Judges worship Temple Ogue in Hunter championship

Jayne Ross has won many Hickstead titles in her career, and today she added one more with another victory in the Saracen Horse Feeds Supreme Hunter Championship.

Her win came courtesy of lightweight victor Temple Ogue, a nine-year-old bay owned by Kay Campbell. “He’s a bit of a showman and show-off, and he knows when there’s a camera around,” said Jayne. “He really relishes these big rings and loves to lower and gallop and cover the ground, so he’s tailormade for somewhere like this. I’m a bit of a speed merchant – it was bred into me, so the gallop is always my favourite bit.” 

Jayne will now bring him back for Sunday’s British Horse Society Supreme Horse championship. Competing for the Winston Churchill Trophy, it is one of the most coveted titles in the sport, and one that Jayne has won an impressive seven times. If she can win again this week, she will equal the record of fellow show producer Allister Hood, who will also be bidding to add another supreme title to his tally.

“We’re lucky to only live an hour and a half from here, so we can take him home and let him have a day out in the field tomorrow, before he comes back here on Sunday for another go. He’ll probably be quite lit up when he gets in there!” added Jayne.

In reserve was Menedh QC Esquire, shown by Rennae Whitelock.

Britain’s best native ponies also had their chance to be put through their paces in the famous International Arena, in the final judging of the The Corroconsult BSPS Heritage M&M Supreme Ridden Championship.

Experienced show producer Katy Marriott Payne was given the nod from the judges, thanks to a foot-perfect performance with her Dartmoor stallion Salcombe Starehole Bay.

The seven-year-old, who is owned by Felicity Thompson, is in his first season showing. Katy had previously shown his brother, and during the pandemic began producing Salcombe Starehole Bay as well. “Because we didn’t have any shows to go to, we thought we’d give him a try with the ridden job, and he just took to it straightaway. It’s been really exciting – he’s just come out and he’s been winning and winning, but this is obviously the biggest thing that we’ve achieved so far. “He’s got so much presence and substance and he just seems to grow when he’s in the ring – he just loves it.”

In reserve was Jo Jacks' Skaergaardens Delicious Love. “There were some fantastic ponies in there that we see all the time on the circuit, and the pony that was reserve was champion at HOYS, so I’d sort of resigned myself that if we didn’t get past her, then that was okay. I’m just so overjoyed to have come out on top of such a lovely line-up,” Katy said. 

For all showing results, click here. 

Tickets for the Prenetics Royal International Horse Show (21-25 July) are on sale now, costing £15 per adult, £10 concessions and under-16s going free. Visit the Box Office.