Price is right with double successes

PENNY PRICE has been taking the showing world by storm with wins at two major venues.

The Newent rider began with a win in the Lightweight Hunter class at the Three Counties Show, where she beat seasoned professional Louise Bell on her nine-year-old chestnut Warco.

Price, who works full-time as an IT manager, said: "It is difficult in showing to be recognised if your name is not known and it is very hard to beat the professionals.

"It takes a brave judge to put an amateur in front of the top professionals. Warco is a lovely horse and, although it's very hard work competing at this level, I really enjoy it."

The duo went on to the Hickstead Derby meeting in Sussex, along with the best showing producers in the country.

Price said: "We qualified for the Horse of the year Show at Hickstead – this time coming second to Louise – and went on to win the Amateur Working Hunter Championship there.

"I'm looking forward to the Royal Show (July 7-10) now and hoping my good run continues."

Arlingham-based Mel Smallman will also be in action at the show will be hoping to follow up the double she scored at the Three Counties.

Smallman won the Native Novice ridden class with the Fell mare Murthwaite Mulan and the Highland, Dales and Fell in-hand championship with the Fell mare Heltondale Bonny, both owned by Thomas Capstick.

"Murthwaite Mulan came to us as a brood mare but two years ago she didn't hold a foal, so we broke her in – at nine years old," she said.

"She can either be an old bat or fantastic under saddle. The Three Counties was Heltondale Bonny's first-ever show – she's now eight and came to us off the Fells – she was gobsmacked when she got to the show."