Posted: 8th October 2018 | Back to news feed
Francois Mathy Jr takes the Grandstand Welcome Stakes
Belgium's Francois Mathy Jr staved off a powerful British challenge to win the opening international class of Horse of the Year Show at the NEC Genting Arena in Birmingham. Francois, riding 13-year-old gelding Falco van de Clehoeve, posted a time of 54.23 seconds in the Grandstand Welcome Stakes - a one round speed class that produced some thrilling rounds - to take the £3,300 top prize.
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Britain's Guy Williams and Thais D'La Verrerie went closest to knocking Francois out of top spot in the Andrews Bowen International Arena, but despite a concerted effort to attack the leader's time, they finished just outside in 54.68. Yorkshire-based Paul Barker, meanwhile, took third on Happy Boy after setting the early pace in 55.70, while Francois' fellow Belgian Karel Cox was fourth with Kill Bill Max. The quickest time among 26 starters was posted by Matt Sampson, who clocked a rapid 51.94 seconds aboard Doriena, but they had the penultimate fence down to dash victory hopes.
Francois, a prolific winner on the European and British circuits, said: "I am very happy. It is the nicest way to start the show for us, and it will be even better if we can finish it the same way. He is a naturally very quick horse, but Guy was very fast also, and it was really close between us. I am competitive, and when we come to these kind of shows it is to try and do well."
Horse of the Year Show celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, and Francois added: "I love coming here. I have been to this show many times - it has always been an important one for me - and I really love it. There is so much tradition, which is what I love about it."
A four-way tie in the Five Fence Challenge
The best of British Showjumping enjoyed centre-stage on day three at Horse of the Year Show held in Birmingham, in a thrilling Five Fence Challenge competition. Teenagers Harry Charles, Robert Murphy and Joseph Stockdale all shared top spot with Helen Tredwell after they agreed to a tie following four rounds of high-octane jumping.
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The course of five fences sees jumps increase in height after each round. There is a maximum of five rounds, with riders gaining points as they go. The winner is the competitor with the most points after five rounds, with any combination collecting a fault being eliminated. In the end, the classy quartet could not be separated, with Helen aboard Sebastian VII being joint winners in the class for a third successive year, while 19-year-olds Harry and Joseph - sons of Olympic showjumpers Peter Charles and Tim Stockdale - and 17-year-old Robert also collected £2,730 each.
"They were massive jumps by the last round," said Buckinghamshire-based Helen. "Sebastian was amazing, he tries his heart out. It's the third time he has been equal first in this class, and he grows in confidence with each round. As the fences get bigger, he gets better. These are talented riders alongside me today, and they certainly keep me on my toes!"
Hampshire-based Harry's ride Sieco showed considerable promise in front of a sizeable audience in the Andrews Bowen International Arena, and he said: "I am delighted with my horse. I've got big plans for him this weekend. Hopefully, he is going to jump the grand prix on Sunday. And the size of the jumps, I thought it can't get any bigger, so I was happy to share."
Lancastrian Robert, who rode Caluna Z, said: "It was a great class, but I think we were ready to finish after the fourth round. My horse gave me a great feel." Last but by no means least, Northamptonshire rider Joseph, following his fourth round aboard Don Diego de Plata, added: "I am over the moon. I wasn't expecting that. I have never really tested him out in that sort of competition before, so I am really pleased with him."
Noble Peppermint plays it cool in the National Pony Society/Snuggy Hoods Working Hunter Pony of the Year
Eight-year-old Sports Pony, Noble Peppermint, kept his cool throughout day three of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) to claim the overall National Pony Society/Snuggy Hoods Working Hunter Pony of the Year after winning the 133cm section in style. Owned by Kelly Ward, it was 11-year-old daughter Ruby in the saddle, fresh from her M&M Working Hunter Pony win and Reserve Champion title yesterday on their own Blackhill Imogen.
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For Ruby, it was a dream come true: “It’s absolutely amazing - I’ve always wanted to do that!” she said after her lap of honour in the Andrews Bowen International Arena. “He’s an incredible pony.”
Kelly said: “This is their first season together. We’ve owned him since he was four but he’s been leased out for a couple of years, as he was too big for Ruby. He’s got a heart of gold.” The pony is home produced and the pair do a little of everything at home including show jumping and arena eventing. Hannah Sloan rode her own Tinkas Flash to a win in the first section of the day, the Intermediates, before going on to claim overall reserve champion; a fantastic end to Hannah’s career in Intermediates. She took the Champion title at HOYS last year on the chestnut gelding who is now 16 years old. “He jumped well this morning,” said Hannah. “The course was up to height, technical and asked plenty of questions.”
