Caroline Tyrrells’ Lightweight Cob, Our Cashel Blue has been crowned Ripon Select Foods Supreme Horse of the Year on the final evening of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). The seven-year-old shone in the Andrews Bowen International Arena to take the ultimate accolade ahead of every other Horse Champion from throughout the week. Our Cashel Blue was Supreme Cob Champion at the Royal International and has been unbeaten in every class this year.
Allister said:
“It’s absolutely unbelievable. He loves the crowd and attention, and stands like a rock. There was such a fantastic atmosphere in there tonight. We even got applauded when we walked in.”
Allister Hood © ES Photography
Reflecting on the quality of contenders in this year’s Supreme, Allister said:
“We had to do an individual show in the preliminary judging. I was last to go and I knew it had to be perfection. It was one of the best Supremes I’d seen for performance.”
It’s been a stellar week for Allister who has also clocked wins in the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship and Riding Horse of the Year Championship. Allister’s son Oliver rode Riding Horse Champion, Diamonds Are Forever in the Supreme.
Listen to Allister Hood talk to Rupert Bell here
Phoebe Price © ES Photography
You could hear a pin drop in the Andrews Bowen International Arena as every pony who had been crowned Champion over the course of the week at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) came forward for the Ruckleigh School Supreme Pony of the Year Championship. It was the Kathleen Wood Children’s Riding Pony of the Year Champion, Joanne Price’s 10-year-old bay gelding Litton Enterprise who took the prestigious title, granting daughter Phoebe her “biggest dream ever.”
Edward, as he is known at home, is a laid back pony but one who rises to a challenge and tonight was no exception.
A delighted Phoebe said:
“It’s all a big blur. I was just focusing on him, and making sure he went well. It’s my biggest achievement.”
The Price family, from Bury St Edmunds, have owned the pony for two years and he is produced by Julie Templeton. 14-year-old Phoebe moved straight from 12.2hh’s to 14.2hh’s and they had a good season together last year.
Joanne said:
“In the middle of this season everything just clicked between them. It’s absolutely brilliant. What else can you do to up it?”
Listen to Phoebe Price talk to Rupert Bell here
Hayley Sankey © ES Photography
Hayley Sankey’s Tobiano gelding The Life of Riley beat off stiff competition to claim the title of Coloured Horse & Pony of the Year Champion sponsored by CHAPS (UK). Martin Wood’s Login Lucky Lad took Reserve with Michaela Wood in the saddle.
Vicky Smith rode 10-year-old The Life of Riley to victory in the Native/Cob/Traditional section earlier in the day. He is home produced and Hayley and Vicky share the ride at shows. Vicky said:
“He’s a really special horse.”
Jessica Renshaw-Smith © ES Photography
Winner of the 143cm section, 10-year-old Wycroft New Dimension, was crowned Champion in the Topham Barnes Show Hunter Pony of the Year on the final day of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). Owned by Anne McKay, the pony has only been ridden by jockey Jessica Renshaw-Smith for a few months, having sadly lost their 14hh pony. Jessica qualified the bay gelding, who is by Cusop Dimension, at the Great Yorkshire Show.
Listen to Jessica Renshaw-Smith talk to Rupert Bell here
Allister Hood© ES Photography
Annabel Jenks’ Large Riding Horse, Diamonds are Forever secured Allister Hood a hatrick of wins at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2016 with a victory in the Riding Horse of the Year Championship. The seven-year-old by Diamond Hit was bred by Annabel. He was shown twice as a four-year-old and then left to grow until this season, making him quite a young horse in terms of mileage. HOYS is his fifth show this year and he has been unbeaten as a Riding Horse, going first and Champion at every outing.
Listen to Allister Hood talk to Rupert Bell here
Vicki Rogers © ES Photography
Vicki Rogers reflected on what she described as an “absolutely amazing” feeling after winning the SEIB Search for a Star Championship on day five at the Horse of the Year Show.
Vicki, from Salcombe in Devon, triumphed with the eight-year-old show hunter mare Yorkies Purple Diamond at Birmingham’s NEC, while show hunter pony Greensyke Sonny Boy, ridden by Amelia Jesson, was named as reserve.
The SEIB Search for a Star series offers an unique opportunity for amateur horses and riders to learn and improve from showing’s best. During qualifying shows, riders are encouraged to discuss with the judges where they might be going wrong, and gain help and encouragement to improve their turn-out and horse’s way of going.
Allister Hood © ES Photography
It was celebration time for members of the Jackpots syndicate as their ex-racehorse Jack The Giant stole the show in the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse of the Year on day four of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
Allister Hood rode the 14-year-old by Giants Causeway to victory in what was the gelding’s final competition in his showing career.
Rebecca Godfrey-Faussett © ES Photography
Among 17 hopefuls in the Carrs BMW Lead Rein Pony of Hunter Type of the Year it was Rebecca Godfrey-Faussett’s nine-year-old Welsh Section B Gryngallt Picture Frame who produced a foot-perfect individual show and negotiated the rural obstacles with ease, which demonstrate the suitability for these activities on the lead rein.
Produced by the Holder Show Team, Rebecca has owned the pony for three years. He was Champion of Champions at Equifest, third at the Royal International and won at Cheshire County to qualify for HOYS this year with daughter Eugenie.
Wytchwood Love Potion © ES Photography
Lisa Kerr’s six-year-old Lead Rein Show Pony Wytchwood Love Potion was crowned The Price Family Mini Show Pony of the Year in an exciting finale to the Lead Rein Pony of the Year and First Ridden Pony of the Year classes on day four of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
Produced by Craig Elenor and Sara Parrott, the bay gelding is fairly early on in his showing career, having only been lightly shown last year, but was quick to establish his position standing Mini Show Pony Champion at BSPS in 2015. He qualified for HOYS at the NPS Area 4 Summer Show.
