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‘Now is her time’: new star comes to the fore in Arab championship at the RIHS

Alex Robinson Alex Robinson

    • A Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) debutante took top honours in the O’Donnell Family RIHS pure-bred ridden Arabian championship, despite only being in her second season as a ridden horse.

    Georgina Rees was in the saddle of her own 10-year-old mare Bellflower, who became judge Richard Mills’ choice for the title in a quality field of nine entries.

    While it was Bellflower’s first time stepping onto Hickstead soil, today also marked Georgina’s first-ever RIHS victory.

    “I’ve never even ridden an Arab at Hickstead, so this is all new to me,” Georgina confirmed.

    By Psalm out of Wentworth Estate Bellissima, Bellflower was described by Georgina as a “later starter.”

    “We got her when she was a five-year-old and she was started last season as a novice; this year seems to be her time, and she’s stepped into her own,” said Georgina, who qualified the home-produced mare for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) at Royal Norfolk in June. “She’s got such natural ring presence, she’s a beautiful mover and she’s a lovely ride.”

    Georgina, who lives in Henley-on-Thames, shares the ride on Bellflower with Darren Crowe, depending on who she has on the lorry.

    “I also have a gelding, who is also off to HOYS this year, so it depends who I take to a show on who I will ride; I’m glad I decided to ride her today, though,” she said. “I can see why people come back to this show year after year; what an experience we’ve had.”

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    Alex Robinson
    Alex Robinson

    H&H showing editor
    Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 since when she has cemented its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK.
    Alex Robinson

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