Carl Hester and Nip Tuck.
May 15 2015 – Crowds were treated to another spectacular day of competition and stunning displays at Royal Windsor Horse Show, including the first win of the week for Her Majesty The Queen who once again was present to watch her horses and ponies compete and Carl Hester rounded off the evening with another near perfect performance and a red rosette.
DRESSAGE: CARL HESTER CONTINUES HIS WINNING STREAK
It was a British one-two in the FEI Grand Prix freestyle to music at Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Carl Hester and Nip Tuck delighted a full house with their winning test that scored high artistic marks and a final total of 79.45% just short of a personal freestyle best for the pair. The combination, members of the British team that won silver at the World Equestrian Games last year, ably demonstrated rhythmic trot work, passage and piaffe and beautifully fluent changes of which his rider was particularly proud.
“This horse has never, in all his tests, made a mistake in his changes – all he wants to do is his best and he always tries his hardest,” said Carl who was however slightly disappointed with the final mark.
“My aim was 80% and we didn’t quite make it – perhaps the walk wasn’t quite the same as in the grand prix but no matter he was really good. Make no mistake, this arena is a major ring with a big atmosphere and it is so good for us to be able to ride here.”
Carl’s pupil Fiona Bigwood made an emotional return to the top with her young mare Atterupsgaards Orthilia. Emotional as not only was it a big welcome back for Fiona who suffered a serious fall a year ago but she also rode her freestyle to music made for her former horse Mr G who tragically died in a field accident.
“I haven’t ridden to that music for four or five years and it was all a bit emotional for me – I loved Mr G and I love Tilly also,” said Fiona. “I had no idea how she would react to the atmosphere, music and the crowd as she is quite hot but she just got on with it and has such a great attitude.”
The mare, who was found in Denmark 18 months ago, has a natural ability for piaffe and passage and was described by Carl as ‘an 80% horse’.
He said; “All Fiona has to do is to continue increasing her confidence in the ring and she’ll be in the top five in the world – that horse can make us a gold medal team again.” The British pair will both now compete at the CDI in Fritzens in Austria.
Fiona’s husband, Danish rider Anders Dahl, kept it in the family with third place on Wie Atlantico. It was also one place higher than last year for Anders and Atlantico who showed particularly impressive passage.
“He felt very fresh today,” said Anders. “And I am really happy with his attitude.”
Atlantico who has now competed at grand prix for eight years, was formerly ridden by Fiona to win British team silver in 2010 and was then subsequently ridden by Carl when Fiona was expecting before going to Anders. And he is now ridden by their daughter – albeit on the lunge.
“He is just the most kindest genuine horse there is,” said Fiona.
It was an outstanding day in the coaching marathon – a renowned favourite at Royal Windsor – which drew an unprecedented crowd round the Castle Arena anxious to witness the splendid spectacle of 16 coaches drawn by lively teams of four horses. Among them was the crown equerry, Col Toby Browne LVO, driving Her Majesty The Queen’s team of bays to an original park drag. His immaculate presentation earned him the award for the best turned out entry.
Col Toby Browne was joined by nine other teams of horses put to park drags, together with four road coach turnouts and two regimental coaches. All completed a nine mile marathon through the Home Park before coming back into the arena to delight spectators. The championship was awarded to Bill Ginns with his team of Hackneys put to an original drag by Marston, while John Brown with his magnificent team of bays put to the Tally Ho Road Coach built by Shanks in the 1890s stood reserve.
At the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix dressage arena it was the turn of the pony four-in-hands. Bram Chardon from the Netherlands, current world pony four-in-hand gold medallist and son of the famous Dutch FEI horse four-in-hand competitor Ijsbrand, has a clear lead from the rest of the field. His closest challenger is Tinne Bax who was placed fourth individually at the 2013 World Pony Championships.
