Posted: 8th October 2018 | Back to news feed
The British Showjumping 128cm Championship
Izabella Rogers showed great form by winning the 128cm Pony Championship at Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham on Sunday. The 10-year-old, from Chelmsford in Essex, triumphed in the corresponding class at Hickstead this summer, and she was again on top form with her 15-year-old grey mare Whinney Lass.
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In a tight jump-off, just six hundredths of a second separated Izabella from runner-up Poppy Deakin, riding Munsboro Plunkett, as Izabella's time of 31.05 seconds proved just enough for victory in a class that has previously been won by the likes of Great Britain international showjumper William Whitaker. Third place went to Noora von Bulow and Sparkel in the Andrews Bowen International Arena at the NEC's Genting Arena, while Tabitha Kyle finished fourth aboard Corey's Princess.
"It was amazing, really exciting," said Izabella, as she celebrated her victory. "It was very nerve-wracking at the end. It was a testing jump-off course and I was just focusing on the last fence and hoping for the best. It's a huge arena. I rode here last year and I came sixth, and to win it is such a different feeling. It's the best day of my career."
Orphaned foal grows into Show Hunter Pony Champion
Partbred Welsh pony Penstrumbly Our Latif made quite a statement at his first Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) winning The Binks Family 153cm Show Hunter Pony of the Year before going on to stand overall Champion with Victoria Thomas in the saddle. Owned by Victoria’s dad, David Thomas, the Chestnut gelding did not have an easy start to life. Bred by Kath Hall, his mum passed away when he was just five days old and he had to be bottle fed. At three, Tiff, as he is known at home, won at the Royal Welsh Show in the Youngstock and was then bought by David as a five year old.
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Now aged six, Tiff has just come to the end of his first season competing with daughter Victoria. They went Supreme back at the Royal Welsh and will now go back home to Swansea with of the most prestigious accolades in showing. “It’s absolutely incredible,” said Victoria said after the class. “He’s just the pony of a lifetime and loves a crowd.”
15-year-old Victoria has had her own inspiring journey up through the levels at HOYS. This was her 16th class here following her first appearance in the Lead Rein Show Ponies. In 2013 she fulfilled her dream of riding in the Andrews Bowen International Arena when she finished second on her Welsh section A in the open Mountain & Moorland classes. The pair will now go up against all other Pony Champions of the week in the Ruckleigh School Supreme Pony of the Year Championship later today.
“I’m thrilled for Tory,” said David. “We only do about 10 shows a year, so we keep him fresh and enjoying it. He’s a true showman and her best friend.” At home, Victoria and Tiff enjoy doing a bit of everything including plenty of hacking and riding on the beach. Keren Fuge’s seven-year-old British Riding Pony, Stretcholt Roulette, stood Reserve ridden by Abbie Farmer. The combination won the 143cm section earlier in the morning and no doubt the bay gelding has a very bright future ahead of him.
Winners of the other two sections making up the Championship were: Warleigh Blushing Groom in the 133cm, owned by Debbie Thomas and ridden by Liberty Rebecca Grota; and Henrietta Till’s Greendown Monsoon in the 122cm ridden by daughter India who has had a hugely successful HOYS this year.
Paul Barker takes the Horse & Country TV Challenge Cup
British rider Paul Barker rediscovered a winning formula at Horse of the Year Show when he claimed a stylish victory at the NEC Genting Arena in Birmingham on Sunday for the final day of competition. Paul, from Northallerton in Yorkshire, triumphed in the Horse & Country TV Challenge Cup, a two-phase competition that sees riders jump the first part of a course, before progressing to a timed second part if they are clear.
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Paul's time of 26.72 seconds aboard Dalton W proved too much for the rest, finishing 25 hundredths of a second in front of runner-up Richard Howley on Electra B, with Frenchman Geoffroy De Coligny in third on Ramona Robinz and Nigel Coupe taking fourth on Mystic Independence.
