Gilmour dances to surprise win

An intermediate combination dazzle with an unexpected qualifier win, while two pairs of sisters are in sync

- TRICIA JOHNSON

CUMBRIAN rider Olivia Gilmour and her father Russell’s Emperors Diamond Dancer (Coops) made a triumphant trip across the Pennines to head the Royal International (RIHS) intermediate working hunter pony qualifier and stand section champion.

This was a dazzling achievement, given that it was the pair’s first time out since Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2021 in 153cm ranks, and their first-ever attempt at an intermediate track, too.

“We only entered to see how Coops would cope with the bigger course, so it was a totally unexpected result,” said Olivia, 22, who runs a small teaching/ coaching yard alongside a dog grooming business. “But he loved being back in the ring and I really enjoyed jumping the track; it had a great range of different fences and lines, which were testing for both horse and rider.”

The family bought Coops, now 13, as a newly backed four-year-old, and embarked on a massive learning curve.