National classes concluded at Horse of the Year Show on Sunday morning with Douglas Duffin and Omex Star HBF taking victory in the Grade C Championship. First contested in 1973, the Grade C boasts an impressive list of former winners including Nick Skelton, Tina Fletcher, William Funnell and Billy Twomey. And its latest edition did not disappoint as Douglas became the third Scottish rider to win a showjumping class at HOYS this week after Samantha Wiseman and James Smith. Seven combinations made it through to the jump-off, including puissance joint-winner Rachel Proudley, and it was Douglas, who finished third in Thursday’s Foxhunter Championship, that came out on top in a

The Ripon Select Foods Puissance once again lived up to its headline billing on a sold-out night of dramatic action at Horse of the Year Show. And it ended with the imperious Rachel Proudley claiming a remarkable seventh successive puissance victory – and her second in a row at HOYS – as she shared top spot with Irish challenger Andrew Hodgins. Rachel, riding her serial puissance winner Easy Boy De Laubry Z, and Andrew on Shanaclough Luichew, were the only combinations to reach round five, having arrived there by clearing 2.13 metres, with the final height rising to 2.18 metres, or seven feet and two inches. They bowed out together

The Price Family Supreme In-Hand Championship is one of the most coveted titles in the showing world and tonight was the night ofCarolyn Campbell’s four-year-old British Riding Pony stallion, Seywoods Royal Dancer, shown by Simon Charlesworth.  Under a new format for this year, spectators were treated to an exceptional showcase of all 20 of the finest breeds and types for the final judging of this prestigious championship in the Andrews Bowen International Arena.  Many of the pony’s connections were here tonight to witness this momentous occasion, including his breeders James and Christine Hunton. Seywoods Royal Dancer is by prominent British Riding Pony stallion Turberry Top Cat out of Colbeach Duet,

History repeated itself at the Horse of the Year Show as Emily Ward and Wild Star HF retained the Rees Family Cup after a thrilling jump-off. Cheshire-based Emily described her victory last year as like receiving an early Christmas present on what was her HOYS debut. And she produced another outstanding performance with the 10-year-old bay stallion, taking top honours in a time of 35.31 seconds. Seven combinations made it through to the jump-off, and the top three were separated by only 52 hundredths of a second, with James Smith finishing second on Astrade Z and Ireland’s Trevor Breen taking third aboard Konrad Obolensky. “He is an amazing horse and