The Eddis family celebrated another win in the 153cm section. A regular at HOYS, Cashel Bay JJ, now aged 15, gave Lucy a fabulous last ride at HOYS on him. Lucy is in her second year of university and her sister Susie will now fully take over the ride on Cash. Among Cash and Lucy’s placings at HOYS are overall Champion M&M Working Hunter Pony in 2016, and first in their Working Hunter Pony section in 2016 and 2017. “You never let yourself think you can do it again,” said Lucy speaking after the class. “He’s just the most gifted pony.”
It was a long journey worth making for the Beaumont family and Jan Beaumont’s Connemara mare Edie. They took the 143cm section coming all the way from their home in Northern Ireland. Phoebe Beaumont has been with the 13-year-old grey mare for four years and this was her first ride at HOYS. “She’s just amazing,” said Phoebe, adding that it is her “attitude towards life and work” that makes her such a great pony.
Let’s all Follow Her Home - SEIB Search for a Star Champion is crowned at HOYS
Three days of competition among some fantastic amateur combinations culminated in the overall Championship of the SEIB Search for a Star where Working Horse winner, Follow Her Home and Hannah Moore took the top honours with Working Pony winner, Hunky Dory and Theodora Hopkins, in Reserve.
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Excitement was in the air as the final six horses and riders had the opportunity to ride on the world-famous spotlight of the Andrews Bowen International Arena at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). Hannah has had the Irish Sport Horse, Follow Me Home, owned by Michelle Moore, for just 10 months, but the judges were quick to praise her on what a great job she had done with the mare’s training. The six-year-old grey gave the judge a lovely ride in the TopSpec Arena earlier on in the day and showed a nice way of going over the fences with a snaffle mouth.
“It’s unbelievable,” said a delighted Hannah. “I knew her temperament is very good but I never expected her to cope that well in there… she’s not at all mareish or phased by anything.”
Reflecting on her HOYS experience, Hannah said: “It’s all so surreal and has been a bit of a blur since we arrived on Wednesday, but I can finally take it all in now. It’s been an amazing experience.”
Reserve Champion Hunky Dory, known as Dory at home, is a Riding for the Disabled (RDA) and riding school pony who has been owned by Claire Robinson since he was just four months old. Theodora has ridden him since they broke him in, and was taught to ride by Claire when she was eight! “This is the best thing ever!” said Theodora. “He does anything you want, he’ll be anyone's friend and is just happy go lucky.” Dory has been to numerous RDA, Riding School and British Dressage Championships with various riders and Theodora enjoys showing him in Workers and Coloured classes at home.
The full list of class winners is as follows:
Show Cob of the Year:
Ballygar Joker and Gillian Purgac
Working Horse/Pony of the Year:
Horse: Follow Her Home and Hannah Moore Pony: Hunky Dory and Theodora Hopkins
Riding Horse/Hack of the Year:
Horse: Castors Son and Megan Barlow Hack: Carrhouse Dark Silk and Charlotte Hall
Hunter of the Year:
Urswick Rock Solid and Caroline Airey
Shaunie Greig retains her title in the Equithème Leading Pony Showjumper of the Year Championship
Shaunie Greig hailed her "one in a million" pony after joining an exclusive Horse of the Year Show club on Friday. The Scottish teenager retained her title as Equithème Leading Pony Showjumper of the Year on Casino Royale VIII, and in doing so became the first combination to win the prestigious class twice in a row since Nicola Loffett and Kangaroo won 51 years ago.
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Shaunie was in unstoppable form, blazing around the jump-off course in a time of 32.22 seconds to win by more than three and a half seconds from runner-up Madison Heath, riding Flavia, with Faye Sutton and Robe Ruadh taking third. Nine combinations made the jump-off from 24 starters in a competition that featured all the members of Great Britain's gold medal-winning European Championship team from earlier this year, and it did not disappoint.
But Shaunie, who is from Clackmannanshire, proved to be in a different league on a pony owned by her grandmother Anne as she highlighted why so many astute judges in the sport are predicting a glittering riding career for her. Few among a bumper crowd in the Andrews Bowen International Arena at Birmingham's Genting Arena would disagree, and they roared their approval as Shaunie posted the most emphatic of triumphs.
"I didn't really think we were going to do it again, but we managed it," she said. "I knew he could be as quick as that, though. It was amazing. I got in the arena, and I just thought I am going to give this my all. To win it twice in a year is amazing, and I just want to thank everyone who supports me so much. She is a one in a million pony, totally amazing."
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