FEATURE: 10 unforgettable moments from the Royal International

What a fantastic Agria Royal International Horse Show we had, with success for the Brits in the Nations Cup, a whole host of Hickstead trebles, and winners of all shapes and sizes. Read our recap of 10 standout moments from the show.

1.  Robert is King (again) 

There’s just something about the Al Shira’aa King George V Gold Cup that brings out the absolute best in Robert Whitaker and Equine America Vermento. Last week saw this talented pair claim the trophy for a third time in four years, with cousin Donald taking the honours in 2024 – apparently our trophy engraver thinks this class is only open to Whitakers.

While repeat wins in the Al Shira’aa Derby are not uncommon – once a horse and rider have conquered the course once, it makes it more likely that they can do it again – in the King George it’s harder to have repeated wins. The course changes every year, and it’s a class filled with international stars, as it’s only open to the Nations Cup squads of five riders plus the highest ranked British riders and a few foreign individuals. There are plenty of huge names in the sport that haven’t yet managed to lift the iconic gold trophy, and it’s not for want of trying! So the fact Robert has now done it three times is quite remarkable, especially with the same horse, since no other horse has won it three times since Foxhunter back in the 1950s.

Now the question is, can Robert do it again next summer, to match uncle Michael’s quartet of victories? Will Equine America Vermento go ahead of Foxhunter’s record? He’s only 13, and we dare say his and Robert’s reign as Kings isn’t over just yet.

2.       Brits back on top

Now Robert has won three King George titles in four years, and interestingly the same applies to the British team in the Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain. After winning in 2023 and 2024 then missing out to Germany 12 months ago, the Brits were back to the top of the podium in this year’s class.

The winning team comprised Jessica Mendoza (Summerhouse), Tim Gredley (Medoc De Toxandria), Ben Maher (Catelly) and Adrian Whiteway (Chacco Volo), with Di Lampard as chef d'equipe.  A special shout out for Tim for delivering a double clear – only Ireland’s Conor Swail and Clonterm Obolensky could match them in this feat – and to Ben Maher, who produced a second round clear when the pressure was on from the Irish team. Actually Tim has only ever been on the British team for Hickstead on three occasions, and he’s won each time – that’s some record!

It was a great result for the Brits, not only in terms of winning in front of the home crowd, but also to give them a confidence boost ahead of next month’s FEI World Championships. “Football doesn't need to come home because showjumping definitely has!” joked Hickstead Director Edward Bunn in the press conference afterwards – that was certainly true at the Royal International, and let’s hope the same applies in Aachen.

3.       Welcome return

It was lovely to welcome the Canadian team back to Hickstead after a 44-year absence – we hope they don’t leave it so long until their next visit! They were ably led by their chef d’equipe Ian Millar, who is known as ‘Captain Canada’, who holds the record for having the most Olympic appearances (10) for any athlete in any sport! Ian was very happy to see his team finish on the podium in the Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain, while Canadian team member Nicole Walker also picked up third in the Al Shira’aa King George V Gold Cup with the exciting prospect Panter JVH. “I don't think I've ever jumped a European five-star Grand Prix, and my horse and I are still a little bit new to this level, so I'm very proud of how it went,” said Nicole.

4.       Superb Smith

Talking of welcome returns, it was great to see Holly Smith and Fruselli back to their brilliant best in the JCL Insurance Brokers Ltd Queen Elizabeth II Cup. This lovely stallion has spent a couple of years on the sidelines, and has only recently returned to competition.

As well as being a prolific winner for Holly, Fruselli also took her daughter Rosie to team gold at the FEI Jumping European Championships for Children in 2024. After her Queen’s win, commentator John Stokes asked Holly if Rosie was going to take some of the credit. “Actually his technique has got a lot better,” mused Holly. “So I don't know what to make of that!”

