This year’s Royal International Horse Show (25-30 July, 2023) was particularly special, with the British team taking home the Nations Cup trophy on Friday. Highlights also included Thursday’s Eventers’ Challenge, won by Irish rider Fred Scala, and Robert Whitaker’s victory in yesterday’s King George V Gold Cup. Meanwhile in the show ring, Will Morton dazzled the judges with lightweight hunter Kilcarna Brilliant, earning him the overall supreme title, and crowds were thrilled by the fast-paced scurry driving classes.
Royal International Horse Show 2023 in pictures
Day One: Wednesday 26 July
Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Lucy Capper and Playboy van de Zoetewei won The Pony of the Year BS Winter 138cm Championship. Glaswegian teenager Lucy travelled 500 miles to compete at Hickstead.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Annabel Widdowson and 22-year-old pony Bunbury Conquest took the Pro Ponies UK BS Winter 128 Championship. “Questy’s a fabulous pony – he has a connection with me,” she said. “We’ve bonded because we’re both firecrackers; we both like to dare each other.”
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Riding seven-year-old Colliers Carlotta, Tom Whitaker took the spoils in the British Showjumping Winter Grades B & C Championship. “She’s always been a good horse, to be honest – I was just lucky enough to get the ride on her this year,” said Tom of the mare, who is owned by the Crimbourne Stud.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
For the third year in a row, Cheshire’s Zara Brookes and Merrycorner Mister Bui took the win in the Enablelink Supreme Show Hunter Pony Championship.
Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Lauren Wilkins and Eloclea Ro. Del Colle San Marco won the The Oakley Coachbuilders BS Winter Grade JC Championship. “It’s just incredible,” said Lauren, who first teamed up with the now-9-year-old mare two years ago after sourcing her in Italy.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Georgina Rees and Bellflower came out on top in The Arab Championship. This was Georgina’s first win at The Royal International Horse Show.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Katie Speller and BE Warnham were winners of The The SEIB BS Winter Novice Championship. The pair were one of just five to go through to the jump-off, and they won by three-quarters of a second ahead of Michaela Scott.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
James Burchell and Rowfantina Orlando-Bloom secured The UKPH Young Riders M&M Supreme Championship title.
Day Two: Thursday 27 July
Credit; Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Ireland’s Fred Scala was victorious in The Ashby Underwriting Eventers’ Challenge with Corriebeg Supernova, while last year’s victor Gemma Stevens took second and third place.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
In the Corroconsult BSPS Heritage M&M Supreme Ridden Championship, the honours went to Hannah Atkinson, who rode her mother Linda’s homebred Welsh Section C Danwood Llewellyn.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Twelve-year-old Lottie Adams won the Hickstead RIHS Amateur Championship with Evotion (Lottie). “I’ve been on ponies all my life, and I’ve just moved up to horses – we’re both called Lottie, and we’re like soulmates,” she said.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Brazil’s Francisco Mesquita Musa secured the The Royal International Vase with Catch Me Marathon.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Will Morton won The Sport Horse Breeding (GBR) Supreme Hunter Championship.
Day Three: Friday 28 July
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Richard Vogel achieved the winning round in The Agria Royal International Stakes with Evermeta.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Nicole Lockhead Anderson rode Conthargo PS to victory in The Clipmyhorse.tv CSIYH1* 2nd Qualifier.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
The De Lay Hey Family BSHA Supreme Riding Horse Championship was won by Danielle Heath and Times Square III.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Britain won the home leg of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup seriesfor the first time since 2010, finishing on a team total of just four faults, with Ireland taking second position and France third.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Craig Kiddier won the Saracen Horse Feeds Supreme Working Hunter Championship with Susan Tennant’s Mulberry Lane.
Day Four: Saturday 29 July
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Ireland’s Shane Breen and Haya bagged The Queen Elizabeth II Cup. This was the fourth time Shane has won the class.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
The Culford Lodge Commodities Small Hunter Championship went to Meg Edmondson and Briarhill Buddy Bolden.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Jeff Osborne was presented with the Dorian Williams Trophy today at Hickstead, an annual award given to a person or group of people who has played a big part in the success of the Longines Royal International Horse Show.
Alison Osborne won The Osborne Refrigerators Double Harness Scurry Championship with Chip and Dale.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Jack Whitaker sailed to victory with Equine America Valmy De La Vande in The The Royal International Salver.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Chelmsford rider Will Morton won the overall supreme title with Sarah-Anne Gunn’s eight-year-old lightweight hunter Kilcarna Brilliant. “He’s just a fantastic little horse – he’s got such a great temperament, and he’s a proper little showman,” said Will. “He goes in there, pricks his ears, and says ‘look at me!’”
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Matt Sampson landed the ClipMyHorse.TV Young Horse Grand Prix with Cumberland Acres’ King Lepantino.
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
The Supreme Products Supreme Ridden Pony Championship winners, Isobel Hartswood-Collier and Beech Hall Ryan
Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
The Surrey Envelopes BSHA Supreme Cob Championship went to Copenhagen ridden by Simon Reynolds.
