Valerie Millwood

Members will join me in wishing Valerie Millwood well, Valerie a committed and respected judge, Vice President and ex Board member, has sustained a badly broken wrist, which is on Monday (6^th Sept) requiring yet another operation. As a result Valerie will not be able to attend our National Championships to judge and spectate, but sends her best wishes to everyone taking part.

Photo shows Valerie (centre) at Hickstead this year with friends Thea Boer and Leslie Curphy.

RIHS

BSHA members were out in force in both numbers and quality for some top class competition at Hickstead, which provides great rings, good going and a wonderful setting over three rings for our classes. With full results and write ups about to appear in the national press I will just pick out a few of our members’ success stories.

Amateur riding horses started the proceedings on Thursday, with the smalls going to Funtime Frankie who was recording a back to back win here before going on to take the championship – the fourth year in a row for the Heseltine family, the last three years it having been won by their large riding horse Queenstown.  The very elegant Kings Gold won the large class and was also 5^th in the open riding horse section for owners Pip Baker-Beall and Harriet Raley. 

We are always delighted to see amateurs having success at this level and even more so when our younger members perform with outstanding style and panache, three of whom spring to mind were Sophia Scott riding her mother’s  Rico Queen to win the open small riding horse, Amy Underwood 3^rd in the open large riding horse with Broadstone Dolca Vita and 2^nd in the open small hacks with Courtland be Fair and Michaela Wood 3^rd in the open large hacks on Royal Angel who must be one of the best school masters any one could wish to own!

Photo: Michaela Wood with Royal Angel

The maxi cobs, now with a RIHS championship for the second year running, proved the success of this venture, driven to a large degree by Board Member Sue Philips. This year showed a vast improvment in quality with true cob stamps right down the line.  The winner, Clantara Shadow Play, previously a successful heavyweight who was measured out last year, proved that this need no longer be the end of a cobs’ showing career.

Amateur cobs and hacks came into the ring on Sunday too and we saw a delighted Karen Ledger take the lightweight with Grigo Fumo but the great excitement of the day was provided by Sue Lanz and Churchill III who took the heavyweight class for the third year in succession.  Sue and Churchill are a wonderful combination and always look to be having such fun together!

Photo: Sue Lanz and Churchill III

Working Cobs finished the show with a win for Tracy Shakespeare and Pink Punch owned by Susanna O’Reilly, they jumped one of the few clear rounds over a very challenging course which saw off many of the more seasoned performers, another to jump a splendid clear round was the very versatile coloured cob Bristol Blue owned and ridden by Kath Botting.

The RIHS Supreme Horse Championship saw a great win and reserve for two of the BSHA’s most successful horses The Philanderer for Jayne Webber and Carol Bardo and Tommy Tucker VII for Charles Le Moignan and Janet Platt.

For results go to:  http://69.46.29.205/hicksteadsj/results9.html

Sue Kenny

In Hand Breeding News

The exciting 'Martin Wood Supreme In Hand Breeding Championship' qualifiers with the Supreme £1000 to the winner at the National Championships in September are now well underway.  The entries in the BSHA Breeding Classes are definetly 'on the up' at each of the shows that I have been to and it looks as though there will be a tremendous line up down at Addington.

Devon County kicked off the first of the qualifiers.  Mrs D Breretons' lovely brown hack broodmare Licence To Thrill won her class and then followed this up with the section championship ahead of Mr and Mrs Richard Ramseys' homebred 2 year old filly Morning Dance.  The riding horse section went to Miss Scoullers' Kilvington Scoundrel 3 year old Pink Floyd followed by Mrs P Pickfords' yearling by Primative Proposal, Comberton Cachet.

 Photo: Stanley Grange Regal Occasion - Reserve Champion at Royal Bath and West

At Suffolk County the hack/riding horse in hand section is combined.  Here the championship went to the lovely mare Secret Garden owned by Molly Lewin and shown by Jeff Grace.  Secret Garden was a big winner in small hacks including HOYS when ridden and produced by Alister Hood and it seems that she will carry on in the same vein in hand.  Reserve went to the much admired TB stallion Dazzling Colours owned by Paul and Margaret Brightwell.Royal Bath and West came next and for once the weather was glorious after the previous couple of years washout!  The In hand hack championship and Martin Wood qualifier went to Simon Charlesworth leading Mrs P Brookshaws' 3 year old Colbeach Nightlight gelding Rosemore Returns followed by the hack yearling Melody Maid owned by Mr M Baker and Miss B Beaver.  The riding horse section was a win for Craig Elenor and the elegant brown gelding, Thriller owned by Alan Lintott.  This Kilvington Scoundrel bred 3 year old was bred by Margaret Traves out of her good mare Oyster Cup.

