Against all the odds, seven-year-old Florence Rendall successfully defended her Annabel’s Deliciously British Mini Show Pony of the Year Championship title this afternoon at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), this time with her mother Rachael Helliwell’s six-year-old bay gelding Diptford Peter Pan.
Florence dominated this Championship last year winning both the Lead Rein and First Ridden classes before taking the overall Championship crown and the Supreme Products Supreme Pony of the Year. But this year, uncertainty struck when Florence fell poorly and it was unclear whether she’d even make it into the ring today.
Fortunately, Florence was able to compete in the Lead Rein, but was not feeling quite well enough for the First Ridden as well, and had to opt out of that class. Diptford Peter Pan is only five years old but looked after his little jockey immaculately to bring home both the Lead Rein win and Championship.
The bay gelding is by Barkway Early Bird and owned and produced by Florence’s mother Rachael Helliwell.
Florence’s grandmother Julie said: “Last year was lovely, but it wasn’t our pony that she went Champion on, so this is extra special this year.
“Peter Pan was a young pony coming forward last year and there was a lot of work to do… but he has stepped up and improved so much. I still don’t think he’s the finished product yet; you can see something blossoming in front of you and he was so good in there, it means so much to us.”
Overall Reserve Champion and winner of the First Ridden class was David Jinks and Adam Forster’s six-year-old bay gelding Archwood Finley, ridden by Scarlett Smith.
Produced by the Jinks team, he was bought as a three-year-old from the breeder and won this class on his first HOYS appearance in 2024 with Lara-Rae Jones.
“He has the best temperament and is the ultimate child’s pony,” said Adam. “All the kids ride him at home, he’s almost like the riding school pony; the gift that keeps on giving.
“Lara worked him in for Scarlett today; a child working him in for another child shows how amazing he is.
“David and I adore him – he has that extra bit of sparkle that makes you look at him.”
Jodi Locker’s Royalview Celebration took second in the Lead Rein ridden by Heidi Richardson and Simon Constable’s Somersham Playboy took the runner up spot in the First Ridden with Zara Constable.Tony Reynolds and Michael Cooks’ five-year-old KBF Le Paradis performed beyond her years to give Kinvara Garner a seamless ride for The Smith Family Intermediate Show Hunter of the Year Championship, kickstarting a very exciting career for this young horse. Kinvara had only sat on her twice before today!
“This mare is seriously special,” she said. “She’s one to look out for in the future. She’s very powerful and pretty straight forward for a baby.”
The mare is produced by Jayne Ross who said: “What an amazing attitude for a five year old!
“She is bred by the same people as KBF Lucia [Diane Stennett’s coloured champion mare ridden by Jayne] and she has the same attitude for life – she just gives and gives and smiles and smiles.”
Shirley Dennison’s Ashlea’s the Banker stood Reserve ridden by Isabella Mason.
Johanna Foster’s homebred gelding Scottshall Aristocrat stood The Honourable Stud Intermediate Show Horse of the Year Championship in his first time under saddle at HOYS.
The five-year-old by Stanley Grange Regal Empire out of Social Climber was Reserve Supreme In-Hand Champion here at HOYS as a three-year-old and Ellis Taverner-Burns has been showing him this season.
Ellis said: “We had no expectations whatsoever and he just smashed it.”
He is produced by John Harvey. “This is his first proper season with us. To have won something that big in hand [the Supreme] and then to win first time out under saddle is very special.”
Danni Radford’s bay gelding Ladies Man stood reserve with Poppy Carter.
ENDS
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2026, please contact:
Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd.
Tel: 02476 858205
Email: press@hoys.co.uk
Image: 1st Class Images