5.       Gemma on form

Not many riders have two International Arena wins on consecutive days in two different disciplines, but that’s exactly what Gemma Stevens did at this year’s show. On Wednesday she won the UNIBED High-Performance Equine Bedding BS Winter Grades B&C Championship with Warrior Special, and then the following day she was back to claim a third win in the Ashby Underwriting Eventers’ Challenge with Cooley Park Muze, a horse she describes as the best she’s ever sat on. Gemma also came tantalizingly close to winning a first Queen Elizabeth II Cup, producing the fastest time of the jump-off but picking up an unfortunate four faults on Derby ride Envoy Merelsnest Z.  

Someone else who keeps impressing us in both disciplines is Alexander Bragg, who was third in this year’s Eventers’ Challenge with Ardeo Premier – meaning he’s come first, second and third in this class in the past three years. At last month’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting he was second in the Agria Derby Trial then sixth in the Derby itself with Hegglelane Houston, and those achievements haven’t gone unnoticed by the showjumping fraternity. Apparently one rider expressed surprise when he saw Alex was riding in the Eventers’ Challenge, and said to him, ‘I didn’t realise you evented, too!’  Alex had to point out that eventing was, in fact, his day job.

6.       Dressed for success

Helen Baker’s Boston Black Tie is a hugely prolific Hickstead winner – with three Royal International hack titles and three championships at the Derby Meeting as well. But this year was the first year the pair lifted the overall title in the Barberstown Castle Supreme Horse Championship, getting an impressive 28 points out of a possible 30 to give Helen her first Winston Churchill victory. What we love about 'DJ' is that he spends most of the time in the field, and was brought in the morning of the Supreme to make the very short journey back to Hickstead from Helen's home to claim the overall honours. 

7.       Scottish stars

In the Supreme Products Supreme Pony championship, it was a young rider from Scotland who took the top prize. Show Hunter victor Sutton Grange Fancy That only returned to showing last year after a seven-year break, and what a fairy tale return it has been, with two consecutive wins in the New Horizon Plastics Ltd Supreme Show Hunter Pony Championship. It was lovely to see a 15-year-old pony looking so amazing, and congratulations to Isla Smith for landing her first Hickstead supreme win.

8.       Record breaker

Young Anya Dewey Clarke wasn’t content with breaking one record at the Agria Royal International Horse Show, she had to do a second! First off she became the first rider to win the Pro Ponies UK Winter 128cm Championship three times, and the 11-year-old star didn’t just win the class with Kilcreene Snapdragon, she also came second with Jim – what a way to round off her final year in the 128cms. She then went on to win the Pony of The Year BS Winter 138cm Championship with Fredaine De Blonde, making Anya the first rider to win both titles in the same year.

9.       Winners on foot

Not all our International Arena winners came on horseback! Well done to Joe Stockdale’s groom Charlotte Attwell, winner of the John Youngs Horsemastership Award, and Kevin Millman, this year’s recipient of the Dorian Williams Trophy for the biggest contribution to the running of the Agria Royal International Horse Show. We also had our first gentleman winner of the Style Saturday competition, with Kim Jones being crowned our best dressed guest.

10.  Not forgetting…

Often when you think of Hickstead you think of our iconic International Arena, the scene of so many unforgettable equestrian moments over the past 66 years. But with six rings of action during the show, we have so many champions in many classes at all levels – and we know that any Hickstead win is extremely special. Congratulations to everyone who took home a winner’s sash this week, including Michaela Whitaker (Croft Lassina) who won the Hickstead 1.00m Open – the class with the biggest entries all week with 165 horses taking part! Battle Riding Club’s Midnight Blue team won the BHS/British Riding Clubs’ Team Jumping, seeing off 76 other teams to take the top spot. Nancy Fisher (Lynne the Legend) won the 30cm jumping and Maxwell Sampson (Country Colour Spot) won the 60cm title in the Allied Property Management Hickstead Mini Challenge. Finally, he didn’t get a sash but well done to showjumper Luca Cullum who showed incredible sticking power to win the bucking broncho competition at Saturday’s Hickstead Hoedown for the second year in a row! Now just 12 months to wait until we can do it all over again. 

Have you got a Hickstead success story that you’d like to share? Email press@hickstead.co.uk with all the details.