Fraser Reed and HHS Diamant Triumph in UNIBED Winter Grades B&C Qualifier
Monday 12 January 2026
Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre Winter Classic Show played host to the first UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B&C Qualifier qualifying class of 2026 as riders battle it out for a coveted ticket to the final at the Royal International Horse Show.
A competitive field of 33 starters came forward, with 12 combinations progressing to the jump-off. Three combinations went on to deliver all-important double-clear performances, underlining the technical demands of the track.
Seamus Taylor was first to return in the jump-off and set the early pace with Sharon Quigley’s Cooper VD Berghoeve Z, posting a clear round that initially put him into the lead. However, Fraser Reed quickly raised the bar, stopping the clock fastest aboard Matthew Pike’s 10-year-old Irish Gelding, HHS Diamant, to take over top spot and ultimately secure victory.
Taylor returned once more as the final rider in the class with his second mount, Billy Wolsey, owned by Antia Duffy, and another clear round saw him slot into third place, capping a strong performance for the rider.
Following his victory, Fraser said: “I wasn’t able to watch anyone go as I was an early draw, but I knew it was going to be a competitive and fast jump-off with the numbers in it. Knowing that, my mindset was to go for it, and it paid off. It was a technical enough class and up to height, but he coped really well.”
“I’ve been riding him for six months or so now. He came over from Ireland where he hadn’t really don’t a lot but he’s just taking everything in his stride and has had some really promising results. We’re heading to Arena UK for their Winter Classic Show next week before we head over to Spain for a few weeks where he will hopefully step up to jump some ranking classes,” added Fraser.
UNIBED - High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B&C Qualifier
Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre
1st – Fraser Reed & HHS Diamant - 0/0 39.52
2nd – Seamus Taylor & Cooper VD Berghoeve Z - 0/0 41.85
3rd – Seamus Taylor & Billy Wolsey - 0/0 50.04
NB Results pending final grading
Image: KT Equine Photography
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