"It's always fantastic winning here," said Paul, who collected a winner's purse of £3,300. "It is probably four or five years since I won a class at HOYS so it's great, and getting an international class victory makes it particularly special. He is a good horse; he has plenty of confidence, and the course suited him. There were a few turns, and he could keep it smooth before a nice little run down to the last fence. He felt very good."
Paul's achievement also crowned a long qualification process to reach Horse of the Year Show, one that began for him in April. "The qualifying for here starts in April and ends in July, and you have to keep fighting away," he added. "It's 1.40-metre events and above, and the top two go through to come here. It is always great to win here. You get a very good feeling."
Claudia Moore Crowned The Stable Company 138cm Championship
Wonder pony Sonas Barney completed a remarkable hat-trick at Horse of the Year Show on Sunday as Claudia Moore claimed victory in The Stable Company 138cm Championship. Sonas Barney, a 21-year-old veteran of the pony competition scene, has now won the prestigious competition three times with three different riders - Claudia, Madison Heath last year and Nicole Lockhead-Anderson in 2015. He is also the first pony to claim successive victories in the class.
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It continued a memorable year for 13-year-old Claudia, from Brentwood in Essex, who helped Great Britain to Pony European Championship team gold this summer and also won individual bronze. Her time of 30.18 seconds secured victory by almost a second from Dorset rider Luli Loveridge, on 22-year-old Arrow Head Quiver, with Claudia also taking third place, riding Tullineaskey Fear Deas. Fourth spot went to Elissa Herrmann and Fountain Ranger.
"It's incredible to win, especially because he is 21, which is quite old to be doing what he is doing. He just loves it so much," Claudia said. "It is the first time I have won here, and I have such lovely owners, which makes this all possible. The jump-off was close; Luli Loveridge did an amazing job, but today Sonas Barney just did incredibly. "It means so much to me to win here. I have never won here before. I have come second, I have come third but I had never actually got that top spot."
A win for the French in the Zinc Management Speed Horse of the Year
Frenchman Geoffroy De Coligny declared: "I love Birmingham!" after winning his second major class at Horse of the Year Show in the NEC Genting Arena. After landing the Accumulator class in thrilling fashion on Saturday, he added the Zinc Management Speed Horse of the Year title to his HOYS collection. But it could not have been much closer, with only 68 hundredths of a second separating the top three finishers.
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Geoffroy was drawn early, but he set a scorching pace in the one round class, clocking 44.27 seconds with Raimondo du Plessis, and that proved uncatchable despite the best efforts of runner-up Francois Mathy Jr on Falco van de Clehoeve, with Matthew Sampson and Doriena finishing third. But perhaps the real hard luck story belonged to Britain's Guy Williams, who clocked the quickest time among 20 starters, but he had the last two fences down.
"I love Birmingham!" said Geoffroy, who won £4,620 for his efforts. "My horse was fantastic. He is very quick, and I think it is now 10 or 11 wins for him this this year. It was very close between the top three. He was so confident around the jumps, he had some great turns and showed just how speedy he is. It has been a great few days for me, all of my horses have been very good. Horse of the Year Show is such a great event, and I could not be happier to be here."
West Hants Pony Club win the 2018 Prince Philip Cup Final
West Hants hit the jackpot as they were crowned winners of the Thistledown Developments Pony Club Mounted Games for the Prince Philip Cup at Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham. After finishing equal runners-up in 2017, they went one better this time as the competition came to a thrilling close under the spotlight of the Andrews Bowen International Arena.
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Trained by Jo Morris, the six-strong team finished on 105 points as they never lost their lead during the final seven games on Sunday that covered such Pony Club favourites as the flag race and sack race.
Second place went to Atherstone on 98 points, with North Warwickshire and Oakley Hunt West sharing third place, a further points back. First contested in 1957, the Prince Philip Cup is one of the most respected and traditional team competitions in equestrian sport, with 200 teams attempting to qualify for HOYS this year.
The Magpie clears up in the Coloured Horse and Pony of the Year Championship Sponsored by CHAPS (UK)
Showstopping Piebald, The Magpie, cleared up in the prestigious Coloured Horse and Pony of the Year Championship Sponsored by CHAPS (UK), taking the overall honours on the final afternoon of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) to end a very successful season. The eight-year-old had claimed the Native/Cob/Traditional Horse section earlier in the day. Rider Adam Forster didn’t have any plans for the Championship, other than to enjoy it, but The Magpie pulled it out of the bag, much to the delight of all of his connections who were watching from the ringside.
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The breeding of The Magpie is unknown; he was found tethered at a beach in Ireland. He was bought by Claire Lupton as a three-year-old and Adam has ridden him for the past three seasons. He’s been particularly consistent this season, also winning at the Royal International.
“He’s a dream to show,” said Adam after this morning’s class. “On the go round he just glistened round and then I watched the judge ride and she said to me ‘that was the most superb ride, thank you’. He just didn’t falter.”
While Adam has experienced wins at HOYS on the ground with ponies he has produced, he has never ridden to victory himself. He certainly enjoyed his time in the spotlight today. Homebred Skewbald Rodney Trotter III ended his season on a high standing Reserve Champion after taking the win in the Native/Cob/Traditional Pony section. The nine-year-old is owned, and was bred by, Lynn Scott and ridden and produced by daughter Emma.
Celebrating a first HOYS win for this family team, Emma said: “He’s made all our dreams come true! I’ve waited years to know what that feels like!” she laughed. “It’s something you work towards but never expect to happen.”
Eight-year-old Skewbald gelding Bart took the Non-Native Horse section, owned and ridden by Vicky Smith. Vicky was still buzzing from her HOYS victory yesterday, where another of her horses Bling Cobsby stood Colosso Family Cob of the Year Reserve Champion, and she had three rides in the Coloureds today to keep her busy.
Vicky rode Bart at HOYS last year where they finished fifth and her partner Alan Marnie bought him earlier this year from Gillian Hickford. They’ve had a great season winning at The Showing Register Show, BSPA Northern and the North of England. The first class of the Championship was the Non-Native Pony section, which saw Hannah Horton pilot Rosemary Obbard’s Skewbald mare Champlers Allsorts to the top spot.
St Giles Morgana is Shire Horse of the Year Champion
There were tears of joy from Edward Whittaker when his and his father John’s six-year-old bay mare, St Giles Morgana, won the Shire Horse of the Year Championship supported by the Shire Horse Society. The sheer delight showed not just what this prestigious accolade means for Edward, but what the mare means to him too.
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Edward found Morgana for sale on the internet, liked the look of her and bought her. At 25 he is one of the youngest competitors to have won the prestigious title - and the mare is still only six. She has only been to three shows this year and is out of Daresbrook Charlotte by Acle Timelord.
Speaking after the Championship, Edward said: “I’m lost for words. She has tremendous movement, she really picks her knees up.” He added: “I thought I’d messed it up in the preliminary judging but she’s come in here and just pulled it out the bag. She’s my best friend.”
Heavy horses are in Edward’s blood, with his dad and grandad having both owned Shires. They have around 20 at home in Cheshire, along with 400 cows on their dairy farm. Edward explained that he spends half an hour at the end of each day sitting with Morgana so that the cows she shares her field with can’t steal her feed! William Bedford’s Landcliffe Charlie took Reserve. This bay stallion is just four years old and is by Martonian Norman out of Landcliffe Wendy.
Young pony reigns Ruckleigh School Supreme Pony of the Year at HOYS
A five-year-old pony who has only been lightly shown this year has taken the ultimate accolade of the showing season, becoming Champion of Champions andRuckleigh School Supreme Pony of the Year at the 70th Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
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The evening performance opened to a track from “The Greatest Showman” and Carmens Novello showed that he was in fact the greatest showman in the Andrews Bowen International Arena, putting in a foot perfect final performance in front of a very large crowd.
