History repeated itself on the penultimate evening of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) as Alison Osborne was crowned Osborne Refrigerators Double Harness Scurry of the Year Championship with her formidable pair of ponies Osborne Refrigerators Woody & Buzz.
Ten pairs of ponies across the large and small sections of the Osborne Refrigerators Double
Harness Scurry qualified over three days at HOYS to battle it out in the ‘World Cup final’ of Scurry driving on Saturday night.
Alison has dominated the leader board all week, winning both Small rounds with Osborne Refrigerators Woody & Buzz and both Large rounds with Osborne Refrigerators Chip & Dale. Hot on her heels all week has been Jemma Millman who has finished second in all rounds, bar one, with her Small ponies Tigger & Owl and Large pair Piglet & Roo.
In what could be described as ‘Formula One meets pony racing’, everything was at stake going into tonight’s final.
Alison rose to the occasion and swept round the course in the quickest time posted all week; 42.86 seconds and completing the same clean sweep as she did back in 2019. Jemma finished second with Piglet & Roo on 45.22 seconds, while Alison’s large pair, Chip & Dale, finished on 48.24 seconds in sixth after an unlucky four faults.
A delighted Alison said: “I was truly focused and just wanted it. Everyone in that Championship was so good it could have been anybody’s win tonight.”
“I was disappointed to have faults with Chip & Dale but perhaps that made me a bit sharper with Woody & Buzz.”
“I love those ponies to bits – they just keep giving and getting faster and faster. They love the atmosphere and the crowd here at HOYS – it’s our favourite show.”
The ponies will all have a holiday now and then Alison and her husband Jeff, who finished seventh tonight with his ponies Osborne Refrigerators Twitter & Tweet, will do lots for charity with the ponies over the winter before starting all over again with qualifiers next year.
ENDS
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2024, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk
