Last Updated on May 6, 2024 by adminahb
Royal Windsor Horse Show drew to a close after an incredible five days of top class equestrian action. The pinnacle Jumping competition of the Show, the CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix, was won by Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs, with America’s Laura Kraut victorious in the morning’s CSI5* Manama Rose Show Stakes.
Meanwhile, the Pol Roger Meet of the British Driving Society featured both Her Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh alongside her daughter Lady Louise Windsor in a beautiful and traditional spectacle.
FUCHS FLIES TO VICTORY
A thrilling Rolex Grand Prix provided a fitting conclusion to the CSI5* Show Jumping. Bernardo Costa Cabral’s up-to-height 1.60m course required precision, bravery, and athleticism to produce the clear round required to progress into the second phase against the clock. The first clear came from France’s Simon Deleste riding the 12-year-old Cayman Jolly Jumper, with Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca and Denver de Talma setting up the jump-off.
Following his first round, de Luca said: “I was really delighted with how he jumped — it’s his first 5* Grand Prix, but his rideability was incredible. I enjoy everything about this show; the crowd is amazing, the ring is amazing – it’s great. I will be going as fast as I can in the jump-off to try to win!”
In all, 12 progressed into the jump-off to vie for a share of the €500,000 prize fund, including three from the home nation — much to the delight of the passionate crowd.
The first two into the arena for the second round accrued faults under the pressure of trying to set fast enough speed to win. It was Britain’s Matt Sampson who was the first to jump clear aboard the 16-year-old Daniel, setting an impressive time to beat of 46.80 seconds. Compatriot Tim Gredley followed, jumping a steady round and picking up one time fault to make it a British one-two in the early stages.
However, Sweden’s Petronella Andersson spoiled the British party, taking the lead with a time of 76.04 seconds. Her lead was short-lived as Giulia Martinengo Marquet — second in the Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes for The King’s Cup — jumped a beautifully smooth round to take over pole position. The lead changed quickly again, this time with World No. 4 Martin Fuchs, last year’s victor, taking over three seconds off the current leading time.
The reigning European Champion, Steve Guerdat, gave it his best shot with another immaculate performance, but was not able to match his Swiss compatriot’s time, and finished in eventual third. Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet, last to go, snatched the runners-up position with Bond Jamesbond de Hay.
On winning consecutive Rolex Grand Prix titles, Fuchs said: “It’s obviously fantastic, not just to win back-to-back, but the whole atmosphere of being here – it’s so special. I only brought one horse this week which puts a lot of pressure on the one class, but I felt very confident after a good round on Friday. Today I knew when I walked the course that it suited us very well.”
Talking about the flying round, the Swiss rider stated: “I knew that I had to risk everything as I had some of the fastest riders in the world coming after me. Leone Jei has a huge stride, so I have to try to ride tight turns and leave some strides out on the straight lines – his energy and ability lets me leave out strides which other horses aren’t able to do.”
Robert Whitaker, the best of the British contingent, said: “I knew the jump-off would be very difficult today for me to be quicker than Martin, Steve, and Gregory, but I did what I thought I could with him [Vermento]. If I’d been offered fourth place at the start of the week I would have taken it, so I’m very happy!”
Whitaker went on to say: “I enjoy it every time I jump at Royal Windsor; the setting is amazing and the crowd is always fantastic.”
LAURA LEADS THE WAY
The CSI5* Manama Rose Show Stakes took the morning session by storm with speed and accuracy at the heart of the single phase competition. Robert Whitaker riding Evert was the first of the 26 combinations and kicked off the class with a clear round in a time of 58.64 seconds. The course consisted of fourteen combinations with an unusual horizontal striped oxer and a brown upright decorated with large plastic swans causing numerous problems.
Sixth to go was Italian Lorenzo de Luca, who flew around the course on his bay gelding, Violino Il Palazetto, and took nearly a second off Whitaker’s time to become the new leader. The class then had a flurry of clears from a number of top riders, including Steve Guerdat and Scott Brash.
American Olympic rider Laura Kraut took to the ring as 21st to go on her stunning chestnut, Calgary Tame, and wowed the crowd with her tight lines — ultimately completing the course with the fastest round of 56.44 seconds, the only rider to complete in less than 57 seconds to win the Manama Rose Show Stakes.
Kraut said: “I love Windsor; this is one of the best shows. I’m thrilled; my horse was just absolutely perfect. Two of his owners got here for today so they got to see him win, so it was a great day.”
Speaking about Calgary Tame, Kraut continued: “He’s very, very quick and he’s tiny, so what would be a normal line for most horses is fast for him. He’s so brave and loves to win! Honestly, I watched the first two go and they were so fast; I didn’t think I could catch them. They didn’t leave room for improvement, but if I took the same lines as him, he was just that much quicker.”
DEAN DOMINATES THE DEFENDER UNDER 25 JUMPING
Some of the world’s most promising up-and-coming Show Jumpers took to the Castle Arena for The Defender Under 25 Jumping Competition, which took place over two rounds — with all clears from the first round proceeding into the jump-off.
