Fresh from his win in the Equestrian.com Derby, Trevor Breen was back in pole position at the Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead (July 29 – August 3).
Partnering the seven-year-old stallion Classic III, Trevor won the final class in the International Arena, the Winter Grades B&C Championship – a prestigious final showcasing up and coming showjumping horses.
Seven riders out of the 25 starters went clear, with Trevor fifth to go in the jump-off.
“I knew Nicole Pavitt was in the lead and her mare is very fast, so there was no point in going round half-heartedly – I had to go in it to win,” said the Irish rider, who is based in Buckinghamshire.
Classic III is by the stallion Armitage and out of Chin Chin Le Tot De Semilly, and Trevor has had the ride on him since last August. He is owned by Karen Swann, who also owns Adventure De Kannan.
“This is the first class I’ve really gone for it and tried to win with him,” said Trevor. “I think he’s going to be a superstar. He has power, scope, accuracy – there’s no fault to be had in him.”
Trevor’s Derby partner Adventure De Kannan is being targeted at Saturday’s Templant Events Queen Elizabeth II Cup, and he also has Loughnatousa WB and Old Town KC to compete in the international classes, which get underway tomorrow.
This morning was all about our pony riders, with a number of finals reaching their conclusion. The Oakley Coachbuilders Winter Grade JC Championship went to Jodie Hall McAteer and The Little Squire, who kept Jack Whitaker and Zodianne Van De Doevenbree in second place.
The Winter 128cms was won by Tahnia Jordan Jones on Just Dandy, while Sienna Charles – the daughter of Olympic gold medallist Peter – came second and third. The Winter 138cm Championship went to Georgia Taylor-Jones and Errigal Blaze.
A number of showing championships were held in the International Arena today. In the driving classes, the Novice Hackney Championship was won by Billy Ward with Luddington My Way, while Susan Barraclough won the Open Hackney Championship with Atlowspring Ratafia.
The overall Supreme Show Hunter Pony Championship was taken by Lily Pollock riding Farrellys Charlie, while the well supported Ponies (UK) Young Riders M&M Championship was won by Gemma Pallett and Blisland Echo.
The highlights of tomorrow’s action include the Bunn Leisure Vase, a £3,000 speed class in the morning, while the afternoon draws to a close with the £21,500 Bunn Leisure Trophy.
Three of the best for Nicole Pavitt
Nicole Pavitt has amassed quite a collection of Hickstead rosettes over the years, but today she surpassed her own expectations with a one-two-three in the first class of Tuesday (July 29th).
There were 99 starters in the Selwood Equine Novice Stakes, and Nicole brought three horses forward. She then defied expectations by taking home the top three places with Amelia 16, Gemmarco 16 and Kings Heaven.
“I’m shocked as with two of them I was just riding for double clears so I didn’t really go against the clock,” said Nicole.
Despite this, Nicole’s three horses finished within one second of each other, netting perfect clear rounds.
“I’m in the Templant Events Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Saturday so I’m hoping my luck continues!” added the Sussex-based rider. “Amelia and Gemmarco are both homebred so it’s really nice to bring them here and win, especially having started them from scratch.”
In the Alexanders Horseboxes Ring 3, the Hickstead 1.30m Open was won by Georgia Tame riding Carus Royale, while Ben Parnaby won the Gray Horsebox Manufacturers 1.00m Open riding Captain Junior.
Guy Williams, who was named in the squad for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup on Friday, got his show off to a good start when winning the Winter Grades B & C Championship qualifier with Tinkerbell W.
In the showing classes, Chelsmoor Rockstar took the honours in the Indian Trail Skewbald & Piebald (plaited) large ridden pony championship, as well as the overall Coloured Pony Championship and the Coloured Horse and Pony Supreme – a dream result for owner/rider Jill Wormall. In reserve was Fairfax C, ridden by Hannah Horton.
Stellar cast for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ of Great Britain
Britain has confirmed its squad of riders for The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ of Great Britain, to be held here this Friday August 2nd.
Rob Hoekstra, the World Class Showjumping Performance Manager, has named his squad of five riders for the famous team competition. Representing Britain will be Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher (Wings Sublieme), Guy Williams (Zaire), Jessie Drea (Touchable), plus cousins Robert Whitaker (Catwalk IV) and William Whitaker (Fandango). The final team of four will be named on Thursday, following the draw.
The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ boasts a prize fund of €200,000 and will see Britain go head to head with some of the leading showjumping nations in the world, including Belgium, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, the USA, France and Sweden.
Britain needs to secure a good result in the Nations Cup, in order to qualify for the final in Barcelona in October. But with Ireland also needed to score points and climb the leaderboard, and the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium also aiming to add to their points tally, it’s set to be a hot competition.
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