Clash of the champions in the Eventers’ Challenge

It will be the clash of the two most recent champions – Ireland’s Fred Scala versus Britain’s Gemma Stevens – in this year’s Ashby Underwriting Eventers’ Challenge, the feature class on Thursday of the Agria Royal International Horse Show (24-28 July).

Olympian Gemma Stevens won the class in 2022 with Flash Cooley, and came very close to retaining her title 12 months ago. But Fred Scala, who was making his debut in the Eventers’ Challenge, produced a brilliant round on Corriebeg Supernova to finish less than a second quicker than Gemma.

Stevens had to settle for second place with Flash Cooley, as well as third place with her other ride Santiago Bay. She returns to Hickstead with two exciting rides, Johansome and Cooley Park Muze, in the hope of winning back the trophy.

Fred, meanwhile, will be doing his utmost to finish at the top of the leaderboard for the second year in a row. He has had a brilliant year with the 15.2hh chestnut mare Corriebeg Supernova, with consistent wins at Foxhunter level in showjumping, as well as a two-star short format win at Bicton in eventing.

“I was quick last year, but I know I lost time in some places, and certainly when I come back for another crack at it, I reckon I could be another 3-4sec quicker,” said Fred. “Winning that class was an absolute highlight of my year – even just getting to ride in such a prestigious and famous arena was amazing.”

The 12-year-old mare is really suited to this class, which has a mixture of fixed cross-country jumps and fences that incur a 4sec time penalty if knocked down. “She's just naturally incredibly fast, and you have to ride her forwards because she's so little – to make the distances, you've got to be going quick anyway. Couple that with the fact she's a real gutsy, hardy little mare, and as much as she's fast, she's equally careful.”

Although the show takes place at the same time as the Olympic eventing in Paris, the Ashby Underwriting Eventers’ Challenge has attracted some really exciting talents for this year’s class. Some of the other names to look out for include Alexander Bragg, who has previously been placed in the Eventer’s Challenge. This year he brings Quindiva, who finished third at Badminton in May.

Supermodel Edie Campbell is entered with her four-star horse Fireball F; while five-star rider Felicity Collins brings Shadow Minnie Moon, who was fifth in the under-25s at Bramham last summer.

France’s Gaspard Maksud is another rider to have two horses entered, including his European team bronze medal ride Zaragoza VI, on whom he was also sixth at the World Championships in 2022, plus four-star horse Spirit’s Gemini.  

Britain’s Simon Grieve returns to Hickstead after finishing eighth in the British Speed Derby at last month’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting, with his former five-star horse Drumbilla Metro. The pair came fifth in last year’s Eventers’ Challenge, and are expected to go even better this time round.  

Another combination to go very well at the 2023 show was Ireland’s Heidi Hamilton and Dam Easy, who were just ahead of Simon Grieve in fourth place; while Britain’s Indiana Lupus and Billy Brogue finished in ninth place and are expected to have another good run in this year’s renewal.

Jay Halim is better known for being a showjumper these days, having switched from eventing full-time, but he still competes occasionally in affiliated eventing, and has been offered the ride on Caroline Harris’s four-star horse Falko TN for this class at Hickstead.

Other British names include Alice Dunsdon (Doon Side Jack), Danni Dunn (Grandslam), Harriet Upton (Couer De Lion II) and first-timer Harry Horton. Heidi Coy is entered with Fourfields Wonder Woman, while completing the line-up is New Zealand rider Muzi Pottinger (Good Timing).  

Tickets for the Agria Royal International Horse Show (24-28 July) can be bought online or at the gate.