Pony Power in Saturday’s Showjumping

The Widdowson family had another showjumping occasion to savour as nine-year-old Annabel Widdowson won the Enablelink Ltd 128cm Championship at Horse of the Year Show.

Annabel’s grandparents Gary and Beverley reached the sport’s pinnacle as owners of Big Star, the superstar stallion that Nick Skelton rode to Olympic individual gold medal glory at Rio 2016 after also helping Great Britain win the Olympic team title in London four years previously.

This time, it was Annabel’s turn in the spotlight with 23-year-old pony Bunbury Conquest as they produced a jump-off performance to live long in the memory.

Anya Dewey Clarke, riding Jim, looked to have done enough for victory in a time of 26.27 seconds, but Annabel went 63 hundredths of a second quicker after combining blistering speed with an ability to turn on a sixpence.

A bumper crowd at Birmingham NEC lapped it up, giving Annabel, who is based in Sevenoaks, Kent, the ovation she so richly deserved as the 128cm Championship once again provided thrill-a-minute action.

“It was magical in there,” said Annabel, who edged Anya into second, with Lucia Caroline and Living The Dream taking third.

“He loved it, and I loved the atmosphere with all the people. It was just fabulous. I am so thankful to Alison Irvine (Bunbury Conquest’s owner) – I absolutely love the pony.”

In the Equine Rescue Services 138cm Championship, Renfrewshire-based Amy Capper and Playboy Van De Zoetewei emerged victorious after eight combinations made the jump-off.

It was a stylish performance as they clocked 26.77 seconds to take the title from runner-up Christina Cotton, riding Mayfly Black Pennell, with Tabby Morgan-Evans and Little Emerald finishing third.

“I have had him since this time last year, and we won at Hickstead and now here at HOYS. It has been good,” Amy said.

“I was just trying to go as fast as I could and just let him do all the strides. He is very experienced, and that was a big help.”

Listen to Annabel’s Lloyd Bell Interview here

Listen to Amy’s Lloyd Bell Interview here

ENDS  

For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2024, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk