Copycat is a class act

Two ponies and riders from the unstoppable Team Jinks take home the coveted supreme and reserve spots in this year's final pony showdown

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TWO members of a show team did battle in a rare ride-off in the Supreme Products supreme ridden pony championship, but only one could lift the title and the Dick Saunders trophy.

Of the six contenders to perform for judges Philip Hilton, Joy Hall and Frances Youngs, two were representing show producers Adam Forster and David Jinks of Cheshire-based Team Jinks.

Charlene Mennie’s lead-rein hunter pony Newoak Midnight Blue – Peter and Pip BakerBeall mini supreme just half an hour before the International Arena supreme – was the first to score 26/30.

His seven-year-old jockey Violet Mennie was in perfect harmony with the six-yearold, Adam holding the very end of the rein. The part-bred Dartmoor – a former winner here and the 2022 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) class champion – never twitched a hair, despite the adoring crowd.

During their show, Adam led the duo to the side of a towering showjump, with Violet leaning over to touch the fence – the pony didn’t take a peep.

However, team-mates Reise Shakespeare and the Gribbin family’s Enablelink show hunter pony champion Rosscon Copycat, also a six-year-old, put up a mighty challenge. Last to go, 19-yearold Reise made use of the 153cm contender’s floating, yet workmanlike, paces and two gallops sealed the deal.

When their equal score of 26/30 was announced, it was time for the ride-off.

After deliberation between the judges, Reise and the young star were deemed the 2024 supreme champions.