Thomas Pritchard Secures Victory in the UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B&C Qualifier at Arena UK Winter Classic Show
Monday 01 December 2025
Thomas Pritchard made a winning trip to Arena UK’s Winter Classic Show, claiming an impressive victory in the UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B&C Qualifier with Princess SW.
Forty-two competitors took on course-designers Mark McGowan and Heather Blackie’s technical 1.35m 11-fence track. Thanks to the high standard of riding on display, almost half of the class made it through to a competitive jump-off, all vying for two qualification tickets to the final at the 2025 Royal International Horse Show. An impressive 11 combinations delivered double clears, but no one could match the speed and accuracy of Pritchard.
Riding the six-year-old mare Princess SW, Thomas was drawn fourth to go in the jump-off. The pair delivered a blistering round, stopping the clock in 33.38 seconds—a full 2.49 seconds ahead of their closest rival. Their performance secured both the class win and coveted qualification for the Royal International.
Thomas, who is based with Julien Mincher, continues to build strong form with the promising young mare: “She jumped super. I managed to watch a couple go, and I had a plan. I just had to let her travel and keep her going and was able to dare her down to the double of verticals.
“It was a big track for a six-year-old but she’s such a capable mare and felt really comfortable. She’s on great form with several big wins this year, and she always feels like she doesn’t really need to try a lot of the time.
“She was unlucky at HOYS but had a good show at the Young Horse Championships in Lanaken, Belgium. She’ll have a quieter winter and hopefully she’ll come back bigger and stronger, before we go away to Spain in the new year. Next year the aim to qualify her for HOYS again and hopefully step up to Foxhunter and Talent Seekers.”
Pritchard, who has developed a successful partnership with the mare since 2023, said: “I want to thank her owners, the Wallace, family for all their support and for trusting me to ride her. This is the first horse of theirs that I took on, and they bred her which makes I extra special. They have a few more coming through which look to be exciting.”
Rikki Gradley and Quanta Costa JS chased the time hard but slotted into second place, crossing the finish in 35.87 seconds, whilst Keith Shore and Congo Khalasar SFS picked up third place, in 35.94 seconds.
UNIBED - High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B&C Qualifier
Arena UK
1st – Thomas Pritchard & Princess SW – 0/0 – 33.38
2nd – Rikki Gradley & Quanta Costa JS – 0/0 – 35.87
3rd – Keith Shore & Congo Khalasar SFS - 0/0 – 35.94
NB Results pending final grading
Image: ATG Photography
