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‘We had to go to Plan B’: decorated worker lands Royal Windsor hunter championship

Bethan Simons Bethan Simons

    • The hunter championship at Royal Windsor is always a highlight for spectators, and this year proved no different as the decorated Mulberry Lane II (Obi) and his rider-producer Craig Kiddier ticked off yet another major title: the 2026 Windsor hunter championship.

    This was the pair’s first visit to The King’s back garden at the castle.

    “We came down yesterday for the workers,” said Craig. “But that didn’t quite go to plan and we had a couple down. So we had to go to Plan B instead, and it worked.”

    Plan B it may have been, but it was carried off with aplomb.

    “He loves a big occasion. He just sat up and grew as he went into the championship. He felt unreal – like he was on air.”

    Owner Susan Tennant spotted the OBSO Quality gelding as a three-year-old halfway down the line during a trip to Dublin Horse Show, and he’s proved her eye multiple times since. The 11-year-old is the reigning Royal International supreme horse, a title he also claimed in 2024 as well as the equivalent title at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

    Obi is also a three-time working hunter champion at Hickstead. Craig has already steered him to book his return pass for this year’s final, and continues to “dream of winning the workers at HOYS with him”.

    Mulberry Lane and Craig Kiddier gallop to the hunter tricolour at the 2026 Royal Windsor Horse Show

    Mulberry Lane shows off his impressive gallop for Craig Kiddier 

    Reserve to Obi for the 2026 Windsor hunter championship was the on form Jayne Ross, who claimed the ridden coloured championship less than 24 hours beforehand.

    This time, she was on board Charlotte Clark’s Harbour Master II (Marley), winner of the lightweight division.

    “We’ve had him a few years now and he’s just never ceases to produce the goods. He’s a really reliable horse,” said Jayne.

    The 10-year-old has certainly been a consistent winner, having also carried Charlotte sideways to two consecutive ladies hunter titles at the RIHS.

    This is also the third time Marley, who is by Harlequin Du Carel, has won the lightweight class at Royal Windsor.

    “He loves a big ring and loves it here,” said Jayne. “He loves the big occasion. He obviously likes being in the back garden of the royal family. He’s just a really nice, straightforward horse – exactly what it says on the box.”

    Other big names joined them in the ring including yesterday’s working hunter champion Hannah Horton, this time riding former HOYS winner Tigbourne, who stood second in the lightweights, matching last year’s placing.

    Robert Walker was on Jill Day’s heavyweight winner IJ Countryman and Katie Jerram-Hunnable chose to pilot Ingrid Shervington’s second-place heavyweight Goosey Gander after also repeating her 2025 second place aboard Ruth Flack’s middleweight Starring Louis.

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    Bethan Simons
    Bethan Simons

    H&H showing editor
    Bethan joined Horse & Hound as showing editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Showing World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she started showing as a teenager and has enjoyed wins at major shows up and down the country, including Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, as well as HOYS, RIHS and London. She is particularly passionate about Welsh breeds and is also a Welsh language commentator.
    Bethan Simons

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