Tag Archives: Royal Windsor Horse Show

Victory for Her Majesty The Queen on Day One of Royal Windsor Horse Show

Her Majesty The Queen braved the inclement weather on the opening day of CHI Royal Windsor Horse Show to witness a memorable win for her home-bred filly in the youngstock class. Showing and National Show Jumping took centre stage, as Windsor Castle’s private grounds were opened to the public on the first of the annual five-day Show.

Showing: Horses belonging to HM The Queen shone in the show rings, nailing one outright win and two second placings against strong competition.

Her Majesty’s strapping home-bred filly, two-year-old Hampton Court Margin, headed the Cleveland Bay youngstock class, and Lancer, another exciting young home-bred prospect, was runner-up in the highly-coveted four-year-old ridden hunter class. He was produced and ridden by Katie Jerram-Hunnable, only recently back in the saddle after a year off due to breaking her neck in a fall from another horse.

This was only the second outing under saddle for the handsome bay, who narrowly missed out on a ticket to the in-hand final at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) last season, and here, he was just pipped to the post by the reigning HOYS champion, MHS Morning Master, and Cheshire-based Robert Walker.

The run continued when Her Majesty’s seasoned heavyweight, Tower Bridge — also ridden and produced by Katie — was narrowly pipped in a very strong heavyweight hunter class. This was the first outing of the season for the nine-year-old, who was third at Horse of the Year Show in October.

“He felt fabulous and gave both me and the judge a super ride,” said Katie.

In a thrilling Castle Arena finale, the championship went to Robert Walker with last year’s champion and supreme horse here, Jill Day’s View Point, making it the fifth time Walker has scooped this most prestigious title. His reigning HOYS champion faced tough opposition en route, though, including that from the eventual reserve, middleweight winner Silent Master, produced and ridden for the Bowie family by Norfolk-based Allister Hood — another rider back in the saddle after illness.

Walker was also on form in novice ranks, where Jill Day’s stunning five-year-old, Somerville Lad, headed the lightweights before giving the team a sixth overall triumph in the section, and stablemate Patric’s Choice headed the open heavyweights, partnered by Robert’s wife Sarah in the championship.

Katie Jerram-Hunnable, who also produced The Queen’s now-retired racehorse, Barbers Shop, to stand supreme here two years ago, had more cause for celebration when her latest charge, the prolific-winning steeplechaser Cue Card, stood fourth on his show ring debut.

“He only left his [racing] training yard three weeks ago but we’re very excited about his future,” added Katie. “Plus, his owner, Jean Bishop, was overwhelmed when Her Majesty specifically asked to meet her and see the horse in its stable.”

Show Jumping: Robert Whitaker wins the main event, while Laura Renwick makes it a double at Royal Windsor

Great Britain’s leading lady show jumper, Laura Renwick, got her 2019 Royal Windsor campaign off to a sensational start after she and her six-year-old gelding Maverick won the National 1.30m Open Jumping Competition. Renwick’s classy display in the imposing Castle Arena saw her knock a second off the time of eventual runner-up, Lily Freeman Attwood, in a blisteringly-quick time of 30.29 seconds.

Renwick’s winning streak continued, taking top honours in The Walwyn Novice Jumping Championship later in the day, after she and her six-year-old grey mare, Clarentina, faultlessly navigated the technical 1.30m course. Just four of the 11 horse and rider combinations, who qualified from the Equitop Myoplast Senior Foxhunter, went clear to progress to the jump-off. But it was Renwick’s supreme levels of bravery and speed, which proved to be the deciding factor, beating Ronnie Jones and Interstar B into second place by a convincing 1.24 seconds. Pippa Goddard and Nero Van De Kwade Heyde took third spot, while William Funnel and Billy Pablo slotted into fourth.

The biggest class of the day, the Land Rover National 1.40m Open Jumping Competition, went to Robert Whitaker and Major Delacour after the duo pipped Jay Halim and Aragon Z 414149 into second place by just 0.29 seconds. The class was closely fought with 21 of the 50 starters going clear, and under a second eventually separated the top six-placed riders. Third to go, Whitaker and his 11-year-old chestnut gelding were dominant from the off, as they effortlessly mastered the challenging course, much to the delight of the Castle Arena’s crowd. The day’s earlier star jumper, Laura Renwick, and Top Dollar finished in fourth place in a time of 38.34 seconds, while Oliver Fletcher and Hello Discko Boy went one better to claim third spot.

