE? HAVE YOU WON A SECTION? Email eventinghighlights@gmail.com within 24 hours of your event and please include a contact telephone number Aston-le-Walls (2), Northants PIGGY MARCH achieved a whitewash across the three advanced sections without rider age restrictions. Her treble started with Coolparks Sarco on Friday. James and Jo Lambert’s 11-year-old, a former ride of Nicola Wilson’s, was having his first run since winning Millstreet CCI4*-L. “With all the cancellations this spring, I’m still getting to know him even though I’ve had him a year,” said Piggy. “He’s a sensitive horse, a very good mover and jumper. “Across country he is a really big galloper. We need to work on his balance at the jumps as he makes up ground…

HECTOR PAYNE was best of the Brits in the Swiss leg of the Nations Cup series at Avenches, finishing third on Judith and Jeremy Skinner and David and Margie Hall’s Dynasty. The pair rocketed up 40 places after the first phase, posting the fastest cross-country round and a showjumping clear. “Warming up for the dressage he did some of his best work, but unfortunately we didn’t manage to convert that to the ring,” said Hector, referring to his score of 36.8. “But the jumping phases more than made up for it. It’s been a long time since I last managed to move up so many places.” The pair will now likely head to Blenheim. Fortune did not favour the remaining members of the British team, with both David Doel (Captain…

Bicton Summer Regional Championships, Devon AMY FOSTER-SMITH’S “dream” mare Kimberley SHR claimed the medium silver title. While the eight-year-old Desperado daughter’s test was true to form, Amy was nevertheless surprised to head a strong class. “The regionals are always a step up, so I was just hoping I’d show her off and do her justice,” she said. “She felt happy to be out and was really with me. Luckily, the judges seemed to agree.” Amy, a senior business analyst in a financial services company, trains with Serena Pincus and hopes that Kimberley will take her to grand prix. “She’s super-consistent and so easy in every way,” she said. “I’m so lucky.” Lucy Amy scored two wins and collected five tickets out of five. She headed the prelim gold with British-bred…

THE competition at the Festival of Hunting extends to the lunchtime hunt picnics, which have become increasingly elaborate and inventive over the past few years. This time judges Alexandra Henton, Jenny Jefferies and Octavia Pollock awarded first prize to the Wheatland, who won the Stirrup Cup basket of port, donated by the East of England Agricultural Society, and copies of food writer Jenny’s books. “Hunt picnics have become increasingly extravagant” The Wheatland picnic was commended for its local food and provenance, attention to detail, table decorations and stories behind every speciality on the table.…