Royal Windsor Horse Show – Day Two

Friday, May 14, 2010 | Mary Phelps

The sun was shining on a glorious day at Royal Windsor Horse Show, which marked the Show’s first ever dedicated ‘Hunt Day’. And what a competition! Champions of the Inter Hunt Team Knock Out were the Heythrop Hunt, with second place going to Surrey Union with V.W.H in third.

JumpingTim Stockdale claimed the biggest show jumping class of the day, The Land Rover Grade A jump-off competition, with Colin and Ann Garrett’s Kalico Bay. This is the second time the bay gelding has performed a lap of honour in Royal Windsor Horse Show’s Castle Arena having won last year’s Land Rover open.“Last year, that was the biggest win of his career to date,” said Tim. “Since then he’s gone on to jump with success internationally and won about £38,000 in total last.”A total of 12 made the jump-off of this afternoon’s competition. Tim was one of the last to go on course after the crowd was kept entertained by progressively faster rounds. His smooth piloting over course designer Bob Ellis’s track enabled him to pinch back half a second from Tracey Priest’s leading time on Calle.“Kalico Bay had a day off in the field yesterday, which he loves,” said Tim. “And riding him today felt absolutely beautiful.”Daniel Moseley headed this morning’s grades A and B two-phase from the outset with Carol Toliver’s Larina II. By keeping tight lines in the jump-off phase, he set an unassailable target with the nine-year-old German mare. “My aim was to just try and keep it smooth and try to be in the top three,” said Daniel, who based with William Funnell. “There were a few tricky fences in the second phase and they caught out some careful jumpers.”The first of Royal Windsor’s three seven- and eight-year-old championship classes was held today. The competition was fierce and Tim Gredley emerged victorious on Varmisch after a thrilling 12-horse jump-off.The Olympic Star Spotters six-year-old competition resulted in six combinations tying for first place after all jumped double clear. The victorious competitors were Gemma Plumley (Ebro), Charlotte Flack (Zazou III), Tim Davies (Delilah IV), Murka’s Zephyr (P Maloney), James Fisher (Zeosina) and Keith Doyle (Zendelien).In the AmTrust Equine RWHS British Riding Club Championships supported by PONY and Horse & Rider Magazines, winner of the Senior Novice Top Score Jumping Championships was Lucy Graham.Lucy and her proud family have a close link with Windsor. Her father, royal photographer Tim Graham, has attended the Royal Windsor Horse Show every year for more than thirty years to photograph the Duke of Edinburgh in the carriage driving championships. This year, as luck would have it, having recently retired from Royal photography Tim wasn’t at the show so missed out on seeing his daughter triumph in her event. As a proud father and professional photographer, Tim has taken hundreds of photographs of his daughter Lucy and her brother Tom over the years but missed the ‘winning’ picture today.Lucy’s horse, a Cleveland Bay cross Thoroughbred, has just celebrated his eighteenth birthday and was up against a zippy pony in the final, but Lucy was delighted to have come out victorious. ShowingThe Philanderer continued in unbeatable form as he added Royal Windsor’s Riding Horse Championship to a string of high profile wins. The enchanting grey, ridden and produced by Jayne Webber, was last year’s supreme champion at Horse of the Year show and has now taken a championship title on both of his outings this season.“I think he’s the nearest thing to a unicorn you’ll see,” said Jayne, “his strength is in his scope.” The crowd in the Castle Arena broke out in spontaneous applause as they watched the eight-year-old gelding by Kilvington Scoundrel gallop in front of judges Mrs P N Arkell and Mrs A Lance. “He does have a fantastic gallop and it makes quite an impression,” Jayne added.Jackson Fair and Square, who was also qualified for the championship by Jayne Webber in the Small Riding Horse class, stood reserve ridden by Gemma Lucas. While a magical grey stood top of Thursday’s ridden line-up, in the driving classes a black stallion headed the field in the Werry Hackney Championship. Wentworth Ebony, owned by P J Gray, was being driven by Brian for only the second time. “He’s a real showman,” said Brian. “I was expecting him to win, in fact I was surprised they called me out for the championship and didn’t just post the trophy,” he joked. Brian is no stranger to Royal Windsor, having previously competed here in both the trade and private driving classes.In reserve was Westbourne Hi Tech – the reigning novice hackney pony of the year – driven by Billy Ward, while champion amateur went to liver chestnut stallion Aghaderg Spot the Difference and Jackie Barrass.