Press Release and Photo : RWHS Press
World class riders from 24 nations around the globe will descend on the prestigious Royal Windsor Horse Show next week for top class competition across four disciplines over five days, from 13-17th May, in front of an expected crowd of over 50,000 people.
There will be a bevy of British competitors riding alongside international stars including Olympians Ben Maher, Peter Charles, Nick Skelton and Carl Hester who will be hoping for home advantage in the private grounds of Windsor Castle, the only time of year that they are open to the public.
In addition to the action packed Jumping, Dressage, Driving and Endurance competition on offer, the crowd will also be treated to a masterclass from Olympian Carl Hester on the Friday night. Carl will give the audience pointers on how he tutored World Champion Charlotte Dujardin to become the most successful and impressively decorated dressage rider of her generation.
Jumping
Among the confirmed entries for the CSI3* Show Jumping there will be three members of the London 2012 gold medal winning team, Peter Charles, Nick Skelton and Ben Maher, as well as the top female British Show Jumper Laura Renwick. International entries will feature Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al Sharbatly who will be looking to recreate his run of great form after three wins at Royal Windsor last year, and rising star Jessica Springsteen who, after a successful start to the year, is poised to secure a spot in the 2016 US Olympic Equestrian team. The CSI1* classes will also be brimming with new talent from 12 nations, including 15-year-old Harry Charles, son of Peter Charles, who was crowned leading Pony Show Jumper of the year at Horse of the Year Show 2014.
Land Rover ambassador Ben Maher, said: “It’s great to be back at Royal Windsor and competing on home soil. It’s not often that I get to ride in front of a home crowd and it’s such a magical show set in an iconic venue – I can’t wait!”
For the full list of confirmed CSI1* entries please visit http://bit.ly/1H0qQ2O
For the full list of confirmed CSI3* entries please visit http://bit.ly/1IMwZPg
Dressage
Five nations will be represented in the CDI3* Dressage including Great Britain, spearheaded by Carl Hester and Richard Davison in the Grand Prix class. Carl will be returning on Nip Tuck and hoping to improve on last year’s third place whilst all eyes will be on Richard Davison as he debuts his homebred nine-year old Bubblingh who has not yet been seen at a small tour, let alone a big one. There will be another Windsor debut for Hayley Watson-Greaves and the British bred Rubins Nite, a freestyle winner at the annual two week CDI3* and CDI4* in Barcelona in March, Hayley’s first international win. Three British-based Danish riders Sune Hansen, Ulrik Moelgaard and Anders Dahl (who will be riding fellow competitor and wife Fiona Bigwood’s Wie-Atlantico De Ymas) are also in the line-up and will be hot contenders at the show.
For the full list of confirmed Dressage entries please visit http://bit.ly/1OZUjy6
Driving
International Driving continues to be a highlight at the Show, drawing competitors from around the world to take part in the FEI World Cup Qualifier competition that has been a main feature since HRH The Duke of Edinburgh introduced it to the schedule in 1971. The podium winners from the World Equestrian Games last year, Boyd Exell, Chester Weber and Theo Timmerman will all be battling it out for victory at the Show. Three times World Champion Exell will be hoping to add a seventh Royal Windsor win to his list of impressive accolades and stop Weber from back to back wins at the Show.
For the full list of confirmed Driving Horses entries please visit http://bit.ly/1GYLUUr
For the full list of confirmed Driving Ponies entries please visit http://bit.ly/1Poma5O
Endurance
Royal Windsor Endurance takes place in The Great Park on Friday 15th May and riders from nine nations will be competing. As always at this popular international ride there is a strong representation from the British riders including Nicola Thorne who is currently second in the Open Riders World Endurance Rankings.
Royal Windsor Horse Show Director, Simon Brooks-Ward said: “We are delighted to see some of the world’s best riders returning to Royal Windsor Horse Show this year. We strive to make the Show as enjoyable as possible for competitors and it is great to see that it maintains its popularity among all four disciplines across the five action-packed days.”
Tickets can be purchased on the door, online or by telephone. For pre-purchase visitors should go towww.rwhs.co.uk or telephone the box office on 0844 581 4960 from the UK and +44 (0) 121 767 4199internationally.