Tickets to Royal Windsor Horse Show can be booked online at www.rwhs.co.uk or by calling the box office on 0844 581 0755 from the UK and +44 (0)121 796 6100 internationally. Windsor residents should call the Windsor Information Centre on 01753 743 589.

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Jenkins / rEvolution / gjenkins@revolutionworld.com / +44 (0)203 176 0355

How to Watch the CHI Royal Windsor Horse Show

Action from CHI Royal Windsor Horse Show, which takes place from 8-12 May 2019, is set to be broadcast with an extensive live schedule allowing viewers across the world to tune in to the best that the Show has to offer.

For those wanting to watch the Show live, Royal Windsor Horse Show offers a free live streaming service, which will be available on the Royal Windsor website, with a number of classes also streamed live on the Royal Windsor Facebook page. Enabling fans to enjoy the elite international competitions, such as the CDI4* Al’Shiraa Dressage Grand Prix, the CAIO4* Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix, and top Show Jumping classes, including the CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix, the live streaming platforms are a welcome addition to the Show.

In addition to the live streaming coverage, a highlights programme featuring the CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix will be broadcast after the Show on Sky Sports, Eurosport, and Horse & Country TV.

The Horse & Country TV coverage of Royal Windsor will provide highlights of the week’s top-tier classes. An as-live programme of the CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix will be aired on Wednesday 15 May at 8.00pm, with highlights shown on Saturday 18 May at 9.00pm. On the evenings of 19, 20 & 21 May, the 9.00pm primetime slot on Sky channel 184 will show highlights of the CSI5* Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes for The King’s Cup, CDI4* FEI Al Shira’aa Grand Prix Freestyle to Music, and Extreme Driving supported by Karen and Hugh Scott-Barrett.

Furthermore, subscribers to Horse & Country TV will be able to enjoy exclusive access to the Martin Collins Enterprises Show Pony Championship, available to stream on Wednesday 22 May on the Horse & Country TV website. For further information on how to subscribe to Horse & Country TV, click here.

Highlights from the Showing classes will also be available to enjoy on the live streaming service, including the Horse & Hound Mountain and Moorland Supreme In Hand Championship, and displays from the Musical Drive of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, The Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, The Royal Cavalry of Oman, The Household Cavalry Mounted Band, the ever-popular Land Rover Shetland Pony Grand National, and the DAKS Pony Club Mounted Games.

Tickets to Royal Windsor Horse Show can be booked online at www.rwhs.co.uk or by calling the box office on 0844 581 0755 from the UK and +44 (0)121 796 6100 internationally. Windsor residents should call the Windsor Information Centre on 01753 743 589.

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Jenkins / rEvolution / gjenkins@revolutionworld.com / +44 (0)203 176 0355

Show Jumping’s Elite to Contest Rolex Grand Prix in Windsor Castle’s Private Grounds

Geneva, Switzerland, 7 May 2019 – From 8–12 May, more than 55,000 spectators will enter Windsor Castle’s stunning private grounds – an opportunity available to the public just once a year – to witness five days of spectacular equestrian competition. CHI Royal Windsor Horse Show will climax on Sunday when a world-class line-up of horse and rider combinations compete for the coveted Rolex Grand Prix title.

A GLOBAL PRESENCE FROM ROLEX TESTIMONEES
Triumphant here in 2018, and having just won his third FEI Jumping World Cup Final, Steve Guerdat of Switzerland will be returning to the show as the World No. 1. Guerdat, a Rolex Testimonee, said: “I have always loved competing at Royal Windsor, and last year was the first five-star competition Bianca and I won together, making it even more special, so I am really looking forward to returning to the show.”

USA’s Kent Farrington, one of the boldest riders on the circuit and winner of the Royal Windsor Grand Prix in 2016 and 2017, will be determined to challenge his fellow Testimonee for top honours. Joining them will be Rolex Testimonee Scott Brash, the only rider to date to claim the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping title, winning the Grand Prix at three consecutive Majors. The British rider is sure to be a formidable opponent, as he feeds off the passionate support of his home crowd.

A further challenge will come from Ireland’s Bertram Allen, Rolex’s youngest Testimonee and a member of the New Guard, who will be looking to improve his seventh-place position from last year. Canada’s Eric Lamaze will also be in contention, along with the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games individual silver medallist, Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs, and 2016 Olympic team gold medallist, Kevin Staut of France, all of whom are members of the Rolex family of Testimonees.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Virginie Chevailler
Rolex SA
virginie.chevailler@rolex.com
+41 (0)22 302 2619

Merrick Haydon
rEvolution
mhaydon@revolutionworld.com
+44 (0)7748 186 833

CHI Royal Windsor Horse Show Unveils All-Star International Line-Up

CHI Royal Windsor Horse Show welcomes the world’s best horses and athletes from 8-12 May 2019. The Show will play host to elite equestrian competition across four FEI equestrian disciplines: Show Jumping, Dressage, Driving, and Endurance.

