Hickstead's new National show - which was added to the fixture list following a £500,000 redevelopment of the international arena - concluded on Sunday, with Suffolk-based Tim Davies winning the £2,000 All England Grand Prix. The show was designed to promote British breeding and grassroots competitors, with championships from 1m upwards plus a range of age classes.  

Pavitt paves the way

Louise Pavitt showed her prowess with young horses on the opening day of the All England Jumping Championships when she headed both the 5 year old and the 6 & 7 year old finals. Louise, riding the five-year-old mare Sussex Caretino, was last to go in the section, and they put in a fast time to claim top spot. She then rode Don VHP Z to win the 6 & 7 Year Old section, keeping sister Nicole in second place. “He’s so big with a huge stride, so this arena suits him perfectly,” said Louise. 

She also won the Four Year Old Championship, although with seven double clears and no jump-off for that age group, she shared top spot with six other riders.

In the first class of the show, David McPherson and Silver Exchange won the All England 1.40m Open, picking up the £500 prize. He was delighted with how the grey gelding took to the International Arena. “I’m amazed at how well he’s gone in this ring, the going was amazing and the course was a proper test for a 1.40m class,” he said.

Ballard has two on the bounce

Kent-based Monica Ballard had a day to remember at the All England Jumping Championships, when she won two class finals. Monica headed both the 1.10m Amateur and the 1.00m Open Championships with the reliably fast Miss Cartier, a seven-year-old chestnut mare. It was the pair’s first time competing in Hickstead’s famous International Arena.

In the 1.40m Open, the presence of one of Hickstead’s most feared Derby fences – the Devil’s Dyke – caused a few upsets and only eight combinations made it through to the jump-off. Quickest of these were Tim Davies and Valentinj O, who collected the £500 first prize.

Leesa Long, a former jockey, had a great run of form at the show, picking up the All England 1.20m Amateur Championship riding Tammys Girl on the Saturday, then winning the All England 1.10m Open Championship on Tiamo II on the final day.

Tim hits the jackpot

Tim Davies and the talented nine-year-old Valentijn O picked up their second win of the All England Jumping Championships, winning the inaugural All England Grand Prix. 

With eight riders through to the jump-off, competition was fierce and four riders jumped double clear. Second to go Philip Spivey got round in a time of 60.20sec, only to be bettered by Jay Halim and VIP II, who finished on 59.65sec. Henry Turrell stepped up next with a clear in 54.42sec on Brian Lear’s Urlanmore Aldi – but then Tim shaved almost a second off the time to claim the £2,000 first prize.

Louise Pavitt was back in pole position when she finished up as winner of the All England 1.30m Championship riding Tiore. Three riders jumped double clear in the All England 1.20m Open Championship, and the fastest of these was Clare Louise Shepherd from Manchester, who was riding Ayrton IV.