Morton wins first Hickstead supreme with Brilliant hunter

Will Morton enjoyed a coup in today’s Supreme Hunter Championship, taking his first Longines International Arena title with the eight-year-old lightweight Kilcarna Brilliant.

“It’s not sunk in yet – I’m just ecstatic,” said Will, who comes from Chelmsford. “He really deserved it – he was phenomenal, and he gave me everything. I’ve had a few reserves in that ring, but I’ve never had a championship before.”

On the experience of winning in Hickstead’s iconic International Arena, Will commented: “absolutely lived up to expectations! Like, you’re just in your own world and waiting for the names, it’s just silent in there ­– and then you hear your name called out in first, and it’s just unbelievable. I couldn’t believe it. It was such a strong hunter championship that it could have gone any way, so I’m really over the moon.”

This is just Will’s second season riding the horse for owner Sarah-Ann Gunn, who asked him to pilot the gelding after meeting him when he was judging an amateur class she was riding in.

“I chose him to win that day – luckily, because a few days later, she rang me to say she’d be at a wedding over the Royal International, and would I ride him? It went from there – two days after I got him, we did our first show and went champion, and then he was first or champion every single time out, except HOYS and the Royal International, where he was second to Viewpoint, which I count as a win!”

Last year’s Royal International appearance proved a useful educational exercise for the then-seven-year-old: “They have to step it up in there, and he really did. When he was second last year, he came in here and just shut down a little bit; he got a bit anxious and nervous. He’s never a naughty horse, but he got a bit tense and quiet. Today, he’s a year on, and he’s come in, stepped up a gear, and gone absolutely phenomenally.”

In reserve to Will was top producer Katie Jerram-Hunnable on Castle Howard Legacy.

For full results click here.

The Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting takes place from 22-25 June at Hickstead in West Sussex. Tickets are available online or at the gate, and the action will also be shown live on Hickstead.TV and ClipMyHorse.TV.