It was double joy for Jayne Webber as the rider and producer clinched the top two places in the British Horse Society supreme ridden horse riding The Philanderer and Red Andes.
Carol Bardo’s champion riding horse, and Elaine Place’s champion coloured were the final two horses to do their freestyle show before Derek Ricketts, Andy Crofts and Bridget Parker, and they racked up 27 and 25 marks respectively to take the championship and reserve awards.
“It’s sublime to have two horses in this supreme, but to take the top two places is more than we dared hope for” said Jayne.
Also in contention were Camilla Neame’s champion cob So Smart, who opened with Robert Walker in the saddle, the champion hunter Masterful and Claire Oliver, and champion hack Almost Illegal ridden by Caroline Mackness.
It was turn about in the Dick Saunders supreme ridden pony championship. First out to impress Alan Hall, Hilary Le Moignan, and Jodie Lister was Jessica Nevin, who had only just clinched the ridden show pony title with Chinook Morning Light, and they earned 27 points, a standard which proved unbeatable.
Despite giving faultless displays, the remaining five finalists could not match that score, Becky Edwards and Hindleap Choirboy finishing one mark in arrears to finish second, and Greer Taverner (Pennal Calon Mai – 24pts) taking third.
Completing the line up were the Pretty Polly champions Jessica Renshaw-Smith (Nantcol Lady Penelope – 20), and the mini show pony champions Abigail Dymond (Okewood Delightful – 19).
Chinook Morning Light is a seven-year-old black gelding by Twylands Rose out of Horsehill Morning Song. Owned and produced by John and Cathy Hughes-Jones, Morning Light has earned four titles this season.
“We were a lot more nervous than Jess. I’m so chuffed for everyone, this has been a great team effort” said Jess’s mother Mandy.
Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full report from the Royal International, on sale Thursday 31 July
