Showtime is simply sublime

Showing dynasties reign in the supreme, a first win with a home-bred, and small is mighty in hunter ponies

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ISABELLA WALKER - daughter of Robert Walker - proved to be a chip off the old block, well and truly rising to the occasion in the Supreme Products supreme ridden pony championship with Helen Davies' Stoneleigh Showtime (Charlie).

Isabella and the Cusop Dimension eight-year-old, who was bred by Stephanie Horton, had landed the Enablelink British Show Pony Society (BSPS) supreme show pony championship before a swift turnaround for the supreme.

There, a determined Isabella and Charlie gave an utterly charming display including a serpentine and canter loops, with Charlie never missing a beat to gain an impressive score of 29 from judges Vanessa De Quincey, Tim Gredley and Maggie Wyeth.

“I love this pony so much. He goes in there with no plugs and no calmers. He’s a pony of a lifetime,” said Isabella’s mother Sarah Walker. “We’ll never have another one like this.”

Charlie was purchased by Helen as a three-year-old and he and Isabella have clocked up an impressive tally including thrice show pony champion at Royal Windsor, and a win and reserve at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) last year.

In the supreme, Alice Homer and her mother Loraine’s Tidy Town (Guinness) gave two searing turns up the ring and quite simply oozed class. They finished runners-up, just a mark behind Isabella and Charlie.

Alice and the 2024 Culford Lodge Commodities small hunter champion started their week’s campaign by successfully defending the top spot to take the small crown for the second year on the bounce.

“The pressure is unreal,” said Alice, 23. “Because he won here last year, I really wanted him to do it again. I think this year means more because I never would have believed he’d do it twice.