SHOWJUMPING: DUKE IN WINNING FORM AT ROYAL WINDSOR
Ireland’s Billy Twomey thrilled the crowd at Royal Windsor Horse Show with a perfectly performed round on Ardcolumn Duke to take the Bahrain Pearl Stakes. With an early draw in a 17-strong jump-off, the Nottinghamshire-based rider had to put the pressure on with a strong target time.
The 11-year-old stallion has recently returned to competition having had some time off for semen collection. His comeback began two weeks ago at Newark and Nottinghamshire County Show.
“He’s stepped up again here and I’ll be jumping him in the Alltech Grand Prix [for the Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy] on Sunday,” said Billy, adding: “I’ve been coming to Royal Windsor Horse Show for years. It has great facilities and a great atmosphere.”
The Manama Speed Stake proved a happy hunting ground for Laura Renwick, well known as a dangerous rival against the clock. Riding the seven-year-old Ulievka de Breve, Britain’s leading lady rider took and held the lead from fellow countryman Robert Smith aboard Candy Boy.
The day’s remaining international class, the Land Rover Stakes, culminated in a 13 horse jump-off. The result was another victory for the home country with Danny McGlynn and Atletico Van D’Abelendreef taking first place ahead of Harry Charles, son of Olympic Gold Medallist Peter Charles, and Vivaldi du Dom.
SHOWING: WIN FOR THE QUEEN
Watched under the eagle eye of a delighted owner, Her Majesty The Queen’s successful campaigner Barber’s Shop, ridden by Katie Jerram, won the retraining of racehorses class having finished second in the ladies hunters on the first day.
Newmarket-based Simon Charlesworth landed the cob and hack titles for the second year running, the former with last year’s victor Fait Acobbli and the hack championship with the exciting novice Mountstephen Showman.
Robert Walker, of Tarporley, Cheshire, continued his winning run to score two more victories today when the cobs Randlestown Rolex and Starry Night headed their class to add to his three wins on the first day.
ENDURANCE: BAHRAIN CLINCH VICTORY
Three riders shared the honours at the third Royal Windsor Endurance 120km CEI2* competition today. First, second and third places were awarded equally to His Highness Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Murbarak Al Khalifa of Bahrain, and Raed Mahmood, also from Bahrain, when they recorded the same finish time of five hours 33 minutes and 11 seconds. In fourth position, with a time of 05:45:02, was David Yeoman of Great Britain, and fifth was Enora Boulenger of France in 06:00:10.
By the end of the day all horses were either safely back at the venue or already on their way home after a wonderful day’s sport.
Saturday Highlights
The highly anticipated CSI3* Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes for The King’s Cup kicks off the afternoon session and is set to be a thrilling class. Once again there will be a feast of equine entertainment taking place throughout Saturday with performances carrying on into the evening, including the Musical Ride of The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the Musical Drive of The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.rwhs.co.uk.
For more information, please contact Hollie Bostock, Revolution Sports + Entertainment
E: hollie@revolutionsports.co.uk, T: +44 207 592 1207.
Royal Windsor Horse Show takes place on 13-17 May 2015. Over 50,000 visitors are expected to attend the 72nd year of the Royal Windsor Horse Show which offers its audience astounding displays in the main Castle Arena, such as The Musical Ride from the Household Calvary and The King’s Troop Musical Drive, the DAKS Pony Club Mounted Games and The Shetland Pony Grand National. As well as the equestrian competitions and activities, there are over 230 shops in the Shopping Village, with a wide range of goods for sale, from jewellery and fashion, to food and drink. HM The Queen has attended every year since it started in 1943 and it is the only time of the year that the private grounds of Windsor Castle are open to the public. Royal Windsor Horse Show is organised by HPower Group, also organisers of Olympia, The London International Horse Show www.hpower.co.uk.
Royal Windsor Horse Show’s official charity is the ABF Soldiers Charity. The show was first set up in 1943 by King George VI in order to raise funds for the war effort and has ever since continued to donate thousands of pounds to veterans and serving soldiers in need of help.