Falcon by name and nature

Hairies land two of the four main native championships, while a Connemara reigns in-hand and a home-produced Welsh is crowned top mini

- ALEX ROBINSON

A 16-YEAR-OLD rider and her home-produced Fell pony flew to the 133cm mountain and moorland (M&M) working hunter class en route to the section title. Judges Caroline Whiteley and Kevin Walker had a broad choice of breeds – including a New Forest, a Shetland, a Welsh and several Connemaras – to select their champion from, but it was the stunning jet black gelding Greenholme Falcon (Dan) who shone brightest.

The 12-fence course made use of the Frogmore Arena’s immaculate surface, but competitors needed to be on their mettle as spook-provoking challenges included a water tray and a duck-themed filler. Despite this, clears were plentiful and so conformation and breed type came to fruition.

Owned by Chantelle Chapman’s mother Victoria Oliver, 10-year-old Dan – by Greenholme Look At Me out of Greenholme Shandy – is contending his first season as an open working hunter.

“The course was flowing and there was lots to look at, which suits him better,” said Chantelle, for whom this was a first Windsor worker attempt. “Considering this is his first year jumping qualifier tracks we came here with no expectations. I just can’t fault him; he really does it all.”

Chantelle and Dan shot to fame in 2018 when she won inaugural SEIB Search For A Star M&M championship. Since then, they’ve taken the open and junior M&M classes by storm, qualifying for the Royal International (RIHS), standing champion at the National Pony Society (NPS) Summer Championships and narrowly missing out on a Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) place.