Nick Skelton with Big Star. Photos: Kit Houghton/HPower.
The promotion to 3 star status had a magnificent effect on this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show which took place from Wednesday 14 to Sunday 18 May and saw over 50,000 visitors flood through the gates over five days.
Spectators enjoyed fabulous equestrian scenes on what were the warmest few days in Britain so far this year in the stunning grounds of Windsor Castle – the only time of the year that HM The Queen opens up the private grounds to the public.
The introduction of ‘Windsor Wednesday’, where the organisers offered free admission to all visitors on the opening day was seen as a huge success with attendances of over 8,500 on what had, in previous years, been a quiet day.
There were international competitions in four disciplines: Show Jumping, Dressage, Driving and Endurance, whilst more than 100 National Showing classes with over 30 different breeds of horses and ponies, took place over the five days. Other highlights included spectacular displays from The Kings Troop RHA, The Household Cavalry and the DAKS Pony Club Mounted Games – this year won by Wales.
Show Director, Simon Brooks-Ward, said: “It was the best Royal Windsor Horse Show we’ve had for a long time. The new format really worked and we have had great feedback from spectators and riders from all the disciplines.
“To have the likes of Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester and Nick Skelton with Big Star competing here was fabulous and the influx of overseas visitors coming over from as far as the USA and Saudi Arabia gave it a true international feel. Royal Windsor Horse Show has a lot of offer as an international multi-discipline equestrian event and we have really showcased that this year.”
Dressage
International Dressage returned to Royal Windsor Horse Show for the first time since 2002 and World No.1 Charlotte Dujardin did not disappoint the packed crowds in the stands when she stole the show on Thursday and Friday evening, winning both the CDI3* Grand Prix and Freestyle.
It was a British one, two, three as Michael Eilberg and Carl Hester took the runner up places behind the Olympic Gold Medallist, who was riding the stallion Uthopia in front of a 4,000 strong crowd.
Hester, a winner of the Grand Prix here in 1996 and 1997 with Legal Democrat, said: “We need to add venues to the British calendar and it is great that Windsor has stepped back in especially with its great surfaces and packed stadiums. British riders don’t get the opportunity to prepare for Championships in this country so to have this venue is fantastic and long may it stay.”
Show Jumping
The introduction of International 3 Star Show Jumping proved a hit, with an outstanding list of entries from 24 countries competing for the new injection of prize money at this year’s show.
Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al Sharbatly had a stellar week, clinching the top spot in the CSI3* Bahrain Pearl Stakes on Friday and the CSI3* Six Bar and the CSI3* Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes for the Kings Cup on Saturday.
Shane Breen of Ireland took the CSI3* Falcon Stakes on Farao van T Vennehof, whilst the Land Rover Speed Stakes was won by the UK’s No.1 female Show Jumper, Laura Renwick, riding Beluga.
The climax of the international show jumping was the Alltech Grand Prix for The Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy on Sunday, when Robert Whitaker clinched first place from his cousin William in a spectacular jump off. Seven riders had gone clear over the testing course in the Castle Arena and first to go in the jump off, Daniel Nielson, set a high standard for the rest to follow. However, Whitaker, riding Catwalk, had a little bit of luck to help him clip one and a half seconds off the time that his cousin, William, had set previously.
The Yorkshireman said: “It’s great to win this class here. It’s always been a top show, and sure the weather has helped, but there’s lots of people here, lots of backing, good riders, a great atmosphere and the horses have jumped fantastically off the [Martin Collins] surface.”
Castle Arena spectators were also treated to the return from injury of Nick Skelton’s Olympic Gold Medal winning horse, Big Star, who made his come back to competition after an eight month absence. Big Star was foot perfect in all rounds but was not put against the clock in the jump offs.
Skelton said: “I jumped him Friday, Saturday and Sunday and he jumped clear every day. I didn’t want to do too much with him and he has done everything perfect so that’ll do him for now.”
Driving
Along with the rest of the Show, the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix played out under near cloudless skies making perfect underfoot conditions through all three phases. 32 competitors from 13 nations, including six competitors from GB, gathered to do battle in horse four-in-hands.
Chester Weber (USA) took the top spot in the fiercely contested four day competition after an edge of the seat final phase on Sunday 18 May.
Weber, who last competed (and won) at Royal Windsor Horse Show with a horse pair in 1996, posted a smooth and accurate dressage test, earning him the early lead by some five points over six-time IDGP winner, Boyd Exell (AUS). However, he was slower than most in the marathon and saw him drop down to fourth place going into the final phase on Sunday. The cones phase saw only three double clears – one of which was from Weber, meaning that he ended up taking top spot, putting a smile on his face that competed with the bright sunshine.
“I am so pleased,” he said. “This really means a lot to me – to win at Royal Windsor is particularly special.”
In a class traditionally dominated by men, this year saw the greatest number of women four-in-hand drivers at Royal Windsor – a record four coming from Germany, USA and GB. Highest placed was Mareike Harm from Germany, who has been driving horse four-in-hands competitively for less than five years – she turned in an extremely impressive performance which will make for future interest.
The horse pairs competition was won by Irelands Barry Capstick, whilst the pony four-in-hand class was won by Jan de Boer (NED) with Great Britain’s Sara Howe in second.
Showing
Royal Windsor Horse Show is seen as the early season mecca of showing and this year celebrated more showing championships in the main Castle Arena than ever before, which was welcomed by the showing community.
The stars of the show were undoubtedly Suffolk producers Simon Charlesworth, Steve Pitt and Vicky Smith who went to Windsor with six horses and came away with a record five winners, including the champion hack, champion cob and champion riding horse.
There was local success for Jayne Ross and Carol Bardo who are based just outside Maidenhead. They experienced a hugely successful show with six winners, five of them ridden by Jayne herself.
Endurance
The second running of the Royal Windsor Endurance 120km CEI** competition resulted in a win shared by His Highness Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum of The United Arab Emirates. The two competitors are brothers’ in-law and a joint win allowed family pride to be more greatly spread.
“We wanted to make both fathers happy – His Majesty King Hamad and my father-in-law His Highness Mohammed Bin Rashid – by crossing the line together,” said HH Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad, who was riding Onirik de Becheral. “He [Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, riding Yamamah] was four minutes ahead of me and when I caught him up we had a bit of a chat. We decide to grab hands and cross the line together.”
The course included a stretch on the turf in front of the stunning Ascot Racecourse Grandstand, before sweeping around the edge of Windsor Great Park. The three loops that followed took in iconic landmarks within the park, including Jubilee Statue, Prince Consort Statue and The Long Walk, and also treated riders to spectacular panoramic views of Berkshire and Windsor Castle.
For results of all the competitions, please visit www.rwhs.co.uk.
For more information or image requests please contact Hannah Grissell at Revolution Sports + Entertainment E: hannah@revolutionsports.co.uk T: 0207 592 1207