Great Britain’s star Jumper, Holly Smith scored a memorable victory against some of the world’s best riders on day three of the Royal Windsor Horse Show, kicking off international show jumping competition for this year’s event.
16 of the world’s top 20-ranked riders entered a beautifully sunny Castle Arena for the CSI5* Manama Speed Stakes Jumping competition. The class saw 24 riders progress to the second phase, with 18 of those completing a double clear to vie for top honours.
One of the last riders into the Arena, Smith and her spirited nine-year old chestnut gelding, Fruselli produced a gutsy performance, which saw the duo complete the two-phase course in 26.11 seconds. Clearing the final fence with grace and ease, the pair knocked Irish world number 25-ranked rider, Bertram Allen into second-place, who completed the course in 26.81 seconds.
The complicated course, which included some tough tight turns did not prove to be a problem for world number five-ranked rider, Martin Fuchs and his grey gelding, Silver Shin, who finished in third place in 27.01 seconds.
CSI5* Pearl Stakes International Jumping
After lunch, international Show Jumpers from 11 nations, including 10 of Great Britain’s leading riders went head-to-head to compete in the CSI5* Pearl Stakes International Jumping Competition.
British Jumping prodigy, Harry Charles and his gelding Borsato proved to be the best of the Brits. Placed in the top six with a final time of 38.06 seconds. Now 20-years-old, Charles was on scintillating form as he cleared the 16 fences with conviction. But in the end, it was Belgian rider Gregory Wathelet and his 10-year old bay gelding, Spike Vd Withoeve, who came out on top, taking the competition to another level, navigating the eight-fence jump-off to finish in an unbeatable time of 36.59 seconds.
For coverage of Royal Windsor, click here to be directed to Windsor TV.
