Showtime stuns them all

The daughter of showing royalty makes her mark, a rider has a last hurrah in pony ranks and a show team cleans up

THERE was no mistaking the familiar Walker grin as Izzy Walker, 10, emerged from her first-ever ride in the Castle Arena as show pony champion, scoring with Helen Davies’s ever-improving 128cm victor, Stoneleigh Showtime. Amazingly, this was Izzy’s first win of any description here, so to go all the way and land this historic title was the stuff of dreams.

The pair began their season well, landing the show pony title at the recent British Show Pony Society Winter Championships, and their victory here brought a remarkable seventh win from as many outings.

She also beat her brother Sam’s Windsor record, as although he won classes here three times during his showing career, he had never ridden in the Castle Arena.

TALKING POINT

“THE TEAM DESERVES OUR THANKS” 

THAT the show went ahead at all was little short of miraculous, given not only the torrential downpours during the lead-up, but also the fact that it came hard on the heels of The King’s coronation and then the concert at the castle.

In the end, it was only due to a Herculean team effort – not to mention a considerable extra outlay to minimise the effects of the mud – that all ran smoothly. The Dunkirk spirit extended to most competitors, too, who appreciated the difficulties being faced and were determined to remain positive.

“There are few other shows in the country – if any – that could have coped with all this,” said one competitor. “The whole team deserves our heartfelt thanks.”