International CSI5* Show Jumping

Current World No. 1 and winner of the FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2019, Steve Guerdat will headline the shortlist of leading riders set to compete in the prestigious Castle Arena at Royal Windsor Horse Show. On Sunday 12 May, in the Rolex Grand Prix – the highlight of the event’s Show Jumping action – Guerdat will be looking to emulate last year’s victorious performance in the class. This year, with a record-breaking prize fund of €500,000, the Swiss maestro will be determined to maintain his position at the top of the rankings.

Guerdat is one of six of the world’s top 10 Show Jumpers set to appear at the 2019 edition of the Show, highlighting the appeal that Royal Windsor enjoys among the jumping community. Competing against Guerdat will be compatriot and this year’s FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final silver medallist Martin Fuchs and current World No. 3-ranked Swedish rider Peder Fredricson. The latter, fresh from claiming a bronze medal on home turf at the FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Gothenburg, will be joined by fellow Swede Henrik von Eckermann, the current Rolex Grand Slam live contender.

World No. 5 Daniel Deusser will be returning to the Show in a bid to replicate last year’s stellar performance where Germany’s Olympic bronze medallist won both the CSI5* Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes for the King’s Cup and the CSI5* Pearl Stakes. Kent Farrington rounds off the top 10, and, after returning from a serious leg injury in 2018, is beginning to reclimb the rankings. Given his pedigree, spectators can expect another bold performance from the American rider, who will be hoping to mirror his 2017 victory in the Grand Prix.

Representing Great Britain in the top 10 is Ben Maher, who will be joined by a large British contingent, featuring John, Michael, and Robert Whitaker, William Funnell, Laura Renwick, and 19-year-old prodigy Harry Charles. Also sure to receive a strong reception from the throng of British supporters will be Scott Brash, the only rider ever to have won the inimitable Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

One contender who will be particularly popular among music fans is Jessica Springsteen, daughter of rock legend Bruce. The 27-year-old has built a strong Show Jumping career, claiming the CSI5* Falcon Stakes at Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2017.

Travelling from Ireland will be young rider Bertram Allen, who is widely tipped as an up-and-coming talent, and will be joined by his fellow countryman Billy Twomey. Adding further international experience to the class will be Canadian Olympic individual gold medallist Eric Lamaze and Italians Alberto Zorzi and Lorenzo de Luca.

International CDI4* Dressage

Top riders from across the world will challenge some of Britain’s best when the Royal Windsor Horse Show hosts the Al Shira’aa CDI4* Dressage Grand Prix and Freestyle to Music on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 May, respectively. Among the world-renowned names confirmed to compete is homegrown hero Carl Hester, the London 2012 team gold medallist and a rider who needs no introduction. Having already achieved so much within the discipline, Hester will be looking to further add to his illustrious collection of medals and accolades, as he returns riding Nip Tuck. The duo is sure to be backed by vociferous domestic support.

Household name, and the first Dressage rider ever to win Sky Sportswoman of the Year in 2014, Charlotte Dujardin will be returning to the iconic grounds after giving spectators a masterclass in success when she claimed the Dressage title at the Show in 2018. Teammate and friend to Carl Hester, the pair will be putting their friendship to one side as they go head-to-head.

Joining the British team will be Olympian Richard Davison; after coming third – following Dujardin and Hester – in 2018, Davison will be setting his sights on the top spot, along with fellow team mates Louise Anne Bell and Vicky Thompson Winfield.

Adding to the British line-up will be a strong start list of international talent, including Caroline Chew, Katherine Bateson Chandler, Kate Dwyer, and Heike Holstein.

International CAI3*/CAIO4* Driving

The CAIO4* Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix, one of the most important driving events in the UK, and an FEI World Cup™ qualifier, returns for another adrenaline-fuelled competition. A real test of horsemanship, the event includes three stages: driven dressage, the marathon stage, and cone driving for the three competition categories: horse and pony, four-in-hand, and horse pairs.

This year’s roster of 28 competitors involves drivers from 11 nations, with arguably the most well-known in the class being Australia’s Boyd Exell. The current indoor and outdoor World Champion has had much success at Royal Windsor in the past, with a victory last year propelling him to a total of nine wins at the Show. This year, Exell will be looking to secure an impressive 10th win at Windsor and further cement his position at the top of the world rankings.

