The Beccles & Bungay Riding Club Open Show took place at Geldeston Hall. This is a popular show with 41 classes including Utility, In Hand, Ridden and Working Hunter classes as well as show jumping. The recent rain resulted in near perfect going.

Linda Reed, one of the show organisers, said: ‘The show was a great success for the club.

“Last year was a record year for us and despite the current economic climate we have equalled it this year.

“We are very grateful to our four main sponsors, Delfs Garage of Hempnal, EH Haylage, Hammonds of Halesworth, Juddpurs Saddlery and Christine Osborne’s Rosettes for their sponsorship and to all the myriad of small businesses that donated prizes to all class winners. Thank you to all the competitors for supporting us and the volunteers that made the day a success.”

The In Hand classes judged, by Jane Etheridge, were particularly well supported. There was a wide variety of breeds from French Bretons to Fallabellas on show.

The In Hand Foreign Breed class was won by Michael Ashford and ‘C’est La Vie’, a six-year-old AES Warmblood.

They went on to take the In Hand Championship. Nick Chaston and his 14-year-old Fell pony ‘Bramble’ were the Reserve In Hand Champions after winning the In Hand Mountain & Moorland.

Under saddle and ridden by his owner, Rachel Ashford, ‘C’est La Vie’ took second place in the Open Show Hunter and third in the Ridden Foreign Breed classes.

Riding her other horse ‘Dr Watson’, Rachel won the Ridden Veteran class and went on to take Reserve Champion in the Utility & Novelty ring behind Ruth Harris and ‘Dan’ who took the Championship after winning the All-Rounder class.

This meant Rachel and ‘Dr Watson’ were up against her husband and ‘C’est La Vie’ in the competition for the Supreme Championship.

It was Michael and C’est La Vie that emerged triumphant taking the shows Supreme Champion title.

Karen Prot and her handsome grey ‘Loui’ took the Reserve Supreme Championship after winning the Green Working Hunter class and becoming the Working Hunter Champion.

New to the show this year and well received were two Thoroughbred and Retired Racehorse Association (TARRA) classes. The In Hand class was won by Mark Youngs and ‘Rockley Beach’. The ridden class was won by Joey Ellis and ‘Blue Wing’ who then went on to win the Ridden Championship.

The Ridden Showing was judged by Peter Gunn and was well received by the competitors.

Sally Bircham, who was placed fifth with her horse ‘Jimmys Friend’ in the Ridden Cob class, said: “It was really good to have a such a friendly and encouraging judge in the ridden classes and it was great to see horses ridden by the judge too!”

The Working Hunter classes, judged by Lesley Bradfield, were some of the smallest classes of the day.

The Working Cob was won by Billie Smith and ‘Bryan’. The pair had already been successful earlier in the day when they won the Ridden Piebald & Skewbald class.

They went on to take the Reserve Working Hunter Championship with Karen Proto and ’Loui’ taking the Working Hunter Championship after winning the Green Working Hunter class.