Thursday 18th December – Only a Question of Time for Kaitlin
In the London International Showing Series Finals held in the New Horizon Plastics Arena, Kaitlin Mason and her own 13-year-old chestnut gelding Questiontime came out on top in the Rising Star Hunter Type Championship.
“I’m ecstatic, I didn’t expect today to go like this at all. As soon as he gets in the arena and he knows the spotlight is on him, he knows exactly where to be and how to do it. He’s a pleasure to own and a pleasure to ride. I’m so proud of him,” said Middlesborough-based Kaitlin. Kaitlin was joined in the ribbons by reserve Rising Star Small & Lightweight Hunter Sally Iggulden and Strinesdale Marksman, who were named Reserve Champions.
Thursday 18th December – Legend Reigns Supreme
Cardiff-based Rosa Cartwright and the Hanoverian/Welsh part-bred gelding Greenvale Don Legend were crowned champions in the Rising Star Hack and Riding Horse Championship.
“I’m in shock. I bought him as a feral yearling. It took me two weeks to catch him in a stable. He’s always been scared of his own shadow,” said Rosa. “The last couple of years, we started showing and we started going a bit bigger and he’s really grown up in his head. “To think of where he was as a yearling and then winning at the London International, not just our class but the championship, I can’t believe it. I’m so proud.” Reserve Champions in this class were Alicia Matthews and Sparkton Royal Fortune.
Friday 19th December – Cleveland Claims Cob Championship
Jocelyne Cleveland and De Kobdashian made their first appearance at London International a winning one when they were crowned Champions in the Rising Star Cob Type Championships.
The pair came out on top in the Rising Star Maxi Cob class to progress to the championships where they saw off stiff competition from three other combinations to take the overall title.
“I was just hoping she would go in there and behave. I thought the atmosphere would really light her up but she was amazing, I am so pleased with her. I couldn’t have asked for more,” said Jocelyne who has been riding the 12-year-old mare for four years.
Jocelyne combines riding De Kobdashian, who is owned by Susanna O’Reilly-Hyland, with her work in catering.
“She’s cheeky, she’s very loving, and she’s an absolute angel in the stable. You can turn her out with anything – she’s great and she loves people,” added Jocelyne.
Reserve Champions were Samantha Hodgson-Clarke and Grane Valley Mr Newark who finished second in the Rising Star Maxi Cob class.
Friday 19th December – Glory for Grace
Grace Gibbon and The Granite Way made their long journey from Pembrokeshire worthwhile when they triumphed in the Rising Star of Working Type Championship sponsored by Mr Phil Swallow.
“I’m just in shock. I’d never thought in a million years this would happen. I sat here two years ago and we’d only just bought her. I hadn’t owned a horse for 10 years before that and I never thought this was coming. It’s a dream come true,” said Grace.
The Granite Way is an eight-year-old mare who does a bit of everything including hunting and jumping.
“This is just a bonus, this was never part of the plan at all. We bought her to have a bit of fun on. I’m genuinely in shock. This is an amazing event to compete at.”
The reserve champions were named as Anne Grindal and Helen Forster’s HS Queen Bea.
Saturday 20th December – Catherine’s Girl Cavago Champion
Catherine Lucy Little and Courtown Grandpas Girl were named overall Champions in the Cavago Rising Star Performance Series Championships.
“I didn’t expect this at all. It is dream come true material to go down that centre line,” said Catherine who hails from Scotland.
The NHS pharmacist has been riding Courtown Grandpas Girl, who is known as Lexi at home, for 18 months.
“My now-husband – we got married in September – encouraged me to get back into riding. I hadn’t ridden for 10 years and through the support of him, my mother-in-law and my family, I got her and we’ve had so much fun over the summer. This tops off an amazing year.
“It’s such a welcoming and friendly show, everybody’s been lovely. The community in the stables, and in the classes, everybody wants to speak and it’s just been such a good, fun experience.”
Taking the Reserve Champion spot were James Johnson and Angeleno.
