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2019 Cheltenham Foxhunters winner Hazel Hill was crowned the Tattersalls RoR Ridden Showing Supreme Champion recently at the Jockey Club RoR National Championships, which took place at the Aintree International Equestrian Centre.

The 15-year-old gelding (pictured above – courtesy 1st Class Images), ridden by Jane Williams, daughter of Hazel Hill’s owner Diana Williams, who bought him from Ireland as a six-year-old maiden. Hazel Hill went on to win 13 of his 16 point-to-points in Britain – partnered in his first five victories by Jane, a former champion point-to-point rider herself – as well of six of his eight Hunter Chases, with his Cheltenham Festival success being the highlight. He retired after his 19th win, at Chaddesley Corbett in May 2021.

Jane said after the pair’s RoR success, “I’m thrilled with this win tonight – it was completely unexpected. He’s been with us most of his life and he’s a true family member who does everything from hunting to dressage, to leading my children on their ponies.”

Other notable performers from the pointing field included a fellow finalist in 2019 Aintree Foxhunters winner Top Wood and the Hamilton Tarmac RoR Elite Performance Award for Dressage Champion went to Fair Duchess, a maiden pointer for Robert Luke, who has moved up through the ranks of the dressage circuit since her retirement from racing.

David Catlow, Director of RoR said: “It was a very special event with an atmosphere like no other. There is a genuine feel-good factor walking around Aintree and it is heart-warming to see so many former racehorses looking so well with their devoted owners and riders. It is a major showcase for all that is good about racehorses, long after they have retired from the track. On behalf of the charity and the competitors, we would like to say a huge thank you to all our sponsors – The Jockey Club for their generous headline sponsorship, Tattersalls for supporting all of our showing series, and all the individual class sponsors.”