A producer makes a new mark on the history books, and first-timers impress as natives go head to head for 2025 London International heritage champion crown.
Katy Marriott-Payne made history on the final afternoon of the London International Horse Show (LIHS) astride Felicity Thompson’s home-bred Dartmoor Salcombe Starehole Bay (Cecil) as she became the first rider to win the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) heritage championship title four times.
“I always knew he had it in him,” said Katy. “We just needed to wait for everything to be right and go his way. Although I was beginning to think, ‘What if he doesn’t do it?’ And, ‘Does it matter?’ Because he’s had such an amazing career.”
She also worried that being in the first split of shows, she had played it “too safe”.
“I worried that maybe I’d not done enough – it’s hard to know whether to keep it simple or throw in fancy moves when you’re in the first split, but he has such a correct way of going.”
Eleven-year-old Cecil has been produced by Katy since the beginning of his career, and has more than earned his nickname “Special Cecil” over the years. The pair have proven ones to watch time and again, notching up championships at Royal Windsor and Royal International (RIHS), and a win at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). He’s also twice stood best of breed here, and finished runner-up in 2021.
Felicity, who sustained a serious accident in 2022, was there ringside, and said that after her accident, he hadn’t covered many mares, but now that she is fully recovered, “he has some lovely ladies waiting for him in the field”.
Katy had more reason to celebrate, with a further two in the line-up of the class, which was sponsored by New Horizons Plastics.
Young team member Maisie Kerry-Oates and seven-year-old Cadlanvalley Royal Bronze finished fourth and added yet more titles to their tally: best junior, and best Welsh section B, having stood champion performance pony here last term. They have also been crowned champion junior at both HOYS and Hickstead.
Cadlanvalley Royal Bronze and Maisie Kerry-Oates finished fourth, best junior and best Welsh B. Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Finally, Kimberly Bates – Katy’s “chief pony stealer” – finished the best of the Welsh section Ds and seventh astride Chris Phillips and Charlotte Laurens’ Garthfach Classic Addition. Kimberly and the Ynyslyns Orlando daughter executed an effortless performance to gain the best of the ride marks, with 89.
Reserve for the 2025 London International heritage champion crown
Kimberly shared the top ride mark with London debutant Harriet Lawton, who rode Ellena Thomas’ New Forest best of breed Nutschullyng River Dance to reserve champion. Interestingly, Team Thomas also took the highest performance score in this championship last year.
London debutant Harriet and “Dancer” appeared to enjoy every minute in the arena and gave a sparkling performance here, her last show with him.
“He’s been sold now,” revealed Ellena, who was also riding in the championship, “so it’s extra emotional. I had my last show on him at Royal International where we were second, and now this is Harriet’s last show. She did so much for me at the beginning of the season when I had to have time out of the saddle and she loves him so much. I couldn’t be more pleased.”
Harriet Lawton and Nutschullyng River Dance finish reserve in the 2025 heritage championship at London International. Credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
Notching their best result yet of five appearances at London were third-placed Lucy Heygates and her partner of five years, Connemara gelding Inverin Paddy. They were the best of three Connemaras in the top 10.
Chelsea White’s reigning HOYS ridden Connemara and RIHS junior large breed King Bunowen Castle Ali and Chelsea’s daughter, influencer Harlow White, 14, took home fifth. An emotional Chloe Heathcote rode her mother Tammy’s former best of breed Eastlands Dunknowe to seventh place on their final show-ring appearance together.
Also ending their stunning run on a high were winners of the Fell best of breed sash, Aimee Devane and charming Greenholme Kate. This year, the pair were reserve champions at both Royal Windsor and HOYS, after lifting Aimee’s first-ever win there.
Owned by Chantelle Bryan, the nine-year-old is by Greenholme Warrior and out of Greenholme Bethany, who was struck by lightning just three weeks after Kate was born, leaving her orphaned. Luckily, Kate was successfully fostered by a coloured cob.
Ninth place headed home to Lilly Richardson and her mother Lucy’s Welsh section A Marsh Walk On By (Archie). Lucy and Archie are no strangers to the limelight. They are former winners of the open section A and the junior small breeds at HOYS, and were champion in the workers here last year having topped the nursery stakes final.
Megan Hewitt staged a successful comeback astride her own New Forest Berrywood Wind Dancer, a seven-year-old by Portmore Downpour out of Portmore Raspberry Ripple. The pair were 10th. Megan badly broke her leg 13 weeks ago, meaning she had to sit out HOYS. Luckily, Lucy Glover stepped in to ride him, and qualified for here at their practice run, the Heritage championships.
“I can’t believe I actually managed to pull it off; it was only my third time back in the saddle since the injury and first show since August,” said Megan. “It was also my first top-10 placing at London – I’ve been best of breed several times but never the top 10. I’m lucky to have a very genuine pony that looked after me today.”
While his rider Sam Roberts has plenty of London experience under her belt, her ride was also making a first appearance. This was Bradley Helyer and Cheryl Hillman’s Welsh section C Cnwch Carwyn. The six-year-old is in his first season under saddle, but has hit the ground running, qualifying for HOYS on his first attempt. He gave Sam a cracking birthday gift by qualifying for here and standing supreme at the BSPS Heritage championships.
Also at the Excel for the first time was Dales best of breed Cleatlam Calamity Jane, owned by Christopher Joseph and Kyle McClements, who was at the reins. The upstanding mare – who has previously bred a foal – and Kyle were runners-up at HOYS earlier this autumn.
Another London debutant, Alice Sheen, made the journey from the Isle of Wight worthwhile with her own Carlung Xephyr who stood best of the Highlands. The award topped a super year for Alice and Xephyr, who also finished seventh at HOYS.
Jade Pirie rode James Pirie’s Anchor Jaffa Cake – by Waltersgay Nightingale out of Anchor Earthworm – to the Exmoor spoils. Jade and the former HOYS contender qualified at the Heritage championships.
Finally, Julian Walters and Jessica Talbot’s “yard favourite” six-year-old Shetland stallion Sharptor Democrat (Dexter) was piloted by Megan Bullen to be best of his breed. London marked the end of Dexter’s first season under saddle, in which he’s proven one to watch, winning the prestigious Picton novice final at the National Pony Society championships and qualifying for HOYS and London on his first attempts.
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