Royal Windsor Horse Show celebrates a glorious five days

As the curtains fall on the final day of the 2011 Royal Windsor Horse Show there has certainly been much to celebrate. The gate showed a 9% increase on 2010 as crowds flocked in their thousands to witness top class action over five days and worthy champions have been crowned across the myriad classes and championships. 

 

In the top class showjumping competitions, America enjoyed a highly successful week. Laura Kraut was on superb form, notching up five wins in total, while her pupil, Jessica Springsteen, turned heads with a string of eye-catching performances, including finishing equal first in the Land Rover six bar on Saturday. Jessica’s father, legendary rock star Bruce Springsteen, stayed for the duration of the show to watch his daughter ride.

 

The Alltech Royal Windsor Grand Prix saw Ireland triumph after Shane Breen put in a scintillating performance to head a 13-strong jump-off field aboard Carmena Z. He finished nearly four seconds ahead of Robert Bevis and Courtney 6.

 

Boyd Excell took the honours in the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix, competing against one of the best international fields that Windsor has seen in a long time. 

 

The Showing competitions were outstanding this year and for the first time the event passed the 3000 entries mark confirming how well established Royal Windsor is on the equestrian calendar. 

 

The DAKS International Pony Club Mounted Games Championship went to Scotland, who last won the competition six years ago.   His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, who celebrates his 90^th birthday later this year, was on hand to present the prizes in person to the 25 Pony Club competitors. Earlier in the day His Royal Highness had led a procession of around 35 carriages on a three-and-a-half mile drive around the Windsor Estate for the Laurent Perrier meet of British Driving Society.

 

Simon Brooks-Ward, Show Director, commented: ‘We have been very pleased with the high level of competition across the board at Windsor. In a year when other events have seen falling entries I am delighted with how well supported the show has been by competitors. We have them to thank for providing our visitors with such an exciting and entertaining Show’.

 

Next year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show will take place from 9 - 13 May 2012, when the event will be celebrating Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee anniversary.