Chris Smith Clinches Back-to-Back Wins in the International Stairway at Royal Highland Show
Monday 23 June 2025
.JPG "Chris Smith Clinches Back-to-Back Wins in the International Stairway at Royal Highland Show")
The International Stairway at the Royal Highland Show saw a third winner of the 2025 series crowned. Victory went the way of Chris Smith who picked up the win in the International Stairway series at the Royal Highland Show for the second year in a row, this time riding Messarado Blue.
Twenty combinations came forward to contend Shaun Sands’ 1.50m course and, with only one clear in the first round, the top five would advance to the hotly contested jump-off.
Last to go was Chris and Nicola Barry’s Messarado Blue, who jumped the only clear in round one. Another clear would guarantee them the win, four faults, and the results would come down to the clock as three combinations had already jumped clear in the jump-off. Setting off at speed, the pair just tapped out a pole at the double, but Chris kept travelling with the 10-year-old mare and trusted her to keep the poles up through some tight turns. In the end it was enough as they raced through the finish in a time of 54.17 seconds to take the victory.
The reigning National Champion, Rebecca Marsh, and her own Stevie G picked up second place just 0.34 seconds in arrears whilst Emma Crawford rode Lynn Crawford’s Dukes of Hazzard into third, 1.78 seconds further off the pace. Charlotte Ash, winner of the 2025 Ella Popely Mentorship Award, piloted Graeme Ash’s Irma Riende into fourth place and James Smith picked up fifth with Jim Wilmer and his own Tayvale Hunky Dory.
“When I walked the course, it looked big, strong enough, but the ground was perfect and there was a good field of horses competing,” said Chris. “The atmosphere was amazing; you don’t get many places better than those big grass arenas when the crowds are there to support. There were some funny jumps, like the rail bridge, which was quite early in the course, and jumping away from the collecting ring, and I think caught a few people out as well.
“I was first to go on my other horse, who spooked at the first fence but then jumped a great clear round, which was a bit frustrating, but the mare jumped amazingly. She really thrives in the big grass arenas, and what she sometimes misses in scope, she makes up in heart. She really is as brave as a lion.
“She is homebred by my partner, Nicola, and my father-in-law, Jim, so we’ve had her right from the start. We know each other inside out, and that really makes so much difference. We’ll head to Bolesworth this week and the onto to the Great Yorkshire show for the International Stairway and Cock O’ the North, which she finished fourth in last year,” added Chris.
The International Stairway takes place across a number of county shows where winning combinations accrue league points that count towards the Final which takes place at the British Showjumping National Championships in August at Stoneleigh Park. The series culminates with a high-profile championship where, not only is the National Champion crowned, but three Horse of the Year Show International Wild Cards are up for grabs.
This popular Series is supported by the British Showjumping Business Partnership, which includes ClipMyHorse.TV, Charles Owen, HorseQuest, Ariat, and Zebra Products, to whom everyone at British Showjumping is extremely grateful.
Find the full International Stairway league here:
https://www.britishshowjumping.co.uk/rankings/lists/International-Stairway-Series. The next International Stairway competition takes place at the Royal Norfolk Show on 25th & 26th June 2025.
Royal Highland Show – Friday, 20th June
British Showjumping Business Partnership International Stairway
1st – Chris Smith & Messarado Blue – 0/4 54.17 seconds
2nd – Rebecca Marsh & Stevie G – 4/0 54.51 seconds
3rd – Emma Crawford & Dukes of Hazzard – 4/0 56.29 seconds
4th – Charlotte Ash & Irma Riende – 4/0 57.05 seconds
5th – James Smith & Tayvale Hunky Dory – 4/4 58.14 seconds
NB: Results pending official grading.
Image: Sinclair Photography
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