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Brilliant sunshine and record temperatures set the seal on a glorious Royal Windsor Horse Show 2008 with huge crowds enjoying five days of superb competition.

The traditional start to the outdoor show season was given a boost this year with the return of international show jumping after 10 years. Fourteen senior British riders lined up against competitors from eight countries - Ireland, >France, Spain, Russia, Sweden, Jordan, Argentina and Portugal.

The international action began on Thursday and concluded on Sunday with a dramatic Royal Windsor Grand Prix being won by Michael Whitaker, Britain's leading world ranked rider who partnered Amai to victory at the horse's first three star FEI Grand Prix. William Funnell took second place with Cortaflex Billy Birr with Duncan Inglis and Sunkist in third.

Michael Whitaker said: "It has been a great show. The organisation has been good and the footing is superb. It is good to have another international show in this country."

Edge of seat action in the Pimms-sponsored International Six Bar competition was one of the highlights of a packed Saturday programme with Peter Charles and Murkas Pom d'Ami scoring the only third round clear with the last fence set at just under 2m.
The Accenture-sponsored Young Rider classes generated huge interest as the final selection trial for the European Championship team and culminated on Sunday with the Grand Prix which was won by Nicole Pavitt with Maestro De Rend Peine.

Show jumper Mark Armstrong was among riders welcoming the return of international jumping to Windsor. "We are lucky to have this surface to jump on. It's a show to be proud of. I'd rather be here than in La Baule."

The international jumping followed 12 hours of National Jumping classes on the first day of the show. There was a truly international flavour in the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix with a top level international competition being won by Australia's Boyd Exell. With the Dutch drivers competing in Holland, there was the opportunity for other leading drivers to pick up world cup qualification. This paid dividends for Benjamin Allaud of France who took first place in the marathon. Legendary British driver George Bowman and leading British women drivers, sisters Pippa and Karen Bassett were also in action as visitors soaked up one of Royal Windsor's most exciting spectacles.

Onlookers lined the Copper Horse Arena on Sunday to watch as HRH The Duke of Edinburgh with HM The Queen's Fell ponies led a concours d'elegance by the British Driving Society.

Show rings were packed throughout with record entries in some classes. One of the highlights from the showing classes came on the opening day as, with HM The Queen watching from the ringside, her homebred riding horse Petition and Katie Jerram took the riding horse championship. By Petoski, the six-year-old gelding was second as a novice at Royal Windsor in 2007. HM The Queen's Highland filly Balmoral Bluebell stood reserve in the Land Rover Mountain and Moorland In-Hand Championship.

Meanwhile, there was a record third win in three years for Carol Bardo's Silverstream II who headed the heavyweight hunter section.
In keeping with the military traditions of the show which was founded in 1943 to raise funds for the Wings for Victory Campaign, there were several competitions for the armed services ranging from tent pegging to skill at arms. In the show piece Land Rover-sponsored Services Team Jumping Competition, a clear round by Lieutenant Commander Kate Welch and It's Himself secured victory for the Royal Navy A Team. Second place went to the Defence Animal Centre's 'A' team, with the Army Medical Services 'A' Team in third.

The Household Cavalry Best Turned Out Trooper, sponsored by Hermes, was presented by HM The Queen to Windsor-based Trooper Chris Jackson and his horse William.

A series of demonstrations staged for the first time in the Copper Arena by the British Horse Society resonated with visitors who were treated to a snapshot of everything equestrian. This daily programme show-cased all aspects of the work of the Society from training to riding and road safety with the highlight being a Masterclass by British Olympic eventing team coach Yogi Breisner.

The British Horse Society was also in the spotlight early in the show when HM The Queen presented HRH The Duke of Edinburgh with the BHS Queen's Award for his services to equestrianism. BHS Chief Executive Graham Cory said: "All the masterclasses have been very well received - the feedback from members of the public has shown that they have enjoyed it and learned a lot. From our point of view this is definitely something we would like to repeat."

With a packed array of showing classes and attractions including a fantastic range of 200 shops, the Land Rover 4X4 'experience', The Royal Windsor Food and Drink Festival, entertaining displays in the main arena from tent-pegging to the Shetland pony grand national and Pony Club mounted games, the show proved a real crowd puller with thousands of spectators flocking to the show over the five days.

Royal Windsor Horse Show Organiser Simon Brooks-Ward said: "The glorious weather has brought out the best in Windsor. We have had fantastic crowds and packed stands. I have never seen so many people watching international show jumping and all the other displays and activities in the arena.

"Despite what seems to be a recession, it has been a bumper year for Windsor. I am delighted that we have brought international jumping back for the first time in 10 years. This year's programme is part of the build up to hosting the 2009 European Show Jumping and Dressage Championships next August which will be a huge event for horse sport in this country. The success of jumping at this year's show will mean that it is something that we can build on for the future."

He added that both the Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo and preparations for the European Championships had brought significant developments to the infrastructure of this year's show.

"We have increased places in the stands around the main arena by more than 2000 seats which means that more of our spectators can catch the action. We have installed several miles of metal tracking walkways all around the showground which is all part of improving conditions for spectators and exhibitors alike."

For the first time, the action in the main arena has been relayed live on a vast TV screen. "Royal Windsor is already one of the most prestigious equestrian events in the world. All these elements are part of our vision to become a first-class international show jumping venue."

Next year's Royal Windsor Horse Show will take place from 14th-17th May 2009 and will be a test event for the 2009 European Dressage and Show Jumping Championships which are set to take place on the Royal Windsor showground from 25th-30th August.