More than 30 champions were crowned at the Ponies (UK) winter classic (28-29 March), where hundreds of riders descended on Buckinghamshire to contest one of 146 classes. Horse & Hound’s photographer snapped many victorious horses — scroll down to see pictures of who won what.
Browse and buy pictures from Ponies (UK) winter classic
Chilham Aquarius
Judge Suzanna Webley was impressed by this connemara pony’s “look at me” factor when he was in the ring, and that is why Chilham Aquarius won the Kingsmead M&M ridden final for connemaras and New Forests, before standing supreme champion under Hannah Lee.
Litton Enterprise
Darren Price’s Litton Enterprise saw off tough competition to be crowned champion Domino part-bred after winning the ridden final for ponies not exceeding 148cm. It’s all the more impressive considering that Litton Enterprise’s rider, 13-year-old Phoebe Price, had only partnered him for one month. The duo’s second championship title came in the Brineton show pony. Feizal, Vanessa Windsor-Phillips’ not exceeding 148cm winner, was reserve.
Thistledown Las Vegas
The grey Thistledown Las Vega, campaigned by 10-year-old Reise Shakespeare, was crowned the Timberwolf show hunter pony champion, after winning the final for ponies not exceeding 133cm. S Flavell’s Leave It To You — the not exceeding 158cm show pony winner — stood reserve.
Tycoons Reflection
This ex-racehorse owned by G Wilkes was formerly in training with the legendary Henrietta Knight and placed over hurdles. This was the horse’s fourth show with Helen Newbould and they won the Whittakers Lord hunter championship.
Mexican Summer, who shares the same owner as Tycoons Reflection, stood reserve. Another equine with the same owner, Scarthingwell Daisy Mai, was champion Kingsford ridden M&M (large breeds).
Spying Games
Spying Games stood supreme champion here last year and this time won the Hazelden riding horse and Lloyd Show Class intermediate titles under Katie White, before standing reserve in the RIHS riding horse section.
Katie also partnered the J Hawkins-owned Highland pony Elmere Loch Ryan to victory in the Dalkeith young riders intermediate RIHS qualifier. This stallion was then partnered by Newbury-based producer Aimee Devane in the confined novice Kingsford ridden M&M final, which they won.
Kimico Kenny Rogers
Another horse from producer Aimee Devane’s yard, Denise Bumford’s Kimico Kenny Rogers, was champion Commanchee coloured ridden native. The traditional stallion was ridden by Lucy Waite and pipped R Lock’s Brickell Mr Picwick.
Colne Typhoon
This Sam Roberts-produced four-year-old is owned by Lisa Hayes and was ridden to victory in the Brineton M&M first ridden final for ponies not exceeding 128cm by Lisa’s 11-year-old daughter, Amelia. The duo was crowned the overall champions, with L Hillyard’s Springlane Firecracker standing reserve.
Colne Tigerbay
Colne Tigerbay, a two-year-old colt, was Glyn Greenwood M&M in-hand champion for handler Sam Morsley. Alison Jones’ Broughton Golden Rocket stood reserve.
Rowfantina Royal Occasion
Mandy Burchell-Small’s homebred Rowfantina Royal Occasion topped the line up in the Lobster Pot M&M lead-rein final for ponies not exceeding 122cms, before standing overall champion. The pony was ridden by eight-year-old Martha Good.
Arazmataz
This 15-year-old former showjumping mare only joined the showing scene recently, and Arazmataz lifted the intermediate show hunter final under Tiffany Faiers. N Catterwell’s Azara stood reserve.
Ryehall Cuvee Noir
Schoolteacher William Parkinson handled this three-year-old colt, who netted the Peek-a-Boo in-hand title. Ryehall Cuvee Noir is owned by teaching assistant Jennifer Humphreys.
Lynbrie Welsh Lord
Amber Thorpe’s Lynbrie Welsh Lord took the spoils in the Kingsford M&M ridden final for Welsh section C and D. The same equine also headed the Dalkeith young riders ridden M&M final — intermediate — and stood champion. Michelle Larkin’s Chilham Pursuit was reserve.
Dycott Welsh King
Angela Jackson’s Dycott Welsh King stood champion Shearwater M&M working hunter pony. This Welsh section D is campaigned by Suffolk-based Ross Keys, but lives with his owner Angela in Essex and the pair only meet at shows.
Browse and buy pictures from Ponies (UK) winter classic
For the full report on Ponies (UK) winter classic plus other showing news, don’t miss this week’s issue of Horse&Hound (2 April), on sale now