A round up of showing news

Newark & Notts  8-9 May

With the postponement of Leicester County Show, Newark and Notts became the first county show of the year, and they enjoyed record entries in many sections. Sadly, wind and rain made life very difficult for competitors on the opening day, but a Dunkirk spirit prevailed as riders and horses turned their backs to the wind. Riding horse exhibitors endured the worst of the weather, and heading their respective divisions were a mixture of youth, in Robert Walker riding Jill Day’s Tasset five-year-old Party Time (small) who took the tricolour, and experience with, Vanessa Ramm’s large winner Sirius II taking the reserve. Full marks to Nigel Fuller, who endured intense back pain to complete his judging of three very good cob classes. Avril Bartolomy’s Benetton II headed the line up of amateur/owner cobs, with Leesha Leeman’s Janus standing second. In the open divisions, Benetton II went on to record his second win of the day in the lightweight class, while Kim Chapman’s Irish bred newcomer Hercules stood top of the heavyweight line up, and he went on to stand champion over the maxi winner, Caroline Davies’s Strictly Cob Dancing.

Suffolk County 2-3 June

The new layout at Trinity Park found favour among most exhibitors.

Cob classes were among the strongest seen all season, and Dawn Gooch reported having some great rides in all three divisions. Janet Platt’s winning lightweight Tommy Tucker claimed yet another championship for Charles Le Moignan, with second placed lightweight Lucy Carvall and Anna Robinson’s coloured six-year-old Costello standing reserve for Katie Jerram. Topping the heavyweight line up was Allister Hood riding Lady Caroline Tyrell’s The Entertainer, while Kim Chapman’s Dylan Thomas II headed the maxi class.   Over fences, Sophia Scot and Rosters Charlie Brown stood top of the novice working cob class, while Ruth Taylor and Brother Tobias headed the open. Riding horse classes saw plenty of quality forward, and top three in the small class were eventual reserve, The Queen of Hearts (Katie Jerram), Funtime Frankie (Clare Heseltine) and Rico Queen (Sophia Scott).

In the large class it was Helen Whiteley-John who stood top with her champion Sea Ocean Field, with Amy Underwood (Broadstone Dolce Vita) and Wendy Taylor’s Kilmiston Class Act standing next in line.

Sadly, not for the first time here, not many hacks were forward, and judge Jo Hart reported having disappointing rides. However, Pearl Underwood’s winning small Courtland Be Fair (Amy Underwood) proved a worthy champion over the second placed small Daldorn Legacy (Clare Heseltine).

Top two in the large class were Barrdene Night Fever (Hannah Carter) and Bee J Gee (Nadia Catterwell).

Rutland County 6 June

Full marks to Rutland for running novice unaffiliated classes, these proved popular throughout the day, and they have hopefully tempted a few riders into joining the BSHA. Taking the top two places in the unaffiliated cob classes were Rebecca Abba (Rambo) and Kay Gillam (Hortons Maclaren). In the riding horse sections, top honours went to Gail Hayton’s Court On Time and Debbie Godber’s Lexis, and top placed in the novice hack were Vicky Smith (On Parole) and Lizzie Richmond (Sunray Shadow).

Taking the tricolour in the open cob sections was Jayne Webber riding Valerie Wright’s heavyweight winner, the Irish bred P J Tip, and taking the reserve was Emma Brown’s winning maxi Shiner (Jane Stacy). Winning lightweight was C Morgan’s Lucky Silver Sixpence. Having only his second ride on winning ‘small’ Pencroft Mistral, Alwyn Fradley captured the hack championship, with the reserve going to Sarah Few’s winning ‘large’ Weltsieger. Deanne Burgin rode her won Haddon Hurricane to victory in the small riding horse class, the Miners Lamp sired horse going on to take the championship. Standing reserve was Pip Baker-Beall’s Kings Gold, who was ridden by Harriet Raley.

East of England 18-20 June

While it took a while for the weather to improve, and the temperature to warm up at Peterborough, the competition proved pretty hot in the showing rings. Team Harvey took the opening honours with High Fidelity taking the hack title for Greer Taverner.  High Fidelity, a six-year-old by Trifolio went beautifully to win her small division en-route to the championship. Standing reserve was the second placed small, Fylde Cheekie Lady ridden by Allister Hood. Top two in the large class were Baydale Venus (Simon Charlesworth) and another Team Harvey charge Paschal High Flyer (Martin Skelton). Jack Cochrane and Sculpture to Wear’s lightweight cob Hallmark IX have been enjoying a brilliant season, and they extended their winning run here, the six-year-old going on to take the tricolour. Taking the reserve was Valerie Wright’s Rutland County champion P J Tip who headed the heavyweights fro Jayne Webber.