A total of 33 combinations tackled the first round, which caused faults throughout. However, stylish clears did come from a number of riders, including Billy Stud rider Lottie Tutt — who was also well-placed in the LeMieux National 1.40m Open Jumping Competition on Thursday morning. In total, only four other riders could produce clear jumping rounds inside the time, with Harrison Hatteea heartbreakingly missing out on qualifying for the jump-off with just one time penalty.
Riders returned to jump the shortened course in the same order that they jumped in the initial round, meaning that it was America’s Natalie Dean riding Dotcom D’Authuit who entered the arena as first to go. Dean secured a quick and clear round in a time of 33.94 seconds to put pressure on the remaining competitors. Whilst clear rounds did then come from Olivia Sponer and Jake Myers, no one could quite match the time set by the American, meaning the Show debutant claimed the coveted title.
Speaking on her win, Dean stated: “It feels great to be here and to win! It is my first time competing at Royal Windsor Horse Show and it is such an amazing show. My horse is very fast and always competitive at this level and so I knew to stick to my plan going into the jump-off.”
The American continued: “I am based with Ben [Maher] at the moment, which is incredible. He told me to play the jump-off a bit safe today as there were not many in it — his advice paid off!”
WALKER NAME IN THE HEADLINES AGAIN
Isabella (Izzy) Walker, 11, flew the family flag high once more in the shadow of Windsor Castle when lifting the coveted Show Pony Championship for the second year running. She scored again with Helen Davies’s reigning Horse of the Year Show victor, seven-year-old 128cm winner Stoneleigh Showtime.
Having headed their class in the Copper Horse Arena earlier in the day, the polished partnership maintained their composure in the atmospheric Castle Arena for the championship, showing no sign of nerves. This was not the case for her parents, though. “It is much, much more nerve-wracking watching than it is competing,” admitted father Robert, himself Novice Hunter champion and Open Hunter reserve here earlier in the week. “We were hopeful, but we are aware that things don’t always work out. The pony found the ground a bit tacky in the morning, but really rose to the occasion in the Castle Arena — he’s a proper little showman.”
Walker continued: “Izzy has been riding at this show since she was three and finished third in the lead rein class, but being on the sidelines doesn’t get any easier!”
Reserve went to the victorious 148cm partnership of Matilda Holmes and Stanley Grange Gilt Edge.
The prestigious Novice Show Pony Championship title travelled north this year with the in-form Yorkshire-based Jinks Show Team, despite their six-year-old 128cm campaigner Tandridge True Gold, partnered by Livie Smith, having finished only second in his class.
As has happened elsewhere at this year’s Show, the final decision underlined the fact that a championship is judged as a separate entity, and so judges can —and do — overturn previous class results if the final performance warrants it.
Izzy Walker was again in the frame here, this time finishing reserve with Helen Davies’s 138cm class winner Swan Lake, a charming six-year-old mare out of Dance All Night, twice Supreme Ridden Pony at the Royal International Horse Show during a prolific-winning career under saddle.
Working Hunter Ponies occupied the Frogmore Arena all morning, negotiating yet another clever course designed by Lisa Kelly. Alice Homer, who secured two Ridden Hunter Weight wins earlier in the week, brought her tally to a personal “Royal Windsor Best” of four when her Intermediate campaigner, Tidy Town — also the winner of the Ladies’ Hunter class on Friday — won his class and scooped the tricolour. In doing so, this pair pipped another in-form combination, Ruby Ward — also a highly successful showjumping rider — and her 153cm winner Noble Banksy.
The Intermediate Championship, sponsored by Culford Lodge Commodities, was won by Abbie Kirkbride on her Small Show Riding Type (SRT) winner, eight-year-old Shildons Royal Affair. This handsome chestnut gelding is a half-sister — out of the same dam, Colbeach Regal Model — to Friday’s Hack Supreme Champion, Shildons Plan B, with both horses bred by Vicki Rudd.
Reserve went to Friday’s Riding Horse Champion, Rosemore Midnight Rendezvous, ridden by his owner Jane O’Keeffe’s daughter, Sophie, to head the Intermediate Show Hunter Type, sponsored by Culford Lodge Commodities.
BOYD BREAKS THE BOUNDARIES
The culmination of the International Driving Grand Prix took place with Competition C, the Obstacle Cones. The CAIO4* World Cup Qualifier saw Boyd Exell’s four-in-hand team deliver a thrilling performance to secure the Australian his thirteenth win at Royal Windsor Horse Show, once again proving why he is the best in the world. The Australian was faultless through the tricky course of Obstacle Cones to remain on his overnight score of 137.02 and secure the victory ahead of Koos de Ronde and Ijsbrand Chardon. Unfortunately, Britain’s hope of a placing was dashed as Dan Naprous, who was fourth after the Marathon phase, accumulated 20.13 points, dropping his team to an eventual ninth.
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