Lizzie Smith © ES Photography
Kim Smith’s nine-year-old Thoroughbred Rathnaleen Gothic oozed presence in the Topspec Arena on day four of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) to take the first showing Championship of the morning, the Sandal BMW Intermediate Show Riding Type of the Year.
Recent university graduate Lizzie Smith rode the black gelding by Rathnaleen Sinatra to victory, going one better from their Reserve Champion spot last year. Martin Wood’s DP UK Nightdancer ridden my Michaela Wood stood Reserve.
Mark Chesters © ES Photography
18hh Heavyweight Hunter Bloomfield Excelsior, owned by Shades of Grey, claimed the Catplant Group of Companies Ltd Show Hunter of the Year title on day three of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), with Diane Stennett’s Lightweight Hunter Time 2 Reflect in Reserve. Produced by Jayne Ross, Bloomfield Excelsior was partnered in the Championship by Mark Chesters. On exiting the Andrews Bowen International Arena, Mark said:
“He gave an amazing ride. He is so genuine and nothing fazes him.”
Both the Champion and Reserve were second in their respective sections last year and have had successful seasons in 2016.
David Frogatt © ES Photography
Isabel Gray’s Shaarinah claimed The Barley Hill Show Team and Metalwood Fencing Ltd. Ridden Purebred Arab of the Year Championship on day three of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), produced and ridden by David Frogatt.
A delighted David reflected on this special HOYS win.
“I’ve had the cake but never the cherry on top. I’ve got the cherry now!”
David rode Shaarinah to third place in 2015 and partnered Silvern Surprise to finish fourth in 2013, but until now a win had eluded him. The 12-year-old Chestnut mare by Kais out of Sherruka Al Roban has been produced by David for the last six years. She also took the highest placed mare award.
Miranda Wallace © ES Photography
The Leeman Family Maxi Cob of the Year Championship witnessed its third winner in its six-year run on day three of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). Previous winners have included four time winner Hallmark IX and Starry Night. Nine-year-old grey gelding Colebourne, owned by Rosettes Direct, took the honours with recent graduate, Miranda Wallace in the saddle. Miranda, who is the first lady rider to win this Championship, said: “He felt incredible in there; he was up into my hand and very balanced. I’ve had two maxi cobs before this one, but never had a win here.”
Olivia Bowen © ES Photography
After a morning of fiercely contested competition in the TopSpec Arena, it was Leo Bowen’s nine-year-old Connemara gelding Gallant Prince, ridden by Olivia Bowen, who took top honours and claimed the title of Underwood Working Hunter Pony of the Year. Reserve went to the winner of the Intermediate section, eight-year-old Irish Sports Horse Carnsdale Mr Cool, owned and ridden by Alice Barnes.
Gallant Prince won the 143cm section in style, fresh from his third place finish in The British Show Pony Society Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony of the Year the day before. Olivia, who is currently on work experience with Jayne Webber, said:
“I’m speechless. He flew the course, didn’t look at anything and just took it all in.”
Meg Edmondson © ES Photography
Meg Edmondson got day three at the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham off and running in style by winning the Guy Fawkes III Intermediate Show Hunter of the Year Championship. Meg, who qualified for her appearance at the NEC from the Great Yorkshire Show, triumphed with the Bridget Edmondson-owned bay mare Blairfield Silicon.
Caitlin Galbraith finished second on Just a Breeze, with Rosie Try and Gone With The Wind third. Last year’s winner Noble Star, ridden by Clare Curry and owned by Adrian Curry, took fourth place. The class is designed to find the best show hunter suitable to be partnered by a young rider who had not celebrated their 25th birthday before January 1 this year.
Katy Marriott-Payne © ES Photography
With nine class sections over two days, the excitement of the NPS/Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain & Moorland Ridden Pony of the Year culminated in a nail-biting final on the second evening at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). Top honours went to the Welsh Section B stallion Cadlanvalley Buzby, owned by Hayley Grota and shown by Katy Marriott-Payne, who was over the moon to add this prestigious HOYS title to her wins.
Katy said:
“I’m speechless – I wanted it so badly. I’ve won every major title but this one had always eluded me!”
Jo Bates © ES Photography
Two Large Hacks by the same sire claimed Champion and Reserve in the Topham Barnes Hack of the Year Championship on day two of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). The two highest placed from both the Brereton Small Hack of the Year and David Stennett Ltd. Large Hack of the Year were invited forward to the evening Championship, but it was the Large Hacks who were victorious with Suzannah Welby’s Elusive standing Champion and Sarah Carey’s Pearly King in Reserve. Both horses are by Kilvington Scoundrel who was Sire of the Year at HOYS 2012, the same year that Pearly King stood Supreme Horse of the Year.
Six-year-old Elusive was ridden in the ring by Jo Bates, who said:
“He’s a complete star. He’s given me everything. He tries his heart out for me and I’m incredibly proud.”
Jayne Ross © ES Photography
Another Championship title has been defended on day two of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). Dianne Stennett’s Hello Dolly claimed The Colosso Family Ladies Side Saddle Horse of the Year Championship title for the second year running, ridden by Jayne Ross. With 22 immaculately turned out starters, spectators were treated to scenes of a bygone era as horses of all types were put through their paces. This is the second year that the Championship has not been restricted to hunters.
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