National Showjumping
Alongside the 5* International Jumping classes, the National Jumping line-up will have spectators glued to the action as many of the world’s top riders announce their attendance, including Olympic Team Gold Medallist Ben Maher (GBR), who will be joined by a field of fellow Brits in the National classes. The notoriously speedy Guy Williams is set to grip spectators as he will be attempting a one-two in the Olympic Star Spotters Competition for 6-Year-Old Horses. Adding to the list of contenders will be husband and wife, William and Pippa Funnell. Also, joining Pippa from the world of eventing will be, Bumble Thomas and Emily Llewellyn.
Britain’s leading-female Showjumper, Laura Renwick, will be returning in hope of matching last year’s success. Renwick will be battling against seasoned competitor and former Olympian Tim Stockdale (GBR), who is set to return to the Show, along with rising star and son, Joseph, who will both be contending for top place in the Grades B & C Handicap Jumping Competition.
Another family with more than one representative are the Breen’s. Brothers Trevor and Shane have a longstanding success in Showjumping, Shane a previous winner of the Royal Windsor Horse Show Grand Prix, and Trevor a two-time winner of the Hickstead Derby.
Alfie Bradstock is also from a family with strong equestrian heritage, his father being Cheltenham Gold Cup winning National Hunt Trainer Mark Bradstock. Competing at top level since the age of 14, Alfie became the first junior rider to represent Britain at Eventing and Showjumping in the same year, winning European Eventing gold medals at both Under-16 and Under 18 levels. With his focus now turned to Showjumping, Alfie will be riding at Royal Windsor for former Team GB Showjumpers Graham and Tina Fletcher.
National Showing
The Showing line-up includes stars such as Allister Hood, competing aboard Our Cashel Blue in a bid to defend their title as Lightweight Cob. The duo have celebrated a phenomenal year after being crowned Supreme Champion at Horse of the Year Show in 2016. Jayne Ross will be back in action with 16 rides including Cob in Hood, with whom she will be seeking to reverse last year’s Lightweight Cob outcome, after narrowly missing out to Hood and Our Cashel Blue.
Ross spoke in anticipation of the event, “there’s an aura about Windsor, from the moment you arrive. There’s just nothing like it, it’s so special.”
Helen Newbold, well-known for her career in retraining racehorses, will be returning with her horse Tycoons Reflection, to compete for the RoR Tattersalls Thoroughbred Ridden Show Horse Championship, after narrowly missing out on first place at last year’s event.
Top producer, Robert Walker, will be aiming to repeat his 2015 success aboard Randlestown Rolex, when the pair won the Novice Cob. The partnership came a close second in the Lightweight Cob last year and will be returning to this year’s edition with the hope of moving up the leader-board to claim the title.
Royal Windsor Horse Show Director, Simon Brooks-Ward said: “Showing is of great importance to the event, it’s very good to see the level of entries growing year-on-year, with the standard of competition increasing with the Show’s popularity.”