Robert Murphy & Lightning TW win Senior Newcomers title at Horse of the Year Show
Wednesday 06 October 2021
It was a tremendous jump-off round by Robert Murphy on Lightning TW, a 7 year-old bay gelding owned by London 2012 team gold medal winning rider Peter Charles MBE, this evening when they took the Senior Newcomers title this evening at Horse of the Year Show.
Robert, aged 20 from Preston in Lancashire, put in a tremendous performance to jump an incredibly fast clear in a time of 34.65 to take the win ahead of Sally Goding and Spring Willow who finished just over a second behind them in 35.82. Robert has been in tremendous form with the up-and-coming talent Lightning having also qualified him for the Equitop GLME Senior Foxhunter final which takes place tomorrow evening. What made his win all the more poignant is that he has won it twenty-two years after his father, former Olympian Peter Murphy, won the same class.
The Final, which had seen nineteen combinations come forward, was certainly made up from a strong field of contenders, all of whom had their eyes firmly set on taking the top spot. It was just over the half the field that qualified for the jump-off when ten of them achieved a first round clear across the 1.35m course. With time playing such a crucial role in how the final line up would look like there were a few that set off hoping to put in a fast time only to then pick up penalties as a result. Despite this it was only Robert that managed to break the 35 second barrier across the entire field which saw half of them post a second round clear.
It was a jubilant Robert that came in for the presentation before setting off for his spotlight followed lap of honour which has become so synonymous with Horse of the Year Show over the years. Shortly after coming out of the arena Robert said about is win "He jumped really well, I'm so pleased with him; he's jumped really well all year. He's done a few jump-off's but he isn't too experienced with them but he won a good Foxhunter qualifier before coming here so I was confident he could do it". About winning the title that his father had won before him he added "My dad had a great career as a rider and it would be lovely to follow in his footsteps. I've also been supported by another great rider in Peter Charles this year who owns him [Lightning TW) and I just feel very fortunate to have the ride and would like to thank Peter Charles for all his support and guidance".
Horse of the Year Show continues through until Sunday 10 October when it culminates with the Leading Showjumper of the Year being crowned. For more information, full results and ticketing information visit www.hoys.co.uk
Image credit: Julian Portch