The British Riding Pony, known as Horris at home, is owned by Charlotte Read and was ridden in the ring by producer Lucy Glover, who partnered him to victory in the Equissage Pulse Ridden Partbred Pony of the Year earlier in the week. He is by Chiddock Stop Watch out of Wilderness Carmen. This is Horris’ second HOYS and Lucy attributes his fantastic temperament to his early success, having only been out to about 10 shows this year.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said a delighted Lucy who has been showing since the age of three, developing it into a hobby and now a career. The 23-year-old added: “I was not expecting anything in the class let alone in the Supreme. I just wanted him to behave... but he’s been a gem.” Charlotte’s son James will start campaigning him fully next season after moving on from 128cm show ponies.
Horris’ breeders, Wendy and Louise Edgar of the Stretcholt Stud, made the trip down to Birmingham to watch him in action. They broke him in before selling him as a four-year-old last year and were delighted to see Horris again and in such happy circumstances.
Ripon Select Foods Supreme Horse Time 2 Reflect brings a touch of nostalgia to HOYS
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Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2018 started with Diane Stennett’s outstanding mare Time 2 Reflect defending her Ladies Side Saddle Horse of the Year title - and it has ended with her being crowned Ripon Select Foods Supreme Horse of the Year.
To see a side saddle competitor take the title on the 70th running of the Show certainly added a welcome touch of nostalgia - and it was indeed the perfect ‘Time 2 Reflect’. Originally called the ‘Champions of Champions’, the Supreme saw Betty, as she is known at home, go beautifully in the Andrews Bowen International Arena ridden by Jayne Ross, and top her numerous HOYS titles with this ultimate accolade.
At the start of the week, Jayne said that anything in addition to the Side Saddle win would be a bonus - well, what a week she’s had! “It’s a dream come true,” she said, reflecting on Betty’s career so far. “To come here and do this is just the icing on the cake for a career that’s just surpassed everything you could ever have dreamed of.”
Jayne has won the Supreme three times at HOYS, but never on anything other than a Riding Horse: “I was beginning to think I was a bit of a one trick pony,” she laughed. “She’s such a special horse - she’s everybody’s favourite. She gives 110% everytime - you just can’t fault her.”
Time 2 Reflect is an 11-year-old Thoroughbred cross by Cameo’s Reflection out of Drombay.
‘Star’ quality in the Junior Mountain & Moorland Ridden Pony of the Year
Now in its third year at HOYS, the Junior Mountain & Moorland Ridden Pony of the Year sponsored by Ponies Association (UK) found its next Champion in Skellorn Prairie Starlight (Star), a striking Connemara gelding owned by Katy Louise Seedhouse and ridden by Harrison Taylor. The whole team who had come out to support Harrison and six-year-old Star were absolutely over the moon with the result.
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Katy has owned Star since a two-year-old and leased him out to Harrison in February this year, while she happens to have Star’s sire on loan! She has competed at HOYS herself in the M&M Working Hunter Pony classes and won in 2009. This is the first time she’s had a pony on the flat at the Show. t’s amazing,” she said. “I know I’ve got a lovely pony and a lovely jockey, but would never expect this. It’s been a big team effort and I genuinely enjoy seeing him [Star] do well.”
This was Harrison’s first ride at HOYS. “I can’t believe it, I’ve always wanted to do that! He was faultless,” he said, explaining that next year he hoped to start jumping more and do some Workers.
Michael Dunne and Vicky Harris were delighted to watch their daughter Marnie Dunne take the Reserve title with their own Thimbleby Black Magic - or Freddie, as he’s known at home.
The nine-year-old Dartmoor gelding won the Small Breed section before standing Reserve Champion. They’ve had him for three years and also qualified for HOYS last year where they finished ninth in the same class. “He’s quite a character, loves people and constantly chats to you on the yard!” said Vicky.
Second place in the Small Breeds went to the Welsh Section B, Skellorn Miss Ellie, owned by Kerry Wainwright and ridden by Grace Litherland. In the Large Breeds it was Welsh Section C Rivervalley Flash Jack owned by Janet Cox and ridden by Amy Tate.
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