Di Lampard, with the Olympics in her sights, was not surprisingly the favourite to win the Samsung Ladies' Championship. In the event Abbervail Dream looked distinctly ring rusty and had two fences down. The course proved quite demanding and produced only 3 initial clears. Monica Campbell, going first into the jump off on QBE Insurance Beach Boy, couldn't risk going too steadily and had one down. Lynne Bevan riding Headley Stud's Jerome III gambled on having a slow clear and it came off - somewhat luckily as last year's winner, Jane Annett, and Pipakie had the misfortune to have the last down when on their way to victory with a faster round.

Robert Smith did get some consolation for his fall when he won the Walwyn Novices Championship on yet another Dutch bred stallion, Marius Claudius. This looks a highly promising young horse who took the jump off easily in his stride, beating Jane Annett's time on Darco Delight by an amazing 3 seconds without seeming at full stretch.

Michael Whitaker in action on Calvaro in the final leg of the Anglo-Irish Challenge

International 'spice' was added to the Show by virtue of the newly devised Anglo Irish Challenge, which ran over the first four days. Each country had 8 nominated riders (although, to confuse the issue, some additional riders were allowed to participate) and in the final event on Saturday they split into 4 teams of 4 riders. The riders amassed points according to their placings and the Irish, having got off to a great start with 1st and 2nd in the Traxdata Speed Stakes, quickly added to their points on Friday in the two-horse relay, winning with Edward Doyle and Paul Darragh.

It was an interesting idea with the first rider going over 8 big fences and the second rider tackling a speed course. Unfortunately it took place in heavy rain, which spoilt its 'spectator appeal'. Harry Marshall and Dermott Lennon finished second for Ireland and it was beginning to look like an Irish whitewash! The following day continued in the same vein with Harry Marshall winning again on Cruiseline, a chestnut daughter of Cruising, John Whitaker's ride.

Di Lampard had a double clear on Valentino R

It wasn't until the final leg that the English showed any sign of good form. This was a Nations' Cup type contest of two rounds with each nation's riders split into two teams. At last we had a homeside victory, thanks largely to double clear rounds by Di Lampard on Valentino R and Robert Smith on Athos du Valot. Michael Whitaker riding Calvaro and Geoff Billington with Virtual Village Niko made up the quartet. The final score was Ireland 11 points and England 7.75 but the mysteries of the scoring were somewhat lost on the average spectator, who simply wants to enjoy the exciting jumping and may only attend the Show on one day, therefore having little interest in a competition running over four!

Nevertheless, initiative deserves its reward and the competition could, with simplifications to its format, prove to be a winner in the long term providing it does not exclude the possibility of other overseas competition. Maybe it could become a three-way tie with a mixed 'European' team included? Hopefully a successful formula will be found because Royal Windsor provides the first major outdoor venue for many of our top riders and horses - similarly the first opportunity for show jumping fans to see them in action. Long may it continue.

Photographs © Helen Revington and Stephen Sparkes

More information about Helen and Stephen can be found here

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