Laura Wheelwright’s 16-year-old pony Star Smokey (Colin) was crowned National Pony Society/Mole Valley Farmers Working Hunter Pony of the Year Championship on home turf on day three of HOYS. The scopey Connemara is on lease to Florence Duncalf from Cheshire, but originally comes from here in Birmingham.
In their first season together in 2023, Florence and Colin finished second here at HOYS and then had two down last year, so this year has certainly proven to be their year with their first centre line moment in the 143cm section topped by going Champion.
“To come here and jump clear is just amazing, let alone win it!” said Florence, who is a member of the Cheshire Hunt Pony Club and regularly competes in show jumping, eventing and dressage with Colin.
“I thought the course was really nice – it really suited him. He just has a love for life and enjoys doing everything.”
Florence’s mum Kirsty added: “I’m just so proud of her. She does it all herself and they are a wonderful team – he’s the pony of a lifetime.
“It was her dream to be clear this year and everything else was a bonus.”
It was a particularly special moment for the Duncalf family as their last win here at HOYS was 25 years ago in Wembley with Kirsty’s son Josh and their first ridden Dartmoor, Vean Hobajon.
Florence and Colin will go forward to the Supreme Pony of the Year Championship on Sunday. “There’s going to be so many nice ponies in there, it will be a privilege to be among them,” said Florence.
Winner of the Intermediate class, A Kind Of Magic JVH Z, owned and ridden by Ami Conchie, stood Reserve.
The 14-year-old bay gelding is by Armstrong VD Kapel and interestingly has no front teeth as they sadly had to be removed.
“I’m over the moon,” said Ami. “It’s our first big win together, so to go Reserve is even better.
“I was first in to go [in the jumping] so the pressure was on, but it was a nice flowing course.”
Based just outside of Dundee in Scotland, this is not the first time the pair have made the eight-hour journey down to HOYS.
After things didn’t quite go to plan in their first year, they finished a respectable eighth last year before pulling out all the stops today.
Winner of the 153cm section wasBallyvary Patsy, a nine-year-old Connemara owned by his rider Indie McKeand. Nancy Lyons-Teehan piloted Louise Lyons’ Dartans Seoda Ban to retain their 2025 133cm title ahead of the 2022 HOYS Supreme Pony of the Year, Noble Peppermint owned by Sarah Hutton.
Rosamund Lane’s 10-year-old Monarch in the Mist continued Will Morton’s winning streak taking The Leeman Family Maxi Cob of the Year Championship. Having stood Reserve last year, it was the “icing on the cake” for Will as the grey gelding ticked all the boxes and more for ride judge Rachel Moore-Rooney and conformation judge Susan Stockley-Bridges.
Rachel was looking for a mannerly horse that would “wait to be asked for its transitions so it can go off your leg”, while Susan was searching for “good conformation and good limbs” but most importantly for her “really good feet.”
“I couldn’t fault him from start to finish,” said a delighted Will. “He gave me the most fabulous ride and looked to give the judge the most fabulous ride too.
“He’s never been in the [TopSpec Arena] but he absolutely ate it up, he loved it.
“It’s amazing for this horse as [HOYS is] the last big show we had on our bucket list with him”.
Will now has two horses in the Supreme Products Supreme Horse Championship on Sunday, an enviable position he describes as “bittersweet”, as he looks to make his decision on which one to ride.
Clare Trebble’s six-year-old gelding Harvey Star lived up to his name as Craig Kiddier piloted him into the Reserve spot.
ENDS
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Image: 1st Class Images