Attempting to foil the Australian’s challenge at Windsor will be four drivers from the Netherlands, three of whom feature in the top 10 of the Driving World Rankings, with both Bram Chardon and Koos de Ronde accompanying Exell in the top three. Bram Chardon will be competing against his father and multiple world champion Ijsbrand Chardon. Completing the Dutch quartet is Mark Weusthof, he himself a FEI World Driving Championships gold medallist.

The CAIO4* will be heavily dominated by British drivers, with six athletes competing, including well-known equestrian stuntman Daniel Naprous, who, in recent years, has put in a number of thrilling performances at indoor shows, such as Olympia, The London International Horse Show. Completed by experienced sisters Karen and Pippa Bassett, as well as Wilf Bowman-Ripley, James Broome, and Dick Lane, Great Britain’s four-in-hand line-up looks set to mount a strong challenge.

A back-to-back 2014 and 2015 winner, the USA’s Chester Weber is no stranger to success here and will be looking to regain the form that pushed him up the rankings. He is joined by his compatriot Misdee Wrigley-Miller.

In the CAI3*competition, the horse pairs will contain a field of 20 athletes from 10 countries, including four-time Windsor horse pairs winner Beat Schenk. The Swiss will be looking to emulate his 2018 performance at the Show but will face stiff opposition from British competitors David Matthews, Libby Priest, and Chris Smith, the current chairman of British Carriagedriving.

Another eight drivers will compete in the CAI3* pony four-in-hand, including Roger Campbell, who picked up third place at the 2018 edition of Royal Windsor Horse Show. Campbell will believe he can elevate himself to the next level and pick up first place this year. The Netherlands’ Jan de Boer, last year’s winner, already has seven wins to his name at Windsor and will hope to perform once again to the same high standards that he holds himself to. However, he will have to contest the vocal support of the home crowd for domestic drivers Sara Howe and Rowena Moyse.

International CEI1*/CEI2* Endurance

On Friday 10 May, Windsor will welcome competitors for the Royal Windsor Endurance supported by the Kingdom of Bahrain. The long-distance event will see the best equestrians from around the world ride across Windsor and Ascot countryside, as they compete in the 80km and 120km classes, which will be a true test of stamina and teamwork.

Show Director Simon Brooks Ward said: “The quality of international entries that 2019’s Show has managed to attract is testament to Royal Windsor’s strong appeal and stature within the equestrian community, furthering its reputation as one of the world’s top shows. Once again, we welcome the world’s best horse and rider combinations to Windsor and are excited to host a number of elite equestrian competitions for our loyal spectators.”

A list of entries for each discipline can be found here.

Tickets to Royal Windsor Horse Show can be booked online at www.rwhs.co.uk or by calling the box office on 0844 581 0755 from the UK and +44 (0)121 796 6100 internationally. Windsor residents should call the Windsor Information Centre on 01753 743 589.

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Jenkins / rEvolution / gjenkins@revolutionworld.com / +44 (0)203 176 0355

Unprecedented Number of National Entries Announced for Royal Windsor Horse Show

Organisers of Royal Windsor Horse Show announced a record-breaking number of entries for this year’s Show. Almost 3,000 entries have been received across the national Showing, Show Jumping, Carriage Driving, and Dressage classes.

Show Director Simon Brooks-Ward commented: “It is very gratifying to see the level of entries for Royal Windsor growing so well. The team work hard to put together a schedule that appeals to all levels of competitors and I am proud that their work is paying off.”

Chief Showing Steward Nigel Hollings said: “To see an incremental increase of entries every year is a feat which should not be understated, particularly given the new rule changes that have been brought in this year. I’m sure it will be another special year to remember for the Show, and we are excited to see which competitors come out on top.”

National Showing

Hosting over 140 Showing classes, the 2019 edition of Royal Windsor Horse Show will welcome some of the biggest names in Showing, as competitors travel from far and wide in the hope of being crowned champion.

Names to look out for this year include former racehorse Cue Card, a prolific National Hunt racer who won an incredible 16 races in his career, including one at the Cheltenham Festival in 2010. Cue Card will be competing in the RoR Open In-hand Show Series Qualifier, after recently joining renowned Showing producer Katie Jerram-Hunnable at her home in Essex.

Further complementing the Showing line-up will be Buckinghamshire-based Irishman, Rory Gilsenan, who, only three months after undergoing emergency cancer surgery, returns to the Working Hunter stage at Royal Windsor, where last year he claimed the Working Hunter crown on the now-retired mare, Kenlis Carrera. Whatever happens at Windsor, Rory will undoubtedly receive warm applause from spectators in the Castle Arena.

Speaking ahead of the event, Rory’s wife, Vanessa, said: “He’s so intent on competing at Windsor that he wouldn’t risk starting the next round of chemo in case it made him too tired. He is determined to try and win again here – it’s like no other venue in the world.”

Sure to be keeping a watchful eye on her own horses will be Her Majesty The Queen, who will be hoping to replicate her many years of success at the annual equestrian event, particularly after she won the 2018 Part-Bred & Anglo-Arab Championships with Whalton Highwayman.

National Show Jumping

In addition to the CSI5* International Show Jumping classes, Royal Windsor Horse Show also offers top-class National Show Jumping action, with several of the UK’s most talented riders confirming their attendance at the Show. Ben Maher, who currently sits at No. 7 in the FEI world rankings list, will be one to watch, as will young rider Emily Moffitt, who has reaped the benefits of being trained by Maher. Both riders will be going head-to-head in the H&C TV Senior 1.35m Open Jumping Competition.

One of Britain’s leading Show Jumpers, Laura Renwick, will be looking to further improve her already sterling reputation at Windsor but will be up against good competition, including husband and wife, William and Pippa Funnell, and the rapid Guy Williams, who will have spectators holding their breath, as he competes across a range of classes with his Dutch Warmblood, Mr Blue Sky UK.

This year’s Show will welcome a strong contingent of young British talent, as many of the next-generation Show Jumpers confirm their attendance. Young names to look out for include 20-year-old Joseph Stockdale, and brothers William (20) and Oliver (16) Fletcher. All three riders – who have had exciting starts to their careers – will take each other on in the The ClipMyHorse.TV Under 25 Jumping on Sunday 12 May, bringing in the hottest young talent on the Show Jumping circuit.

Another surname that carries a lot of weight within the equestrian community is that of Alfie Bradstock, son of Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning National Hunt trainer Mark Bradstock. Having already represented Great Britain in both Eventing and Show Jumping, the 25-year-old is now firmly committed to Show Jumping and will be looking to continue his impressive form at Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Tickets to Royal Windsor Horse Show can be booked online at www.rwhs.co.uk or by calling the box office on 0844 581 0755 from the UK and +44 (0)121 796 6100 internationally. Windsor residents should call the Windsor Information Centre on 01753 743 589.

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Jenkins / rEvolution / gjenkins@revolutionworld.com / +44 (0)203 176 0355

CHI Royal Windsor Horse Show to Host Extreme Driving for First Time Ever

Spectators are set to be thrilled by the extraordinary talent of fearless Carriage Drivers as Extreme Driving supported by Karen and Hugh Scott-Barrett, premieres at CHI Royal Windsor Horse Show on Sunday 12 May. World-class competitors will battle it out in the Castle Arena, as they manoeuvre a team of four galloping horses around a technical course that demands exceptionally high levels of skill and speed.

In an exciting double first for the sport, this will mark not only a Royal Windsor debut, but also the first time the event will be run in an outdoor venue. This will be staged in front of the spectacular backdrop of Windsor Castle.

The four-in-hand Driving competition brings with it a £10,000 incentive, which combined with the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix, creates one of the richest prize funds in Carriage Driving. The total prize fund equates to over £22,000 and reaffirms Royal Windsor’s importance within the international equestrian circuit. The increased prize money is expected to attract many of the world’s most skilled Carriage Drivers, promising an unmissable afternoon of entertainment and top-grade competition.

Show Director Simon Brooks-Ward said: “The growth of the 2019 Show truly reflects the event’s prominence within the equestrian calendar. Extreme Driving will be a fantastic competition to watch, and one that will be thoroughly enjoyed by both spectators and competitors, and the Show is enormously grateful to Karen and Hugh Scott-Barrett for their generous support of the class. The atmosphere during the Extreme Driving at Olympia is always electric and we expect more of the same at Royal Windsor, and we’re eagerly awaiting to see how the Drivers will fare with the added space of an outdoor arena.”

GBR Carriage Driver Daniel Naprous commented: “It will be a really exciting event this year, not only for spectators but also for competitors. The outdoor space is much bigger than what we are used to at Olympia and most competitions on the World Cup™ tour. It will be really interesting to see the straight-line speeds mixed with the tight turns and manoeuvres of the obstacles. Plus, all the Drivers will be bringing their indoor teams so it will be fast and furious.”

