Unforgettable moments from the Agria Royal International Horse Show

We take a look back at some of the highlights of this year's show 

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1. Germany scores in Nations Cup

Such was the strength of Germany in Friday’s Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain, anchorman Marcus Ehning didn’t even have to jump for a second time because the team already had the win in the bag after the first three riders. Reigning champions Great Britain didn’t quite manage to get the hat-trick of wins they’d hoped for, but it was still a fantastic result for the home team who finished a close second.

2. A double of doubles

The Hickstead wins just keep on coming for the Whitaker family this season, with Robert winning a second Al Shira’aa King George V Gold Cup with Vermento on the final day of the show. His win came 24hrs after cousin James Whitaker won his second JCL Insurance Brokers Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Just Call Me Henry – making it a double of doubles! Interestingly, both Vermento and Just Call Me Henry are by John Whitaker’s great stallion Argento.

3. Winning streak

Talking of doubles, his win on Sunday made Robert Whitaker the fourth rider ever to win the Al Shira’a Derby and the Al Shira’aa King George V Gold Cup in the same year. He follows the likes of David Broome, Harvey Smith, and Uncle Michael Whitaker, who all managed this remarkable double.

4. Winning Walkers

It was a superb show for the Walker family, with Robert winning all three hunter weight classes with lightweight winner Flash Point, middleweight Greenhall Treasure Island, and heavyweight IJ Countryman. In the championship, Robert’s son Sam took the tricolour with Flash Point, while Robert stood reserve with his middleweight victor. Flash Point then went on to be overall reserve supreme in the Barberstown Castle Supreme Horse Championship, while Robert’s 12-year-old daughter Isabella won the Supreme Products Supreme Pony Championship with show pony victor Stoneleigh Show Time.

5. UAE riders shine

This year marked the first time a team of riders from the United Arab Emirates had competed in the Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain. They finished the show in spectacular style, with 22-year-old Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi finishing second in the Al Shira’aa King George V Gold Cup with Enjoy De La Mure, and Abdullah Al Marri in sixth place on BBS McGregor.

6. Mulberry Lane goes Supreme again

Craig Kiddier and his prolific Working Hunter winner Mulberry Lane won the Barberstown Castle Supreme Horse Championship for a second year in a row. The pair initially tied scores with Robert Walker and Flash Point, and had to ride-off for honours. When Mulberry Lane once again popped over the sizable privet hedge – part of the Al Shira’aa Derby course – it sealed the deal for the pair, and they got the nudge from judges Tim Gredley, Maggie Wyeth and Vanessa De Quincey.

It was also the third time Craig and Mulberry Lane had won the Baileys Horse Feeds Supreme Working Hunter Championship. When he came through to the final judging in the International Arena, Craig was asked to carry some of the ashes of equestrian reporter Margaret Shaw, whose memorial service was held on the Thursday of the show. “Margaret’s daughter Heather told me Margaret was a big fan of ‘Obie’ and asked if I would take her for a spin around the working hunter. It actually choked me up a bit. I did say ‘I hope she’ll be lucky for me’ and she was,” said Craig.

7. Childhood dreams

As a child, Millie Allen used to canter round the garden at home, pretending she was jumping in five-star classes. Roll on a few years, and her daydream became a reality – and what a debut it was, with 27-year-old Millie scoring two international wins with the impressive mare Quick Diamant HR. She took Thursday’s Royal International Vase and Friday’s ClipMyHorse.TV International Stakes, and came very close to making it a treble when finishing runner up in Saturday’s Unex Group Speed Classic. 

8. Anya does it again

“He’s the best pony I’ve ever had,” said 10-year-old Anya Dewey-Clarke of her pony Jim, when she scored a back-to-back win in the Pro Ponies UK British Showjumping Winter 128cms Championships.

9. Battle of the champions

This year’s Ashby Underwriting Eventers’ Challenge turned into a head-to-head between two recent champions, with the 2022 winner Gemma Stevens finishing top of the leaderboard with Cooley Park Muze, while the 2024 winner Alexander Bragg had to settle for second place with Ardeo Premier.

10. Showing stars do it again

It’s hard enough to pick up a qualifying ticket just to compete in the showing classes at the Agria Royal International Horse Show, let alone to win your championship – so to win the same title on multiple occasions with the same horse is quite the achievement. Some of the showing stars to enjoy repeat wins included Danielle Heath, who won the De La Hey Family Supreme Riding Horse Championship for a third time in four years with Times Square II; Helen Baker and Boston Black Tie, who took the Ellena Thomas BSHA Supreme Hack Championship for a second year in a row; Alice Homer and Tidy Town, back-to-back winners of the Culford Lodge Commodities Small Hunter Championship; and the BMHS Supreme Miniature Horse champion Model Farm UK Midnight Meadow, who won the championship in 2024 and 2025 for Harriet Miller. 

 

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