First-time visitor wins her way to Olympia

She will now be competing at Olympia in December after her Welsh section D stallion won the Ridden Mountain and Moorland Championship.

It was a bumper day in every way for Victoria, a law student from Derbyshire, whose Fell stallion, Lydvale Jacob, was reserve champion.

After qualifying both horses for the championship, Victoria had to make the decision about which horse she would ride and then find another rider to help out for the final judging. Sarah Parker, who is based in Whitchurch, stepped in at the last minute to ride the Welsh section D stallion, Abergavenny Twyysog, to victory.

Victoria’s mother, Jane, said: “It is our first time at Countryside Live and we’ll certainly be back. To have two in the championship was fantastic.” The horses are home produced by mother and daughter and Victoria will now go on to ride Abergavenny at Olympia. Both horses are in their first proper season of showing.

It was the first time that the Olympia qualifier had been held at Countryside Live. It attracted a large number of entries in the six different classes, which were held in the showground’s main arena, with the final championship being held in the indoor arena.

Also making their mark on their debut at Countryside Live were the Wood family from Birstwith near Harrogate. The championship for the Ridden Coloured Horse or Pony was won by Michaela Wood riding The Pied Piper, owned by her father, Martin.

Pied Piper was reserve champion at the Great Yorkshire Show in the summer.

The family were also delighted when their four-year-old piebald gelding, Monivea Artists Dream, ridden by Nicky Hazlett, won his class on his first outing.

The reserve champion was Fidgets Flamenco ridden by James Knight and owned by Gill Simpson from Great Broughton near Stokesley. The seven-year-old skewbald mare had a number of successes when shown in-hand and James, 15, has been schooling her since April.

The event is rapidly becoming a favourite for 11-year-old David Holt from Levisham, Pickering. David swept the board this year, winning both the Working Hunter Pony championship and the Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter Pony championship riding his Welsh section B palomino gelding, Newcott Mikado.

“It’s a lovely show and this is our third year of competing here,” said David’s father, Michael Holt. David was also a winner in the working hunter pony section last year, riding another pony, Rambo.

The equine classes attracted a record entry of 232 this year, as this section continues to grow in popularity. The classes ranged from lead rein and first ridden and a fancy dress competition, to working hunter pony classes and classes for coloured horses and ponies.

Chief equine steward Linda Brudenell said: “Having the Olympia qualifier lifted the event to new heights, attracting competitors from all over the country who also entered other classes.”

She added: “I think it has enhanced the equine section’s prestige and got us known further afield as well as in Yorkshire.”

The fact that the Olympia Mountain and Moorland classes took place in the Great Yorkshire Show’s impressive main ring was an added bonus for competitors, said Mrs Brudenell.