Super showing continued at the Royal International Horse Show today (August 1) with Jordan Cook striding to glory in the hack classes and Jayne Ross adding another hunter title to her week.
Elegant hacks
Show hacks have long been the bench mark of elegance, romanticised in art and history it is one of the biggest titles to win at the Longines Royal International Horse Show.
The coveted Alexander’s Horseboxes overall Small Hack Supreme was won by Fleetwater Xecutive, who won the amateur hack here in 2009.
“I just wanted to enjoy today,” said rider Jordan Cook. “He’s a big arena horse and I can always trust him to perform.”
‘Darcy’, as he is known in the stable, is the previous Horse of the Year Show Search for a Star winner and also competes in Intermediate classes with Georgia Butterworth.
“He had beautiful manners and self-carriage, absolutely perfect to ride,” said ride judge Anne Hooley, who has hung up her ride judging boots today.”Everything was so easy, you hardly had to use any leg or hand. He gave me the best ride of the day.”
Reserve Supreme was prolific winner Pearly King, who has won the Large Hack class for the third year running and has gone Supreme Hack Champion three times previously at the Royal International Horse Show.
Dolly does the double
Jayne Ross continued her hunter successes claiming the Stennett Family Small Hunter Champion.
Hello Dolly, owned by Mrs D Stennett, not only won the Ladies Hunter class on Thursday (July 30) but also took the Stennett Family Small Hunter Supreme today.
“She’s so consistent; you get on she pricks her ears and she does her job,” said Jayne.
Earlier on in the day she was second in the small hacks with a ride she calls “a real baby” – Fantastic Gift.
Cob greats battle it out
There was anticipation around the Alexanders Horseboxes ring as the Maxi Cob class brought cob giants Hallmark IX and prolific winner Starry Night head to head.
Starry Night, ridden by Rob Walker owned by Camilla Steenhan, took the maxi cob winnings and legend Hallmark IX took reserve under rider Simon Reynolds.
“The winner came in and walked elegantly,” said conformation judge Mr Tatlow. “He was very light of his footfall and had the most wonderful hind leg. He showed exemplary manners throughout.”
His co-judge Mrs Homer, who did the ridden part of the performance added: “I had a super ride on him; very mannerly and very light on his feet. He’s a really class horse to ride.”
BSPS Intermediate Championship
The hotly contested Jackson Fine Homes (Cornwall) LTD Intermediate Supreme Championship went to Olivia Bowen’s intermediate show hunter type Golden Tasset, and Tremarl Mister Mole took home the ribbon of the Small Intermediate show riding type section under rider Matt Cooper.
Janet Hoyle, who juded all the intermediate classes, said: “Superb horse, he has excellent confirmation and moves effortlessly over the ground. Both the judges were unanimously in favour of having him top of the line.”