Maxi cobs turned out in force, and standing top of the line was Lynn Russell riding Baileys Horse Feeds Diemos. The working cob class provided Hallmark IX with another red rosette.

Team Harvey fielded both champion and reserve in the riding horse sections, the winning ‘small’ Foxy Formula (Martin Skelton) taking the title over Beaurepair Alys who stood top of the ‘large’ line up for Greer Taverner.

Cheshire County 22- 23 June

Rising stars have a habit of clinching championships at the Tabley showground, and this year was no exception, as Sarah Carey’s Pearly King took the hack title for Simon Charlesworth. This Kilvington Scoundrel four-year-old won his novice section, before again impressing judges Anne Leaver and Jane Phillips in the championship. Standing reserve was the small hack winner Pendley Appassionata, and winning large hack was Louise Edgar’s Stanley Grange Night Ride.  Charles Le Moignan riding Janet Platt’s Tommy Tucker extended their winning run still further when claiming the cob championship after winning their lightweight division. The cob classes had quality and quantity forward, and standing reserve was the second placed lightweight, Carol Bardo’s The Humdinger. The Bardo/Webber team also fielded the winning novice cob Fait Acobbli. Winning heavyweight, and taking the amateur championship was Heather McCloy riding her own Rodney Boy. Good entries in the riding horse sections gave Anne Leaver and Jane Phillips plenty of food for thought, and it proved a good day for Sarah Walker who claimed two wins, one second, reserve overall and two HOYS tickets.

Sarah opened with a good win in the novice ‘large’ class riding Lucy Smith-Crallan’s impressive Holtess D-Day, and followed that result, with a win in the open ‘small’ division with Jill Day’s Party Time.

Sarah ended her days work on Lucy Smith-Crallan’s Tranquil Heights, who stood second to Vanessa Ramm’s Sirius II in the’large’ division. Champion and reserve went to Sirius II and Party Time.

Winners of the novice ‘small’ class were Wendy Ryle and Regal Request.

North of England Summer Horse Show 3 July

Organisers Nigel and Stuart Hollings are to be congratulated on re-locating this show to Arena UK at short notice, when the original venue at Warren Farm, Lancashire became unavailable.

Although it proved a longer trek than normal for some officials and exhibitors, this was a real ‘feel good show’, and feedback has been very positive. At the end of a sweltering day, Simon Charlesworth and Tonya Teasdale’s riding horse Military Crisis claimed the £1000 Deanwater Hotel supreme horse championship. The pair qualified at Lincolnshire Spring Show, and topped a high-class 15 strong line-up. The hack tricolour went to Charles Le Moignan riding Claire Cooper’s small winner Whalton Razzamataz. Although Claire has worked for Charles for the past five years, she keeps her Kilvington Scoundrel four-year-old mare at home. Standing reserve was the second placed small hack, Classic Chauvanist, who was ridden by Edward Young. Top placed large was Paul Mortimer’s Becconsall Pickpocket (Allister Hood). Jack Cochrane and Sculpture to Wear’s Hallmark IX repeated their East of England result by winning their lightweight division en-route to the cob championship, and then topping the working cob line up. Reserve cob was Natalie Reynolds Casanova who stood second in the lightweight class, and winning heavyweight was Mr Morrow, owned and ridden by Jim McTiffin.

Winners of the maxi class were Anne Leaver and Father Ted. Cheshire producer Danielle Heath deputised for High Estate’s regular jockey Hannah Lang (sidelined due to broken wrist) and won the large riding horse class. The pair then went on to take the title. Heading the ‘smalls’, was Sophia Scott riding her Irish bred Rico Queen. This show ran a full compliment of novice classes, and standing top of their respective line-ups were Peter Hodgkinson and Hoghton Valentino (riding horse), Jayne Webber and Saatchi (Hack) and Sarah Walker and Starry Night (cob). Amateur classes also proved a popular addition, and taking top honours in those divisons were Phillipa Hoyle and  Marble Arch (cob), H Scriven and Whalton Pinball Wizard (hack) and Pip Baker-Beall’s Kings Gold (riding horse). Avril Bartolomy won the amateur owner/home produced class with Clantara Shadow Play.

