National showjumping classes at the 2025 Horse of the Year Show concluded on Sunday morning with Holly Smith and Nike Van Het Singraven being crowned Grade C champions. The prestigious jump-off competition first took place 52 years ago, and former winners include the likes of Derek Ricketts, Caroline Bradley and Tina Fletcher. And Leicestershire-based Holly showcased all her experience to not only take the top prize, but also second place with Sing Z, just 11 hundredths of a second behind her winner. Ronnie Jones and Ultimo Z were third, and less than half a second separated Holly’s winning time from Miles O’Donnell and Jackpot DS in fourth. Holly represented Great

Ten pairs of ponies across the Large and Small sections of the Osborne Refrigerators Double Harness Scurry qualified over three days at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) to battle it out in the ‘World Cup final’ of Scurry driving on Saturday night.  After nipping at the heels of her fellow competitors all week in all rounds, Jemma Millman and her fabulous ponies pulled it out of the bag to dominate the Osborne Refrigerators Double Harness Scurry of the Year Championship, claiming both the Champion and Reserve titles in a thrilling finale of speed and agility.  Just 0.8 seconds separated her two pairs of ponies with Tigger & Owl standing

Oliver Hood was crowned a double champion on the penultimate day of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) taking The Harrod and Coles Family Cob of the Year Championship with  Catherine Dickens’ Carters Top Gun after standing Maxi Cob Champion this morning with another of his rides.  Oliver won the Heavyweight Cob class earlier in the day with the nine-year-old grey gelding, who judge Faith Ponsonby described as “a proper cob in every aspect,” and said “he was the model, the movement and he floated on air”.  It was an emotional result for Oliver whose father, the legendary show producer Allister Hood, sadly passed away last year.  Oliver said: “He’s

Joe, who was defending his Ripon Select Foods Puissance title at HOYS on Locomotion, and Rachel with London, Dublin and Bolesworth champion Easy Boy De Loubry Z, pushed each other every inch of the way. The climax of a thrilling night’s action in front of a capacity crowd at Birmingham NEC saw both riders sail over the famous red wall that had been raised to 2.20 metres. Prolific puissance winner Guy Williams took third aboard Cordessia Z after also reaching the final round, with Joe and Rachel sharing a crown that showcased everything about their fearless ability. The audience was gripped throughout – from 14 starters at 1.80m in round

Emily Ward and Wild Star HF shone brightly at Horse of the Year Show to secure a memorable victory in the Rees Family Cup international class. Last to go of 11 combinations in the jump-off, Cheshire rider Emily went more than half a second quicker than Sandy McLean and Kolwa, landing an outstanding win. Tears flowed as she entered HOYS’ Arena of Dreams for the presentation ceremony, with Sandy taking second place and third going to Jodie Hall McAteer on Key West. It was Emily’s debut in the international classes at HOYS, and an occasion that she admitted created a lifetime memory. “It is a bit of a blur,” Emily

At just six years of age, Florence Rendall rode not one but two ponies to victory and took the overall Annabel’s Deliciously British Mini Show Pony of the Year Championship. This talented little jockey rode five-year old Chestnut gelding, Elmswood Spring Parade, to first place in the Lead Rein Section and then topped it off to stand Champion. With a combined age of just 11, pony and rider did more than enough to catch the eye of judge Tim Wiggett, who said that the standard of riding from the young jockeys throughout the Championship had been ‘incredible’.  Elmswood Spring Parade, known as Simba, is produced at home by Florence’s mum