Also included in the week’s Carriage Driving programme is the three-phase CAIO4* Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix. Bringing adrenaline pumping, mud-flying action, the competition gives contenders the opportunity to qualify for the FEI Driving World Cup™ Final. Created by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in the 1970s, the competition comprises three phases: Driven Dressage (Thursday 9 & Friday 10 May); the Marathon Stage (Saturday 11 May); and Cone Driving (Sunday 12 May).

Tickets to Royal Windsor Horse Show can be booked online at www.rwhs.co.uk or by calling the box office on 0844 581 0755 from the UK and +44 (0)121 796 6100 internationally. Windsor residents should call the Windsor Information Centre on 01753 743 589.

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Jenkins / rEvolution / gjenkins@revolutionworld.com / +44 (0)203 176 0355

Unprecedented Number of Entries Expected for CHI Royal Windsor Horse Show

This year, Organisers have added more classes to the 76th annual CHI Royal Windsor Horse Show giving a total of 147 Showing classes – the highest number in recent years. The best of the Brits are expected to compete at the iconic venue and it is anticipated that it will attract the largest number of entries yet.

Over 55,000 spectators will visit the famous showgrounds set in the private grounds of Windsor Castle from 8-12 May 2019 for five days of unmissable competition. For those hoping to contend, the windows for entries are as follows: Show Jumping, 5-12 March 2019; Showing and Carriage Driving, 7-29 March 2019.

New classes this year include Showing classes for Cleveland Bays (in hand and ridden), an RoR Open in Hand Show Series Qualifier, and In Hand classes for Pure Bred Arabs. New national Show Jumping classes include an Under 25 competition on Sunday. In addition, The Pony Club is running its Dressage Championships at the Show and there will an Oxford – Cambridge Varsity match Dressage competition.

Show Director, Simon Brooks-Ward, said: “Each year we receive the highest standard of entries which is a true testament to the Show, reiterating its importance in the equestrian calendar. With even more added to the Show’s programme this year, it will be extremely exciting to see which competitors shine throughout the week, and which classes are the most hotly contended.”

Britain’s leading competitors will be vying to make an impact in front of the home crowds. Her Majesty The Queen has been a regular contender, having had a number of significant wins over the years.

One of the country’s leading Showing producers, Jayne Ross, who is well aware of what it is like to win at the prestigious Show, commented: “There is an aura about Windsor from the moment you arrive, and if you’re really lucky and you win, you get a fantastic picture of being presented with the trophy with the backdrop of Windsor Castle. There is just nothing quite like it.”

Classes to look out for include:

Wednesday 8 May

Equitop Myoplast Senior Foxhunter
National 1.30m Open Jumping Competition
Land Rover National 1.40m Open Jumping Competition
Hunters
Hackneys
Senior Horses / Ponies, In Hand and Ridden
Cleveland Bays
Ridden Part Bred and Anglo Arabs
RoR, In Hand

Thursday 9 May

Senior 1.35m and 1.45m jumping
Working Hunters
Inter Hunt Team Knockout
Light Trade Turnouts
Polo Pony
Coloureds
Private Driving
Ridden Pure Bred Arabs
In Hand Pure Bred and Part Bred Arabs
RoR Ridden

Friday 10 May

Senior 1.35m Grand Prix
Grades B and C Jumping Competition
Mountain and Moorlands In Hand
Hacks
Cobs
Sword, Lance, Revolver, and Tent Pegging
Coaching Marathon
Pony Club Dressage

Saturday 11 May

The Oxford-Cambridge Varsity Match
Land Rover Inter Schools Show Jumping Competition
Land Rover Services Team Jumping
Senior 1.45m Grand Prix
Mountain & Moorland Ridden
Mountain and Moorland Working hunters
Show Ponies
Child’s Leading Rein and First Ridden
Mountain & Moorland Lead Rein, First Ridden

Sunday 12 May

Under 25 Jumping Competition
The Champagne Laurent-Perrier Meet of the British Driving Society
Pony Club Show Jumping Competition
University Jumping Challenge
Working Hunter Ponies
Show Hunter Ponies
Riding Horses
Purebred and Part Bred Portuguese Lusitanos, Ridden (English)
Side Saddle Concours d’Elegance
Purebred and Part Bred Spanish Andalusian, Ridden (English)
Appaloosas, In Hand and Ridden

More information on how to enter can be found here.

To book tickets for Royal Windsor Horse Show, visit www.rwhs.co.uk. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the box office on 0844 581 0755 from the UK and +44 (0)121 7966 290 internationally. Windsor residents should call the Windsor Information Centre on 01753 743 589.

