Flanks for the memory as ladies gallop to glory in side saddle

After the competitors showed off their paces with a gallop in front of the grandstand, first place went to Miss Jenna Tyldesley from Glossop’s bay gelding, Tudor Minstrel.

In second place was Linda Wilkinson’s Agherlow Sir Walter, produced by Magnus Nicholson from Bedale and ridden by Jane Cooper.

Mrs Cooper drove up from Dorset yesterday morning to ride in the competition, arriving with just half an hour to spare.

All concerned were delighted with second place, particularly Mr Nicholson who said: “This is the first time he’s had a side saddle on since the Horse of the Year Show last year.”

It was a good day all round for the Nicholsons who were also responsible for producing the overall in-hand hunter champion, the three-year-old gelding Stanhope’s Mr Macoy, owned by Mrs Maphra Smithers from Leyburn.

This was a first showing attempt at the Great Yorkshire for Mrs Smithers who, not surprisingly, was thrilled with the result.

Yorkshire breeder Hazel Bramley from Bolton Percy and her family were celebrating after “an amazing day” in the hunter breeding and youngstock classes.

Their mare, What-A-Yarn out of Mill-on-the-Floss, was champion foal and the mare’s yearling filly, First Term, also won her class.

Mrs Bramley’s daughter, Rachel Teasdale, said: “We are over the moon to win here. For us, the Great Yorkshire is the best show of the year.”

The champion brood mare was the lightweight mare Euphoria 11 shown by Charles Upham from Devon.

Reserve was Tony Wareham’s heavyweight mare, Who’s That Lady, from Dorset. Mr Upham’s filly foal, Seeing Red, was also the reserve champion foal.

The champion colt foal was Make My Day, owned by Lucy Gillingham from Leicestershire.