Marcus Ehning and Guy Williams first international winners at RIHS

Marcus Ehning and Noltes Kutchengirl win the Bunn Leisure
Trophy after a superb jump-off round

Marcus Ehning's round on Noltes Kutchengirl in the Bunn Leisure Trophy was a masterclass in how to ride on a natural surface. The result was a win in the £6,500 at the Longines Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, to the winner 1.50m after jumping off against 19 rivals.

The course, designed by Kelvin Bywater, was big, but 27 of the 50 starters still managed to come home without error. Only a third of the field remained fault free on the second tour of the international arena.

Early Dutch lead
The Netherlands' Gert Jan Bruggink (MCB Ulke) was the first to secure a double clear, which was soon followed by one from home rider Tina Fletcher (Hello Unique) although at a much steadier pace.

Ben Maher (Tripple X) decided to jump an Amlin Plus advertising banner in the middle of the arena to gain a quicker approach to the Longine vertical. The alternative was a longer route around one of Hickstead's natural fences. Unfortunately for Ben, his good time was blighted by a fence down elsewhere on the course. He had, however, showed those remaining that it was possible to do.

Both of the next two clear riders - France's Kevin Staut (Kraque Boom) and Brit Ellen Whitaker (Equimax Ocolado) - used the option, but they still couldn't catch the Dutchman.

Competitors watching how the course is riding

Perfect balance
Marcus followed immeditaely after Ellen, with his 14-year-old Rio Global Champions Tour Grand Prix winner, but he opted to go around the hedge rather than attempt the advertising board.

"I hate doing things like that," he said. "Jumping obstacles which are not part of the actual course is never an option for me."

Noltes Kutchengirl was originally named Lord's Fantastic Mouse and it's a good job her name was changed, because her keenness across the floor and attack of the fences was anything but mouse-like.

Galloping round the hedge, Marcus leaned right forward and helped the mare balance herself on the downhill then uphill turn round to the vertical. The pair then angled the fence landing and turning immediately to head to the final two fences.

John Whitaker and Argento, the best-placed British
combination, who finished third

"I was able to get six strides in perfectly to the last oxer," he said. "I don't usually win on the first day, so I don't know yet whether it's a good or bad thing for me. But winning here is good because it's a special ring with it's own character."


Remaining clears
Four more clears came from Germany's Hans-Dieter Dreher (Magnus Romeo), who finished runner-up; Saudi's Abdullah al Sharbatly (Jella de Gaverie); and Brits John Whitaker (Argento) and Simon Crippen (Voss). John finished best of the home riders in third.

Win for Williams
Guy Williams scored a win for great Britain in the first class of the day, the Royal International Vase, with Andy Doswell's Djakarta.

He took the 78-starter one-round class by a three seconds from the USA's Laura Kraut (Woodstock O).

"It was a big class, but there were lots of people using it for schooling," said Guy. "Fortunately for me, most of them were going slow!"

Guy bought Djakarta to the Longine Royal International Horse Show to increase her experience of international competition.

"She is very low mileage, but she has jumped at international shows before," said Guy, who has partnered the eight-year-old mare since March. "I just jump her in third classes at the moment, but she wins everywhere she goes."

Four days ago, Guy won a Horse & Hound Foxhunter regional with this mare, who was produced by Kevin Cooper, so she'd definitely be one to keep an eye on in the final.

For full results from the show, click here