Showjumper Geoff Luckett took advantage of his last-drawn position to win the final class of today at the Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead.
Nine riders made it into the jump-off in The Outside Event Caterers Winter Grades B&C Championship, with second to go Nicole Pavitt setting a blistering time on Victor Blue. She put pressure on the other competitors, with most faulting, until Geoff produced a smooth, balanced and tight round on Constant II to better Nicole's time by 0.75sec.
"This is my third season with him, and every level he goes to he wins," said Geoff, who has had plenty of success in Seven Year Old classes with the British-bred gelding and was placed in the Foxhunter Final last October at Horse of the Year Show.
Pony riders got the day off to a flying start with the conclusion of three winter finals. Joshua Bridge and Misty Bay II raced to victory in the Winter 138cm Championship, while the 128cm winner was Megan Taylor and Small And Handy. The Oakley Coachbuilders Winter Grade C Championship went to Emily Ward and Prospect Eddie, while the British Showjumping Business Partnership Winter Novice Championship went to Jamie Fry on Lady Maria.
The Longines Royal International Horse Show is one of the biggest and most prestigious showing competitions in the country, with riders having qualified at venues around the country. A number of showing classes reached their conclusion today, including the Open Hackney championship, which was won by James Wenham's Foreward Braveheart, and the Showing Journal Supreme Show Hunter Pony Championship, which was won by Woodrow All Gold and Chelsea Khan.
Tomorrow the international action gets underway, with the feature class - the Amlin Plus Eventing Grand Prix - beginning at 3pm. In this unique competition, showjumpers and eventers go head-to-head round a series of coloured fences and cross-country jumps. Among the eventers lining up are former World and Olympic champion Mark Todd, Rolex Grand Slam winner Pippa Funnell and London 2012 silver medallist Tina Cook; while the showjumpers include David Simpson, Harriet Nuttall and Trevor Breen, who rides the top event horse Noble Bestman for injured event rider Laura Collett.
Tickets are available on the gate for each day of the show, and the action will be shown live each afternoon on Sky Sports.
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