Press release from Al Shira'aa Bolesworth International, edited by World of Showjumping

The curtain came down on a spectacular fortnight of international showjumping at the Al Shira'aa Bolesworth International on Sunday, with Great Britain's Holly Smith claiming her fifth international victory of the show in the feature CSI4* Medium Tour Final.

With elite combinations from around the globe competing across two weeks of international competition, the final day once again showcased the depth of talent attracted to Bolesworth, underlining the event's growing reputation as one of the UK's leading international equestrian fixtures.

The feature CSI4* Longines Ranking 1.45m Medium Tour Final, sponsored by Grosvenor Insurance, attracted 68 horse-and-rider combinations, all bidding to secure the final ranking class victory of the second week. The challenging first round track immediately proved influential, with riders finding the time allowed achievable but the technical questions, particularly the final line, catching out combination after combination. At the halfway stage, not a single rider had managed to produce a clear round.

That changed when Ireland's Trevor Breen delivered a masterclass aboard Drewmain Musachino (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Cardento 933), becoming the first rider to lay down a clear round in 76.65 seconds. Moments later, Great Britain's Holly Smith produced another immaculate round aboard the experienced Fruselli (Zambesi TN x Karandasj) in 76.75 seconds. The momentum continued as Jay Halim (GBR) and Midnight (Comme Il Faut x Numero Uno), a horse purchased through the Bolesworth Elite Auction, added a third consecutive clear before Mark Edwards (GBR) and Dillinger NE (Diarado x Carismo) followed suit. Christopher Smith (GBR) and Messarado Blue (Messenger x Indorado) then booked their place in the jump off, with Guy Williams (GBR) and Kermit Van Overis Z (Kentucky van Overis x Pablo van Berkenbroek) completing an impressive line-up of six combinations to return against the clock.

Breen was first to return and immediately laid down the challenge, producing the class's first double clear in 40.46 seconds. However, Holly Smith was not prepared to settle for second. Riding the experienced Fruselli, Smith shaved almost four seconds from Breen's target to stop the clock in an incredible 36.52 seconds and move into the lead.

Jay Halim maintained his excellent form with another clear in 46.09 seconds, while Mark Edwards incurred a single rail. Christopher Smith suffered two fences down alongside time penalties, leaving Guy Williams as the final challenger. Williams produced another polished clear in 44.44 seconds, but it was not enough to deny Smith her fifth international victory of an outstanding fortnight.

The victory represented a fitting finale to an exceptional Al Shira'aa Bolesworth International for Smith and her team, having claimed five international wins across the two-week show. "I can't quite believe it to be honest," said Smith. "Fruselli is 16 years old, I've had him since he was seven, and he's been off work for two years through injury. He's won Grand Prix’s for me, he's won my daughter a Children on Horses European medal, and he comes back and just does this. It's a credit to the whole team for getting him back, his owners who are his biggest fans, and we just couldn't love him any more."

Reflecting on Sunday’s course, she added: "I ended up changing my plan in round one from fence two to three. It did walk on seven, but I was drawn quite late on and everyone seemed to be getting a funny angle at the red vertical, so I decided to go another stride there. From the stile to the water tray oxer, I thought about adding another stride too, but I stuck to my original plan. I got a good jump over the stile which set me up perfectly and thankfully it all worked out. It certainly helps having such an experienced horse."

Summing up her remarkable fortnight, Smith said: "The horses and the whole team have been in incredible form. This has really been a coming-of-age show for many of my younger horses, so to produce these results has been fantastic. Shows of this calibre are very rare in the UK and I'm so grateful to Al Shira'aa and Bolesworth for creating opportunities like this. I hope we've provided excellent sport for them and everyone who attended the show.”