Tricia Johnson on who was crowned overall supreme of show and which top natives continued their winning ways
The journey from Hertfordshire to Grantham with just one animal paid a handsome dividend for Team Harvey when Ellis Taverner-Burns piloted Sarah Maclean-Perryment’s new purchase, the experienced campaigner The Politician, to the supreme intermediate spot on day three of the highly-successful BSPS championships.
However, the icing came at the very end of the show when the mannerly 13-year-old — a previous intermediate and small hunter winner at the Royal International (RIHS) — again pulled out all the stops to net the Philip Judge overall supreme of show title. This was made even more special because it was Ellis’s debut show on “Smithy,” who was previously owned and ridden by Hannah Green.
Judge Philip Hilton commented: “The standard of the exhibits was excellent, but my winner was just beautiful in all its paces. It had a fabulous walk, a marvellous trot and covered so much ground in canter. Plus it really lowered and lengthened at gallop. It was a very worthy winner.”
It was a first overall supreme for Ellis, 18, although her sister, Brogan, occupied the same spot in 2009 on another intermediate, Paschal High Flyer.
“We only brought Smithy today because we wanted to get a run for him before the end of the season — this was just his second show of the year,” said producer John Harvey. “He went to BSPS Area 6 at Onley with Hannah [Green] just before lockdown and that was it — he was sold in July!”
Mia Donaldson monopolised the final day’s show pony classes, taking a further title with the in-form 148cm mare Wilderness Early Bird 598, produced by Team Ahern.
The 11-year-old had already triumphed in the part-breds on day one and then landed the prestigious Best of the Best title, won against exceptionally strong competition under judge Nigel Hollings. The day before, Early Bird had accounted for an equally strong open championship, this time under Martin Jones. Mia’s haul also included the restricted show pony title on day two with the 138cm victor, four-year-old Colbeach Caprice, and this was the one who went through to the overall supreme, giving a performance way beyond her years.
“If I’d been able to have a reserve overall supreme, it would have been this show pony [Caprice],” added Philip Hilton. “Unfortunately it was just a little green in its gallop but it is a lovely pattern of a show pony.”
The overall Heritage ridden title went to Adam Forster with his new ride, Karen Johnson’s prolific-winning Welsh D Menai Eurostar, who performed with all his usual verve, and Kelly Capstick’s Highland Aigas of Achinaccy, partnered by Aliya Khan, claimed the native worker title.
Ruby Ward had a brilliant show, including taking the Best of the Best worker title on the ever- enthusiastic 133cm victor, Noble Peppermint, who earned her a place in the overall supreme.
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