Northern Correspondent

Hickstead Derby Meeting

 Wonderful sunshine greeted all those coming south to the Hickstead Derby Meeting to enjoy the hospitality of Roger Stack and his team who put on 3 days of excellent showing at Hickstead, including HOYS qualifiers for all BSHA classes. The Dick Saunders pavilion is the place to be to enjoy the classes in comfort. This ring sponsored this year by Arundel Equine Hospital is very spacious with, fortunately, plenty of trees to offer shade in the heat of the day. Hacks and cobs had the thrill of going into the main ring for their championships, where the atmosphere can be pretty electric, and it is always thrilling to see a good galloping horse in action in front of the grandstands.

Photo: Travelling Solo and Ballacooiley 1st and 2nd Large Riding Horses 

Denis Fisher who died during last year’s HOYS was always present at Hickstead to help steward, calm nerves and generally ensure that the show rings ran to perfection. Denis was a true gentleman and a master steward and is sadly missed by many of our members – Roger Stack had the clever idea of installing a pergola to Denis’s memory in the Dick Stillwell ring and a moving ceremony was conducted with his widow Freda and daughters Lucy and Alice cutting the tape while Peter Webb read out an appreciation of Denis.

The large cob competitors formed a back drop to the ceremony which was a very moving occasion and the pergola will be a permanent feature in the ring to remind us all of the impact Denis had on so many of us.  Sue Kenny   Results below  

South of England 10th - 12th June 2010

South of England as usual provided a wonderful setting for the BSHA classes held here on the Friday – a trifle wet to say the least but the going was wonderful in both the spacious main ring for the Hacks and in Peter Webb’s Hackney ring for the cobs and riding horses.  Peter is a great supporter of the BSHA and likes to keep a tight ship in his ring – ensuring classes run to time, competitors and judges are looked after and he offers great hospitality to celebrate or commiserate with all in equal quantities. One is always in danger of ending up pretty ‘tight’ on his rather generous hospitality and this year the opening day also saw the inaugural Jane Hallett memorial side saddle classes organised by Jo Clutton and Valerie Millwood which included a Drinks Reception for friends of Jane and Steve.  Several BSHA members competed in both of these classes, the traditional Classical class and the crowd pleasing Costume Class which had its finale in the main ring.  Tina Cook, the Beijing Olympic silver eventing medallist, came to judge with your correspondent and both she and Vera Lynn, who presented the prizes in the main ring, were a huge success with the crowds.

Photo: Catwalk Little Star Champion Hack & Helen Whiteley-John waiting in the very wet collecting ring.

The Classical class was won by the very elegant and correct current Side Saddle Association rider of the year Samantha Boxall on her hunter Advance Party, Samantha is also a brave cross country rider! The next two places were taken by experienced and stylish BSHA members:  Mrs Anita Rains with her newly ride Manhattan 1V and Kate Marfleet with Captain Hastings. Forward for the costume class were some really stunning and dramatic outfits, many copied from the pages of history and the fashion of yester-year, Kate Marfleet won with panache and style but she had plenty of competition from other competitors most notably Miss Izzard on her coloured cob, Scotch Broth, both horse and rider in full military style costume.

Hacks had the full run of the spacious main ring and judges Nikki Hall (conformation – sidelined with a damaged knee) and Ann Hooley had lots of quality to assess. Mrs Church’s consistent Catwalk Little Star ridden by Helen Whitely-John triumphed in the smalls and took the championship with the elegant Classic Top Totty ridden on this occasion by her owner Kate Hounsom taking the large class and reserve.  Hack numbers are up this year and these classes were a joy to watch with quality and good training in evidence right down the line. Hacks had also to contend with the worst of the weather with many grooms and even a hack taking shelter between classes in the emergency farrier’s box which is conveniently situated in the collecting ring!

Photo: a very wet Rose Kelbie having retrieved an equally wet rosette after Classic Chauvinist makes it a worthwhile journey south for 2nd in the small hack class.

Over in the Hackney Ring the cobs came under the scrutiny of David Ingle a former point to point rider, and with some very strong classes forward he had plenty to think about and here at Ardingly there are novice, amateur and open championships to be won – and lots of silverware too – many cups dating back to the former Royal Richmond Show. Jack Cochrane and Hallmark IV had a decisive win in the lights with Carol Bardo’s Keystone Cob taking the heavyweight class and the championship.  In this sometimes buzzy ring these two cobs gave a great performance really making the most of the good going and galloping decisively down the long side.  The Amateur championship went to Sue Phillips on her new acquisition Wellington who must be one to follow for the future, with Karen Ledger on the consistent Grigio Fumo reserve.  The Novice championship went to Baileys Horse Feeds I’m a Star with Lucy Carvall and Miss Robinsons coloured cob Costello, on this occasion partnered by Robert Walker in reserve.

