Sandy stamps his authority on home turf

There was a home win in The Breen Equestrian Beethoven 7 & 8 Year Old Championship, when Breen Equestrian rider Sandy McLean claimed a brilliant victory with the seven-year-old Orville VD Watermolen (Equus Tame x Doselli).

“He’s a joy to ride and we’re very lucky to have him on our team,” said Sandy, who jumped one of just two double clears, beating Jude Burgess and Galwaybay Esmerelda by 0.21sec. “It’s an amazing place to win. People say, ‘You live here, you train here, it must water it down’, but it definitely doesn't. You canter through those gates on a show week and it’s as special as ever.”

Sandy has had a great run with the stallion for the past two weeks, also qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show Foxhunter and Grade C finals.

“I’ve been riding him for four or five months. He has huge amounts of scope and talent — he’s not touched a fence all week and he just gets better and better. The more pressure you put on him to win, the better he likes it, and he just rises to the occasion every time,” Sandy said.

“He was meant to have been sold in the Brilliance auction last year and the sale fell through — it’s been a massive blessing in disguise because he’s turned into a better horse than anyone ever expected, he’s class.”

Leesa Long is no stranger to success at Hickstead, and she added to her collection of sashes when she stormed to victory in The United Equine Products LTD 1.25m Open Championship, riding her super-successful 13-year-old mare Zelinda Della Caccia.

“She can go a little bit green the first time she goes in that ring in a season, even though she’s an old campaigner, so I’m really pleased that she’s gone in there today and performed like she has,” said Leesa, who is based near Brighton, just 25mins from the show ground. “She’s a superstar for me and I’m so lucky to have her.”

Some top combinations were among the 13 forward for this two-phase, where five jumped double clear. Leesa headed the line up with 0.81sec of headway over Sophie Lincoln and Miss A Name.

“I went on first on my other horse (Perfect Partner), who had two down, and I was pretty quick on him but in the end he was 3sec slower than her,” Leesa said. “I went pedal to the metal on her, there was no pulling anywhere. As soon as she jumps fence six, she knows to go!”

Fourteen-year-old Southampton rider Eleanor Bastian-Mason outshone an adult field to claim the Kep Italia 1.10m Amateur Championship with the seven-year-old mare Valencia CC.

The competition came down to the wire in a tense two-phase, where just 0.62sec separated the top four riders. Final competitor Amelia Keen came within 0.01sec of Eleanor’s target time but couldn’t catch her, allowing her a first victory in the International Arena.

"I was early on, so my plan was just to go for it," said Eleanor. "She’s quick across the ground and easy to turn tight. She likes to go, so she’s perfect for that ring."

Valencia CC is currently on loan from Eleanor's older brother, Ted, who has been competing the mare in 1.30m classes in Spain.

"She’s been handed down to me for a bit and she’s having a bit of fun round 1.10m and 1.20m," Eleanor added. "She was easy to get to know, she’s brilliant."

Eleanor will look to continue her winning streak next month as she has qualified two ponies for the winter 138cm final at the Agria Royal International Horse Show.

For full results click here.