TWO members of a show team did battle in a rare ride-off in the Supreme Products supreme ridden pony championship, but only one could lift the title and the Dick Saunders trophy.
Of the six contenders to perform for judges Philip Hilton, Joy Hall and Frances Youngs, two were representing show producers Adam Forster and David Jinks of Cheshire-based Team Jinks.
Charlene Mennie’s lead-rein hunter pony Newoak Midnight Blue – Peter and Pip BakerBeall mini supreme just half an hour before the International Arena supreme – was the first to score 26/30.
His seven-year-old jockey Violet Mennie was in perfect harmony with the six-yearold, Adam holding the very end of the rein. The part-bred Dartmoor – a former winner here and the 2022 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) class champion – never twitched a hair, despite the adoring crowd.
During their show, Adam led the duo to the side of a towering showjump, with Violet leaning over to touch the fence – the pony didn’t take a peep.
However, team-mates Reise Shakespeare and the Gribbin family’s Enablelink show hunter pony champion Rosscon Copycat, also a six-year-old, put up a mighty challenge. Last to go, 19-yearold Reise made use of the 153cm contender’s floating, yet workmanlike, paces and two gallops sealed the deal.
When their equal score of 26/30 was announced, it was time for the ride-off.
After deliberation between the judges, Reise and the young star were deemed the 2024 supreme champions.
“It’s been nine years since I was in the supreme,” said Reise, last show hunter pony champion here in 2015 on Thistledown Las Vegas. “This is also my last Royal International [RIHS] with the horse, as I’m out of the 153cm class next year. What a way to finish.”
Reise planned his show prior to stepping into the supreme, but the ride-off wasn’t expected.
“To go into the ride-off against my producer was something else. Adam made me work for it!” he said.
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