Borrowed ride lands the spoils for Louise Saywell at HOYS

Nottinghamshire’s Louise Saywell won the Irish Horse Gateway International showjumping class at HOYS on Saturday.

Her win came on board the 13-year-old stallion Peiter VI, who is owned and normally ridden by James Hughes.

“I’ve had a hard few days, with things not going as they should, so to get this win has given me a confidence boost,” said Louise. “I have won two national classes here, but this is my first international win here, and it feels amazing.”

Louise rode the horse last year, and was able to borrow him again for HOYS.

“He came here to me the week before, and then he will go home after the show. He is really fast against the clock, and he has got all the experience,” Louise added.

In the Naylors Equestrian Accumulator, Ireland’s Billy Twomey won on board Archolum Duke. The pair picked up the maximum score of 65 in a time of 43.05sec to take the win ahead of France’s Julien Epaillard and Britain’s John Whitaker.

In the pony showjumping classes, 15-year-old Robert Murphy won the Squibb Group Pony Foxhunter Championship on the eight-year-old bay gelding Uncanny. He beat runner-up Nicole Kershaw’s time of 31.03sec by more than half a second.

“It means a lot to win here. It’s a special occasion, and it is my last year on ponies as well,” said Robert, who is the son of former international showjumper Peter Murphy.

Nicole Lockhead Anderson travelled down from Aberdeen to claim the honours in the Stable Company 138cms championship.

Nicole, 14, won the same title last year on Sonas Barney, but this year it was 18-year-old Shappen Pilgrim who carried her to victory.

Rachel Proudley won the Barfoot-Saunt 50th Wedding Anniversary 128cm Championship with the 15-year-old skewbald mare Painted Lady IV – a surprise Christmas present from her family three years ago.

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