Robert Oliver and Loughkeen Dancing Lord claimed the coveted hunter championship on day three of the Royal International Horse Show.
After standing top of a strong heavyweight line up an the outside ring, Bernie White’s Irish-bred chestnut relished the space of Hickstead’s international arena, and produced a stunning gallop in front of the stands.
In his third season with the eight-year-old, Robert has enjoyed a successful summer so far, with their most recent victory at the Royal Welsh Show last week.
Standing reserve was Oliver Hood riding his middleweight winner and Windsor champion Jennys Prince.
Also coming into the final reckoning were the lightweight winners Katie Jerram (Azarax), plus the lightweight Loch Royal (Leon King), middleweight Standing Ovation II (Camilla Davies) and heavyweight Silverstream II (Jayne Webber).
For the second successive year, Pippa Moon and Time Lord IV stood top of a strong ladies hunter championship.
Time Lord IV enjoyed one of his best seasons last term, when he rounded off the year with second place at the Horse of the Year Show, and he has a long list of wins and places to his credit this year.
The amateur riding horse championship went to Clare Heseltine riding her small winner, Funtime Frankie (pictured right).
Clare refers to her Fulton sired eight-year-old as “Mr Perfect”, and he gave Clare, and South African judge Gregory Goss super rides.
After heading the large section, Harriet Raley and Kings Gold took the reserve.
Don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound (out 5 August) for a special RIHS report, including comment and analysis of all the action
Results
Patey Hats hunter (Hon D Gooch & Mr N Hollings) lwt. 1, Mr & Mrs Jerram’s Azarax; 2, M Underwood’s Loch Royal II; 3 C Bardo’s Kings Road. mwt. 1 & res, O Hood’s Jennys Prince; 2, C Davies’s Standing Ovation; 3, P Duncan’s Lowmoor Playboy. hwt. 1 &ch, B White’s Loughkeen Dancing Lord; 2, C Bardo’s Silverstream; 3, Mr & Mrs Hall’s Major Moylaw. ladies (Ms J Darwin & Mr G Goss). 1, N & P Moon’s Time Lord IV; 2, L Rowe’s Millrowes Say No More; 3, A Hunt’s Romany King. Hutton Management amateur riding horse (Ms J Darwin & Mr G Goss) sml. 1 & ch, N Heseltine’s Funtime Frankie; 2, K Smith’s First Class; 3, S Facchino’s Bowood Diamond. lge. 1 & res, P Baker-Beall’s King’s Gold; 2, H Whiteley-John’s Sea Ocean Field; 3, H Grime’s Craigmanchie Flyer.
