Juliet masters it
Despite being held on pre-Royal International weekend, some top-class pairings shine through the searing heat
Mid Herts (Area 15A) Country, Keysoe, Beds
TEAM HOLDER made a triumphant raid on the booty at this popular charity show, where bumper entries broke all records and all classes were held on surfaces.
A 20-year drought for the family production team ended when an immaculate performance from Matilda Masters, 11, and her grandmother Sonia Cooper’s recent acquisition, Birkinbrook Juliet, scooped the team’s first-ever area members’ supreme title at the end of a long, hot and humid day.
Five combinations contested this final reckoning, judged by sisters Angela and Jillian Grummitt, but it was clear that the extreme weather had sapped the energy of some combinations. Matilda, though, had determination written all over her face and her lovely 11-yearold section B mare responded willingly to give a superb show — despite this being just the pair’s third outing together.
“This pony went so fluently,” said Angela. “It looked effortless, kept its sparkle and looked happy throughout. It was a clear winner for us.”
This was just the icing on the cake, though, as half an hour earlier, Matilda and “Princess” had headed a marathon native first ridden qualifier to take their first Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) ticket together.
“We’ve had reserve supreme before, but never quite managed the top spot in the 20-odd years I’ve been competing here,” reflected producer Gayle Holder. “We’re delighted for Matilda as she’s only had the pony since June, but regularly comes down to stay to practise and help on the yard.
“We have always believed that if the riders understand how much work goes in, and are used to handling the ponies on the ground, it improves their confidence and their riding.”
The team collected two more area titles and HOYS tickets too — kicked off by the Godfrey-Faussetts’ ever-charming 122cm show hunter pony, Gryngallt Picture Frame, who twinkled along for stand-in jockey Freya Herring to win a strong class, then stand section champion after an acquaintance of less than 30 minutes. This added a second string to this versatile mare’s Birmingham bow, as she is through in lead-rein ranks for Mollie Doherty after winning at Royal Three Counties where she was also supreme pony.
The day’s third ticket came courtesy of Jessica Goodier and her aunt Sharon Harris’ large riding horse, Hot Gossip, who qualified in third place in another strong class.
“Definitely our best-ever
Mid Herts show,” was Gayle’s verdict on the day. “We’ve now got seven HOYS tickets and the bus is still rolling.”
AN UNEXPECTED BONUS
ANOTHER stand-in jockey hit the jackpot in intermediate ranks, where Hannah Horton had only her second-ever ride on Lauren Mollard’s Be Smart to head the show hunter types, qualify and stand reserve.
“Hannah came today just for a practice before riding him for Lauren at Hickstead, so the ticket was an unexpected bonus,” said producer Edward Young. “She won and was champion with him at Area 7 the only other time she’s sat on him, so that’s some strike rate.”
The tricolour here went to
Abbie Dark with her homeproduced small show riding type victor, Runnon Ruby Tuesday, another pair booking their Birmingham pass.
Hack classes were well supported, too, featuring several partnerships already bound for Hickstead and HOYS. However, the top spot went to Fiona Farquharson and her homeproduced small victor, Daldorn Principal Dancer, who headed their line of 11 throughout to qualify, and then shone again in the championship.
The six-year-old was previously campaigned from Stanley Grange by Myles Cooper and returned to Fiona’s Suffolk home in February. This was the third outing for the new combination, who stood champion at Suffolk and second in the HOYS qualifier at The Showing Register.
“We wanted to get going with him before bringing him out,” said Fiona, whose mother Margaret, Lady Benton-Jones, bred the son of Dolphin Superstar. “It took time for him to adjust to a new regime but I believe he has now and he loves being a family horse — hacking out and having fun.
“He’s been to HOYS twice before, but this will be my first time with him there and all the more special as he’s home-bred,” Fiona concluded.
Reserve went to another former HOYS finalist clearly relishing a change of lifestyle this term — and also a son of Dolphin Superstar. This was the first outing since last October for Lingswood Lad (Woody) and Angharad Ellis Owen, but a footperfect performance earned the top large spot — booking a return to HOYS where the pair finished sixth last year — and then reserve.
“Showing’s taken a back seat this year due to a combination of work, motherhood and house renovations,” said Angharad, who works full-time as in-house barrister for a Bury St Edmunds firm of solicitors. “I work long days and we’re doing most of the work on the house ourselves, so that takes up a lot of the evenings and weekends. I had no kitchen for six months and only a tarpaulin between us and the snow during the winter!
“Woody really is my ‘play pony’ now and has to fit in — I probably only ride him once a week but we’ve been having lessons from dressage rider Nikki Crisp. Woody’s living the dream — out every day and in only light work. My goal today was just that he went well, so to qualify was amazing — he’s not even entered anywhere else.”
Sadly, only three contested the area horse supreme, but Lucinda Haines and her in-form hack, Colbeach Mark Of Respect, were worthy winners, ahead of Sofie Carter on her sister Hannah’s stunning home-bred dun riding horse, The Time Traveller, an eight-year-old by the late Connemara sire Templebready Fear Bui. Earlier, Hannah had her first competitive ride on him since undergoing knee surgery and finished third in the novice class, while Sofie took over to be amateur runner-up.