Last Updated on May 11, 2024 by Teri Rehkopf
Royal Windsor Horse Show looked resplendent in the May sunshine on an action-packed fourth day. The international CSI5* Show Jumping provided top-class sport, with wins for home favourite Matthew Sampson and the USA’s Kent Farrington. Meanwhile, across the park, Boyd Exell continued his domination of the International Driving Grand Prix with a slick drive in the Marathon phase of the CAIO4*.
It was also a big day for the military, as The Kingdom of Bahrain Services Team Jumping took centre stage in the Castle Arena in the morning, while the Household Cavalry Best Turned Out Trooper supported by Mr and Mrs Ken LaGrande was won by Tpr Jeffrey from The Blues & Royals riding Shackleton.
After a packed schedule including multiple Showing highlights, the day concluded with an international Arena Polo match in which the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan fielded a team against Guards Polo Club, which saw a strong Land of Fire team victorious by 6 goals to 4.
SAMPSON STEALS THE SPOTLIGHT
The second day of international Show Jumping got underway with 26 starters tackling Bernardo Costa Cabral’s technical 1.50m course in the CSI5* Defender Challenge Stakes. The competition consisted of two rounds, with the top ten going through to the jump-off. The first round proved difficult to master with only four horse and rider combinations going clear inside the time, meaning those with time penalties or a quick four faults also proceeded forward to jump the shortened course.
Going in reverse order of merit from the first round, it was Harry Charles and the incredibly talented nine-year-old Bandit — who was making his 5* debut — who was first into the sunshine-bathed Castle Arena. With results from the first round being carried forward to the jump-off, Charles came into the second round with four faults. The young British rider, who has become a stalwart of the British Championship teams, produced a quick clear round in a time of 33.38 seconds to put the pressure on the remaining competitors.
Charles’ round looked hard to beat, but it was Max Kühner who only accrued one time penalty in the preceding round, who produced a smooth clear round to take the lead. Next into the arena was the first of those who were faultless in the first round, Laura Kraut. The American once again proved herself to be one of the best riders in the world with a classy clear in the time of 33.70 seconds. Only the second to last to go, Matthew Sampson, could keep the hope of the British crowd alive — and he did just that, shaving just 0.04 seconds off Kraut’s time. Last into the ring, the Dutch rider Harrie Smolders could not match the speed set by Sampson, leaving the Brit to take the spoils.
Speaking on his win, Sampson exclaimed: “I am delighted with this win! MGH Candy Girl is great and she has a super character. She is only about 15.2hh, and so the jumps are nearly as big as her – she was incredible today. It is amazing to compete here, with this background and fans – it is what we all dream of, and now I am winning here it is unbelievable.”
The feature class of the day — the CSI5* Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes for the King’s Cup — was a 1.55m class with those jumping clear from the first round going through to a jump-off. The course posed problems throughout, with the likes of the World No. 2 Ben Maher and reigning European Champion Steve Guerdat accruing faults in the first round.
In total, six riders made it through to jump against the clock. Kent Farrington was first into the arena to set the standard aboard the 11-year-old chestnut gelding, Landon. A twice-former winner of the Rolex Grand Prix at the Show, Farrington knows what it takes to achieve victory in the famous Castle Arena and didn’t leave much room for improvement, jumping clear in an impressive time of 35.38 seconds. Farrington’s USA teammate, Laura Kraut, followed into the arena with a promising start, but accrued four faults at the final fence.
Great Britain’s Joseph Stockdale and Ebanking had the crowd gasping as they made the tightest of turns throughout; however, the combination was another to fall victim to the final fence, finishing on four faults. Stockdale’s time proved Farrington could be beaten and Italy’s Giulia Martinengo Marquet gave it her best shot, jumping clear, but was unable to match the American’s pace. Harry Smolders was another to jump clear, but his time was only good enough for eventual third.
Farrington, who first won this class back in 2016 and repeated the victory in 2021, said: “This Show has been very kind to me; there’s a great crowd, lots of support for my sport – I really appreciate it. Royal Windsor is one of my favourite shows. I love to keep coming back.”
As riders turn their gaze onto the Rolex Grand Prix — the feature class of the week — Farrington continued: “Tomorrow’s a new day. I will be riding my other horse to give her a chance to shine. It will be a tough competition with so many top riders, but I hope for the best.”
SHOWING CHAMPIONS CROWNED
Essex-based producer Justine Armstrong – a former Working Hunter Champion here – was in celebration mode after Jane O’Keeffe’s mannerly gelding, Rosemore Midnight Rendezvous, gave her a win in the Small Riding Horse sponsored by Mr and Mrs Phil Swallow, with the combination then going on to stand Champion.
“Apart from on Working Hunters, the last time I had a championship here was in 2002 on a Haflinger pony,” Armstrong-Small recalled, laughing. “But Rendezvous has been Champion on each of his three previous outings this season so we were quietly hopeful.”
Lancashire-based Wayne Thorneycroft, another professional producer, claimed reserve with his own Large Riding Horse winner, the 14-year-old First Man.