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Jenkins / rEvolution / gjenkins@revolutionworld.com / +44 (0)203 176 0355

A Record-Breaking Year for CHI Royal Windsor Horse Show

Royal Windsor Horse Show (8-12 May) is set to become the UK’s richest show for competitors by offering a record-breaking prize fund at the country’s largest horse show. Showcasing a star-studded line-up in its spectacular setting, the increased prize fund and new additions to the event reaffirm its prominence in the global equestrian calendar and popularity amongst fans.

The annual Show, which has witnessed some truly special moments over the years, combines the highest level of sporting action with an unforgettable shopping and gastronomic experience, and a host of thrilling live entertainment.

World-Class Equestrian Action

Having grown in both stature and importance year-on-year, Royal Windsor remains the only UK event to host first-class international competitions in four of the eight FEI disciplines: Dressage, Carriage Driving, Endurance, and Show Jumping, helping to attract some of the biggest names in equestrian sport, including Olympic, World, and European champions.

Having drawn in six of the world’s top 10 riders in 2018, including the winner of the Rolex Grand Prix and the current world number one ranked show jumper, Steve Guerdat, the heightened status of competition is expected to draw in the world’s best horse and rider combinations in Show Jumping to date. This year’s CSI5* Show Jumping will be held on 10-12 May, culminating with the most prestigious competition, the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday 12 May. History will be made in Windsor this year as it was announced that the Grand Prix’s prize fund has been increased from €300,000 to a staggering €500,000, bringing the total prize fund to €875,000.

Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping champion, Scott Brash, who will be aiming to emulate Guerdat’s performance last year, commented: “Royal Windsor is like no other Show; it’s set in one of the most spectacular outdoor settings, and attracts an incredibly knowledgeable and informed show jumping crowd. Having such a strong line-up of world-class competitors each year really reflects the Show’s growth and importance. I believe spectators will be in for something special this year and I really look forward to competing.”

Taking centre-stage on the evenings of Thursday 9 and Friday 10 May, and adding to the event’s international-standing, will be the Al Shira’aa CDI4* Dressage Grand Prix and Freestyle to Music. Having previously welcomed a stellar line-up of entries, the Castle Arena expects to host the most dominant forces in Dressage, including Charlotte Dujardin CBE and Carl Hester MBE.

New to the event and adding a splash of invigorating up-and-coming talent to the line-up will be the Pony Club Dressage Championships and the Under 25 Show Jumping competition. Taking place on Friday 10 May and Sunday 12 May, respectively, stars of the future will be going for gold beneath the iconic Windsor Castle in two tightly fought competitions featuring the most talented young equestrians in the country.

One of the most popular events of the week, the high-octane CAIO4* Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix, firmly stands as the one of the UK’s most important Driving events, giving competitors the opportunity to qualify for the FEI World Cup™ Final. Created by The Duke of Edinburgh in the 1970s, the event takes place over four days of the Show and consists of three-phases: Driven-Dressage, the Marathon, and Cone Driving.

On Friday 10 May Windsor Great Park will host the ultimate test for horse and rider – the CEI2* Royal Windsor Endurance Ride. Set around 120km of beautiful Windsor and Ascot countryside, it is one of the most picturesque long-distance rides in the UK.

As the most important Showing competition in the UK, the event kicks off the Showing season with over 120 classes enticing thousands of competitors from across the country. With several new additions to the already extensive programme, including the in-hand pure bred Arab and part bred Arab class, and the Cleveland Bays, which brings Britain’s oldest breed of horse to the showground, it is expected to be the most competitive year yet. All eyes will be on Her Majesty The Queen and her horses, as she attempts to reproduce some of her long list of successes at the Show.

Displays and Performances

Along with the top equestrian sport on offer, ticket holders will be treated to exceptional entertainment across the five-day event. International displays include The Hungarian Csikós, Stunt riders from Azerbaijan, and performers from Oman. From home, The Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry Regiment, The Household Cavalry Mounted Band, and The Musical Drive of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will take centre stage in the Castle Arena throughout the week.

Adding some grassroots action and drama to the week’s performances will be the Land Rover Shetland Pony Grand National and the DAKS Pony Club Mounted Games. As firm favourites among crowds, the young age of these competitors will be no reflection of their bravery as they throw themselves into explosive races much to the delight of the spectators.

The Pageant

On the evenings of the 9, 10 & 11 May, Royal Windsor Horse Show will host The Pageant 2019, a musical feast of entertainment which celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria. The 90-minute show will encompass everything from the Music Hall, the Industrial Revolution, Gilbert and Sullivan, Charles Dickens, and our military heritage (The Crimean War and The Great Game). More information about The Pageant 2019 can be found online here.

To book tickets for Royal Windsor Horse Show or The Pageant, visit www.rwhs.co.uk or www.windsorpageant.co.uk. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the box office on 0844 581 0755 from the UK and +44 (0)121 7966 290 internationally. Windsor residents should call the Windsor Information Centre on 01753 743 589.

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Jenkins / rEvolution / gjenkins@revolutionworld.com / +44 (0)203 176 0355

‘The Pageant’ in Private Grounds of Windsor Castle Celebrates Birth and Reign of Queen Victoria

This May, one of Her Majesty The Queen’s favourite annual fixtures, Royal Windsor Horse Show, returns with a glorious new twist. 2019 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria, a significant occasion which will be commemorated in celebratory fashion. Staged by a BAFTA award-winning team on the evenings of 9, 10 & 11 May in the Show’s Castle Arena, The Pageant, a 90-minute spectacular, will bring together memorable and exciting events from this golden age of discovery. The show will encompass everything from the Music Hall, the Industrial Revolution, Gilbert and Sullivan, Charles Dickens, and our military heritage (The Crimean War and The Great Game).

Compered by Alan Titchmarsh MBE and filled with music throughout, tickets for The Pageant are in high demand. Spectators will be treated to an outdoor theatre production involving a 600 strong troupe of artists, dancers, and participants in addition to over 400 horses and 30 carriages. There will be readings from Queen Victoria’s diaries and poems from Tennyson laced with equestrian action and music from the period.

A host of international acts will be travelling to the iconic Windsor Castle to join the celebrations and play an important role in the 90-minute show, including participants from Oman, the Hungarian Csikós, and stunt riders from Azerbaijan. From the UK there will be Shetland Ponies and their young jockeys, Pony Club riders, The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, and a ‘Balmoral’ Quadrille, complete with pipes, drums, and Scottish dancers. In homage to Dickens, a scene from the renowned film and play ‘Oliver’ will be a highlight.

Producer, Simon Brooks-Ward, said: “When you reflect on the Victorian Era, you realise that there is so much to work with. We have picked some of the best bits to give our audience a real experience of the 19th century and a much-loved Monarch.”

This ceremony joins The Pageant Series at Royal Windsor Horse Show, which in the past has included notable events such as All the Queen’s Horses (2002), Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo (2008-2011), The Diamond Jubilee Pageant (2012), and Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebrations (2016).

This year, The Pageant will be supporting a number of charities including The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, a charity dedicated to supporting young leaders throughout the Commonwealth, providing them with a platform on which to amplify their ideas, and inspire others to join in.

Tickets for The Pageant are on sale now and visitors may purchase them online at www.windsorpageant.co.uk or via the box office on 0844 581 0755.

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Jenkins / rEvolution / gjenkins@revolutionworld.com / +44 (0)203 176 0355

‘The Pageant’ at Royal Windsor Horse Show

2019 celebrates the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria and to mark this significant occasion, the BAFTA Award winning team of the 2016 Best Live Event (The Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebrations) will stage The Pageant on the evenings of 9th, 10th and 11th May at Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Presented by Alan Titchmarsh, The Pageant Compere, the 90-minute show will bring together memorable events from the Victorian Era including Elgar, the Music Hall, Gilbert & Sullivan, Dickens, Rail Travel, and the Industrial Revolution. With only 3,500 seats for sale each night, The Pageant should prove to be the hottest ticket in town.

A cast of artists, dancers, and performers, together with 500 participants, over 400 horses, and 30 carriages, will re-create 19th Century Great Britain and the Reign of Queen Victoria in a theatrical tableau beneath the floodlit Windsor Castle.

The show will be choreographed by Dougie Squires MVO, who was responsible for the stage direction of The Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebrations.

Alongside the Household Cavalry and The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will be the Czikos from Hungary, the acrobatic and daring Land of Fire Display from Azerbaijan, Pipes & Drums, Dancers from the Music Halls, performers from Gilbert & Sullivan Operas, and a Balmoral Dressage Quadrille.

This joins the Pageant Series at Royal Windsor Horse Show, which over the years has included All The Queen’s Horses (2002), Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo (2008 to 2011), The Diamond Jubilee Pageant (2012), and The Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebrations (2016).

Tickets for The Pageant go on sale next week and visitors may purchase them online at www.windsorpageant.co.uk or via the box office on 0844 581 0755.

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Jenkins – rEvolution
E: gjenkins@revolutionworld.com T: +44 (0)203 176 0355