Our Cashel Blue books Winston Churchill spot

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Allister Hood and the prolific cob Our Cashel Blue achieved their first step to defending his Hickstead supreme champion title today at the Prenetics Royal International Horse Show.

The 2019 British Horse Society Supreme Champions picked up their Winston Churchill ticket this afternoon when claiming the overall honours in the Oyster Wealth Planning BSPA Skewbald & Piebald Indian Trail Ridden Championship. Although ‘Blue’ is no stranger to success at Hickstead, it was actually a notable first for the pair.

“He loves Hickstead, he’s been cob champion here three times and won the Supreme once, but this is the first time he’s won the coloured championship,” said Allister, who has won more supreme titles here than any other show producer. Now, a record ninth win could be within reach. “Getting into the Winston Churchill is an enormous achievement,” he added.

The pair made headlines with their win in 2019, with the duo making a remarkable comeback after Allister suffered a heart attack, and Our Cashel Blue had treatment for a rare form of cancer. Today's success proved that the gelding is as good as ever, though his win was tinged with a bit of sadness since his owner Lady Caroline Tyrell died last year at the age of 90. Following their win, the Hood Team posted that they were “thinking of Caroline, who would have been absolutely thrilled”.

In the showjumping classes, Megan James had a quite remarkable result in the Al Shira’aa RIHS Five Year Old qualifier, winning with NFS Angelina but also taking second and third spots with Tresor V’t Hof Van Eversem Z and Labat respectively. Nicole Lockhead (Emerald Irish Cruise) took the Six Year Old qualifier before Will Fletcher claimed the Seven Year Old top spot with Baloutero.

Helen Rees scored a win in the EQ Horseboxes RIHS 1.20m Open with Bianca Du Rouet, while the final Winter Grades B&C Qualifier went to Shane Breen (Vistogrand), with the pair finishing just 0.22sec ahead of Louise Simpson and Starouge.

For all showing results, click here.

For all showjumping results, click here.

Tickets for the Prenetics Royal International Horse Show (21-25 July) are on sale now, costing £15 per adult, £10 concessions and under-16s going free. Visit the Box Office.