The Amateur Riding Horse victory fell to Katie Dashwood with her reigning Horse of the Year Show Open Champion, the former racehorse Minella Rebellion, who is produced by Hack champion rider, Jo Bates.
The Mountain and Moorland Ridden Worker classes were full to capacity in the Frogmore Arena, where Lisa Kelly built a series of deceptively testing tracks which required careful riding. After more than six hours of absorbing competition, the top spot went to Ross Keys, with Anna Chaplin’s prolific 17-year-old Welsh Section D stallion, Dycott King — another former victor at Horse of the Year Show — who headed the Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter Pony, exceeding 143cm class. Here, he pipped last year’s RWHS winners, Amy Smith and her multi-garlanded Connemara gelding Laburnum Richard.
The BSPS Mountain and Moorland Ridden classes sponsored by New Horizon Plastics were also full to capacity, and it was not until early evening that their Championship was decided. For the second year running, this fell to young Nottinghamshire-based producer Lucy Glover with Amanda Sharman’s stunning Connemara stallion. Castle Kestrel is yet another successful offspring of the prolific stallion Glencarrig Knight, who has been responsible for so many champions over the years.
Yet another generation of the famous Whitaker Show Jumping dynasty made their mark when five-year-old Gracie-May Whitaker — competing at only her second-ever show — landed the BSPS Mountain and Moorland Mini Championship aboard her grandfather Martin Wood’s Lead Rein winner Thistledown Silver Bullet. Gracie-May is the daughter of showjumper George Whitaker and his wife Michaela, who was herself a prolific winner in the show ring, including at the Horse of the Year Show and the Royal International.
Reigning Royal International Supreme Champion rider Will Morton began the season well at local shows with Rosamund Lane’s stunning grey Maxi Cob, Monarch In The Mist, but here in the Castle Arena, the big-galloping grey gave him a phenomenal ride to take the Royal Windsor Martin Collins Enterprises Cob Championship. It was a great result as the partnership pipped last year’s victors, Janay Leeman and her reigning Horse of the Year Show champion Red Rock, also Ridden Coloured Reserve Champions here.
The coveted Horse & Hound Mountain and Moorland Supreme In Hand title provided another shock result when the brand-new partnership of handler Tom Clark and owner Melanie Peters’ lovely Welsh section A stallion, Hoekhorst Example, scooped the top award ahead of seasoned campaigners Jamie Frost with Cathy Wood’s big-winning Connemara stallion, Clover Hill Magic. “It’s the first time I’ve ever shown him,” said a clearly shocked Tom.
OH BOY(D)
The second phase of the CAIO4* International Driving Grand Prix, the Marathon, took place in the stunning grounds of Windsor Castle. The course, designed by Jeroen Houterman (NED), drew compliments from spectators and drivers alike this year with a flowing design which took in the best of the natural obstacles available in the Great Park.
World No. 1 Boyd Exell managed to expand his lead with his team of exceptional horses – despite a sticky moment at ‘The Long Walk’ Obstacle 3 – to set them up with a 14.01 point lead ahead of the Cone phase. It was, however, all change for the remainder of the top places as both Germany’s Mareike Harm and the USA’s Chester Weber, who were second and third overnight, found themselves unable to produce the rounds that they would have wished, allowing the Dutch pair of Koos de Roos and Ijsbrand Chardon to move up into those podium positions, respectively. British driver Daniel Naprous made incredible strides in his strongest phase, motoring up from 11th to 4th place after a spectacular drive.
“I was super pleased with that round today,” said Naprous. “My horses went absolutely amazingly, and I felt the course was more open than normal for Windsor – so it was actually a little bit different to drive than normal which obviously suited my horses. The water obstacle is always a great moment – it’s a very iconic Windsor experience.”
With less than two points separating the top two drivers, Sunday’s Cones will prove a nail-biting finale.
SERVICES JUMPING
The Kingdom of Bahrain Services Team Jumping at the Royal Windsor Horse Show is a pinnacle event for military sport. The competition awards the Queen’s Plate to the best team on non-military working horses, the Queen’s Cup to the best team on military working horses, and the Challenge Trophy to the best International team.
This year, the Army Team Marlborough of Capt Mary Pearson (RAVC) riding Je Taime Fandango, Pte Will Field (PWRR) riding Graddus T, and Gnr Charlotte Pudge (RA) riding Cassinaro Dreamer took a well-deserved victory in the overall competition and the Queen’s Plate. Gnr Pudge’s super-swift jump-off time was 10 seconds faster than her closest rival — Sami Ghazwan of the Bahrain Defense Force, whose team took home the Challenge Trophy. The highest placed team mounted on military working horses were Defence Animal Training Regiment A. Army Marlborough A’s Pte Field took the Worshipful Co of Saddlers’ Bridle for the highest Under-25.
To find out more about Royal Windsor Horse Show, visit www.rwhs.co.uk.
For more information, please contact:
Niki McEwen / rEvolution / nmcewen@revolutionworld.com
