The Bolesworth International Equestrian Summer Festival, presented by Al Shira’aa, witnessed a historic feat last night as Guy Williams and Elliott Smith jointly smashed the current Puissance record. The packed international arena erupted in applause as the two equestrian stars shared the glory, setting a new record at 2 meters 21 centimetres.
A total of 12 daring combinations faced the formidable LeMieux sponsored red brick wall, each vying for the prestigious title of Puissance champion. The competition showcased exceptional horsemanship, with riders displaying remarkable skill and courage.
Early rounds saw Paul Sims, Ben Hobday, James Wilson, and Thomas Dovkants leaving the bricks untouched for three rounds, a testament to their exceptional partnerships with their horses. However, the fourth round proved to be their downfall, with each rider causing bricks to tumble and exiting the competition.
The fifth and final round saw the wall set at a staggering 2 meters 21 centimetres and was a family showdown, with Maisy Williams, daughter of Puissance expert Guy Williams, competing alongside her father and Elliot Smith. Maisy took on the challenge with gusto, but sadly the 15 year old stallion, Dalton d’Hoyo, dislodged bricks.
Both Williams and Smith rose to the occasion, clearing the wall with ease and securing a joint victory. Their triumph not only earned them a share of the winning €5,565 prize, but also etched their names in the Bolesworth Puissance history book.
Reflecting on his historic win, Elliott Smith expressed his delight:
It feels amazing and the horse loves Bolesworth. I couldn’t find a better show for him to come to. It was definitely on my schedule for this year to come to Bolesworth and jump the Puissance, but I didn’t expect to break a record!
Guy Williams was equally thrilled with the performance, particularly proud of his daughter Maisy’s effort. I’m very proud of Maisy, and I was hoping Elliott would knock it down so we could have had a family win! he joked. Speaking about his trusted grey gelding, Mr Blue Sky UK, Williams added, everyone expects him to win now given his past performances in these classes. The crowd gets behind him, and he keeps on doing it. He can be a little difficult to ride in the class, but he still pulled the win out of the bag.
As the excitement from the Puissance record-breaking night continues to resonate, the focus now shifts to height, speed, and talent as the Bolesworth International Equestrian Festival progresses towards the Al Shira’aa CSI3* 1.55m Grand Prix. This highly anticipated class, set for tomorrow, will award the next and final title, marking the climax of the Festival.
In addition to world-class equestrian sport, the Bolesworth International Equestrian Festival offers a weekend packed with family-friendly activities. Attendees can enjoy fairgrounds, pony rides, dog agility displays, hot air balloon launches, and explore a hybrid and EV zone. The Bolesworth live music stage will also feature incredible bands and DJs tonight (15th June 2024), giving visitors the chance to dance the night away.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.