The small riding horse class saw a number of highly consistent top performers in the ring together, with on this occasion, the  Yates’s Jackson Fair and Square who then took the championship, partnered by Jayne Webber taking 1^st from Foxy Formula, Rivage Dese Negres and Funtime Frankie following in that order.

Photo: the high quality small riding horse line up

The large class also was also full of quality with Helen Whitely-John scoring a deserved win on Sea Ocean Field, and taking the Reserve championship, from Travelling Solo, Beaurepaire Alys and Kings Gold – another strong class who giving this good ground were all able to show their paces to good effect.

Photo: Sea Ocean Field - Large Riding Horse winner

The Ladies Side Saddle class was unfortunately poorly supported – come on ladies unless you support these classes they will be lost – the Royal  Festival Show (formerly the Royal Show) has also recorded only a handful of entries this year and is already considering dropping the class.  This year the riding horses were top with HM The Queen’s Stardust winning with Katie Jerram from Captain Hastings and the cob, Buzz Lightyear II.  Cobs often do well in these classes and it would be nice to see more of you having a go and more hacks too please! 

Photo: Buzz Lightyear II and Mrs Karen Walsh 3rd and highest placed cob in the BSHA Ladies Side Saddle class

 Sue Kenny.

Herts County Show – May Bank Holiday Weekend

 Despite grey skies and a strong icy north wind on Sunday, the Herts Show managed to avoid its normal monsoon rainfall Valerie Millwood and Adrianne Smyth both stalwarts of the BSHA were present and reported the early morning chill factor was very low!!

Photo: Rebecca Patterson and Sortino 1st Small Riding Horse on only their 3rd outing together!

The Cob classes were poorly supported on the day but those forward were of very high quality, most having been HOYS competitors last year. Mandy Hughes took the championship on The Humdinger who went extremely well and retained his sparkle throughout the entire morning. Reserve was  Mrs K Chapman with Hercules IV

Riding Horses were better supported and the Championship went to Clare Blaskey’s ever green star performer I’m Blue Chip Too.  Rebecca Patterson had a great show winning the small riding horse on Sortino who has only been with her a short time – a combination to watch for the future!

Unfortunately the Hacks were also poorly supported surely a reflection that over the Bank Holiday weekend there are perhaps too many qualifying shows to choose from in the South East – if there are other reasons our members avoid Herts and Heathfield you need to let your Board Members know why!

Heathfield Show 29^th May 2010

Heathfield Show has the unenviable reputation for either being scorching hot or freezing – this year we had the latter combined with torrential downpours in the early afternoon. This did nothing to deter those determined to stay in the ring for the various racehorse classes which included a number of BSHA members (your correspondent included – I stood under my horses chin, whilst judge Laura Szutowicz bravely set forth to judge rides, to shield myself from the worst of the elements!

 Unfortunately the BSHA riding horse classes were very poorly supported with only one entry in the small and that failed to materialise on the day, the large provided a win and a championship for Laura Clutton with Executive Decision a horse she purchased last spring on a visit to North Somerset Show with Angela Lance’s evergreen Merlin 2^nd and reserve champion.

 The cob classes in the more horse friendly main ring were better supported with Kath Botting and Bristol Blue recording a good win in the lightweights from the prolific coloured and cob winner Benetton partnered as usual by Avril Bartolomey. 

 The HW cob class was won by an on form Zenith owned by Carole West and ridden by Samantha Gardner with Lynn Saunters and Lynx 2^nd, both the champion and reserve coming from the heavyweight section.  In fact the two open classes were a tribute to the current popularity for coloured cobs!  Lynn Russell produced another new novice cob, Gallifrey , to take the novice section from Ms Glynn’s Randalstown.

  Mr Peter Webb’s Sovereign Bay who last year was mainly campaigned in BSHA novice riding horse classes has matured into a great pattern of a lightweight and partnered by his producer Helen Baker took seconded in the RIHS lightweight qualifier having originally been pulled in top only to be relegated following an uncharacteristic ‘wrong strike off, Sovereign Bay also took the hotly contested TARRA class and the reserve hunter championship. Sovereign Bay is now looking for a new owner, having outgrown the current one!

 Sue Kenny 

 Results below