It was an early start for Jade Cummins’ super little Welsh Section B, Gatsby Diam, who claimed the Mears-Wood Family Lead Rein Pony of Hunter Type of the Year Championship as the sun was rising on the final day of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
The 10-year-old gelding took good care of his little four-year-old jockey, Nellie Cummins, as the pair negotiated the obstacle course led by Sharn Linney; and with the star quality needed to go two better than his third place last year.
Gatsby has been produced by Sharn for the past two years. “There was lots going on in the course,” she said. “But he’s nice and steady, which is great, especially having a four-year-old on board.
“He’s very easy, very chilled and perfect for tiny tots…. He’s golden in every single way, the perfect gent.
Gatsby and Nellie will go forward to the Supreme Products Supreme Championship this evening.
Christina Gillett’s liver chestnut gelding, Annandale Line of Fire, stood Reserve ridden by Lewis Cousins.
Christina Knipe’s bay gelding, Tandridge First Edition gave daughter Samantha Taylor a foot-perfect ride to take the 143cm Show Hunter Pony and then shone once again in the Andrews Bowen International Arena to claim the Shine Source Footwear UK Ltd Show Hunter Pony of the Year Championship.
The nine-year-old gelding is bred by Joanna Adams, the same breeder of last night’s Children’s Riding Pony of the Year Champion, Tandridge State Affair.
Christina bought the pony two years ago with her sister Rebecca Abba. She said: “He did HOYS last year and was third, and it is absolutely amazing to win here.
“He is a very special pony, but he knows he is! He is not always the easiest, but he is very special and loves the spotlight.
Samantha added: “It means so much. I never thought I would win, never mind go Champion. I have always dreamt of winning here, and it felt amazing.”
Jane Makin’s eye-catching strawberry roan mare, Colway Belle of the Ball, lived up to her name, dancing her way to not only the 123cm red rosette but the Reserve Champion spot with Jemima Makin-Jones in the saddle. The pony is home produced and was well supported at the show today with friends and relatives here to witness the occasion.
Jemima’s mum Annabel said: “We bought Pinky when she was five and had her broken by a friend. We struggled with her for three years… but she came good this year. We’ve never given up on her; we knew she was good enough and she’s beautiful so we persevered and now we have a HOYS winner!
“She has the most beautiful walk and canter – she’s like riding a small horse.”
The family have had a great HOYS week with a second place in the 128cm Children’s Riding Pony yesterday on Rotherwood Spring Rain.
Debbie Weir’s 11-year-old Lindeth Con-Artist topped the 153cm ridden by Jessica Weir. The bay gelding is by Lindeth Seclusion out of Lindeth Temptress.
Darcie Fielding overcame the pressure of having won last year to put in a flawless performance on her mum Aimie’s eight-year-old gelding, Parkhills Mata, for the133cm win in their first season together.
On the 10th anniversary of the Championship’s inception, two Connemaras stole the show in the Thor Atkinson Steel Fabrications Ltd Junior Mountain & Moorland Ridden Pony of the Year Championship. Chelsea White’s King Bunowen Castle Ali (Panda) went Champion for Harlow White, while Claire Flynn’s Hazelrock Twist ridden by Lilly Richardson stood Reserve, both top placed in the Large Breeds justmoments before. A very emotional Harlow said: “I can’t stop crying, I can’t believe it, Panda’s my pony of a lifetime.
“This is his last flat class. He’s going to go and do some workers with me now and we couldn’t have ended it [the flat classes] on a better note. I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done.
“He’s the most understanding pony ever and he’s willing to do anything for you.”
Mum Chelsea originally bought Panda as a mother-daughter share for her and Harlow and is now looking forward to seeing what the future holds for them both.
She said: “They’re going to go and have some fun and we’re going to start jumping him. He loves that… having fun and going down the beach. My little boy rides him as well… he’s just so safe.”
Hazelrock Twist is by Glencarrig Prince out of Hazelrock Aris. Lilly, who has only been riding the 10-year-old mare for this season, said: “It’s absolutely amazing, a dream come true.”
Emily, as the mare is known at home, also qualified for the Open Connemaras earlier in the week and is produced by Sue Deacon. Winner of the Small Breeds was six-year-old Welsh section B Heniarth Stand Up ridden by Posy Lindsay and owned by her grandmother Carlyn Baillie. Second was Tromps Sugar Rush with Lara Rae Jones, who had also picked up a second in the Open Section A’s earlier in the week with Sam Roberts.
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