Saturday 20th December – SSADL Grand Final sponsored by Easy Chip Ltd
Taking the spoils in the ridden class in the SSADL Grand Final sponsored by Easy Chip Ltd, was the 17-year-old Connemara, Jacko’s Lad, who was ridden by Sarah Dean.
“He’s so good and he’s just so easy. I bought him as a four-year-old from a local dealer in Preston and he’s done a bit of everything with me,” explained Sarah. “He’s done a bit of eventing, a bit of dressage. He’s done some working hunter when he was a bit younger. Then this year we thought we’d have a go at doing the Senior Showing and it’s been amazing.”
Occupying the Reserve Champion position were event rider Emily Proud and the 15-year-old Leonado C. Claire Howie and Ranchella Rolex were crowned champions in the in-hand class at the SSADL Grand Final sponsored by Easy Chip Ltd. “Dreams come true. I’ve always dreamed of going into a big arena down the centre line, doing all that, so today, for me, is a dream come true,” said Claire Howie.
Ranchella Rolex is a 15-year-old part bred Welsh gelding who is owned by Clare Blaksey. “I’m 72 and I ride him every day. He loves hacking out and he does a bit of everything. He’s a great jumper and started off life as a hunting cob,” said Clare Blaskey. The reserve champions were Luke Gardner and the 18-year-old Welsh section D Belchford Ffansi.
Agria Super Sunday 21st December – Match-Winning Performance
Taking the title in the BSPS Heritage Working Sports Pony Championship were Isobel Burchell and Rowfantina Man of the Match.
Rowfantina Man of the Match, who is known at home as Matty, is a six-year-old Welsh section B pony. He was bred by Isobel’s grandmother Mandy Burchell-Small and produced by her son — Isobel’s father — Oliver Burchell.
“I feel good and I feel like Matty is a really good boy. He’s a super good boy really,” said seven-year-old Isobel.
The pair is enjoying a run of great form having also won the Lead-Rein Hunter Pony Championship at the Horse of the Year Show in October.
Reserve Champions were Gabriella Fisher and Stepley Thistle.
Agria Super Sunday 21st December – Don’s the King
Islyn Arafa Don, a 15-year-old Welsh section A pony ridden by Francesca Summers and owned by Helen Summers, was crowned Champion of the RVC Equine BSPS Worker Stakes Championship.
“It feels amazing to ride in the ring. He was fabulous today,” said 10-year-old ‘Frankie.’”
“He can be naughty in the stable but we have lots of fun doing cross country and beach rides.”
Reserve Champion was Ysselhofs Hallmark ridden by Thomas Parker.
Monday 22nd December – Storming To Victory In New Horizon Plastics BSPS Performance Coloured Championship
Forty-eight horses qualified for BSPS Performance Coloured Horse/Pony classes at London International. Split into two sections comprising Coloured Native/Cob/Traditional, and Non-Native classes, it was eventually Eleanor Lancaster’s gelding Atkins Silver Storm who took the Championship, piloted by Meg Edmondson.
Meg said, “This is one of the best feelings. We are usually the bridesmaid at the big championships – including previously here – so it’s nice to go one better. He is a really special family horse who rides and drives. This is my last competition with him. He will stay at my yard to be produced and he will be ridden next year by Peggy Lancaster, twelve-year-old daughter of Eleanor.”
The Non-Native mare Hykos Valetino was Reserve Champion ridden by Jennifer Cowan and owned by Gail Conroy.
Monday 22nd December – Holmes For Christmas in BSPS Performance Pony Championship
Champion 148cm Tulleree Fear Bui ridden by Matilda Holmes and owned by Zoe Holmes. A delighted Matilda discussed her lead up to today’s competition, “I am over the moon – I can’t believe it. We bought him from Ireland in August, he had already won in Dublin. He was bought to get me into the workers as really I am a show pony rider. He is the dream pony that does a bit of everything and is really well mannered. We entered this class for some experience so to go and win has been amazing”.
The Reserve Champion was from the 158cm class; Made to Measure ridden by Danni Radford and owned by Angela Hunt.
