The 75th Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) came to a thrilling close tonight as it was decided which horse and pony would become the Champion of Champions.
All of the Champions from throughout the week were invited back for one final show; this time in front of judges Tissie Reason and Ann Overton-Ablitt who had the honour of choosing which two equines would take the ultimate accolades and join the HOYS roll of honour for this very special anniversary year.
You could hear a pin drop before the spotlight fell on Craig Kiddier as Sue Tennant’s exceptional Show Hunter Champion, Mulberry Lane II, was crowned Supreme Products Supreme Horse of the Year Champion. This incredible result rounds off a stellar year for this combination.
Mulberry Lane II, or Obi as he is known at home, is a nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse by OBOS Quality out of Lisnarree and he has been with Craig since he was four years old.
“If I never win another rosette ever again, he’s made all of my dreams come true,” said an emotional Craig of Obi.
As Obi is Craig’s Working Hunter horse, winning the Show Hunter Champion title earlier in the week was “unexpected” for Craig, and to go Supreme tonight was “simply unbelievable”. They finished third in the Sport Horse Breeding of GB Working Hunter Championship on Wednesday after having an unlucky pole.
“He’s got everything”, said Craig. “To find one that is good enough to do the workers and be a flat horse, they’re just not there. We’ve been looking ever since we got him for another one and we’ve not found one yet – and I don’t think we ever will.”
Listen to the Lloyd Bell interview here.
Mini Show Pony Champion Derw Dream Boy took the Supreme Products Supreme Pony of the Year Championship. Owned by Heather Clay and ridden by her daughter Sienna Clay, the seven-year-old gelding had elegance and grace in abundance.
Five-year-old Sienna did a wonderful job in the huge atmosphere of the Andrews Bowen International Arena with thousands of spectators. Mum Heather said: “It’s unbelievable – it’s her first year at HOYS and we’ve had an incredible experience.”
The victory marked a first HOYS Supreme win for producers Craig Elenor and Sara Parrott.
Craig said: “It’s everybody’s dream in the job we do and to have a pony this good is just fantastic.”
“He has sheer class and quality, and looks after his little rider – it’s a rare thing.”
It was an even more poignant moment for Heather, as today marked another very special memory. “It means everything”, she said. “It is 11 years to the day that I had a horse that went Supreme Horse, so to get the Supreme Pony as well is incredible”.
Heather’s legendary show cob Hallmark IX went Supreme Horse of the Year back in 2013 with Simon Reynolds.
Listen to the Lloyd Bell interview here.
Reigning Champion Batley Pepper Gray caught the eye of judge Ted Harrison to reclaim the Shire Horse of the Year Championship supported by the Shire Horse Society on just her second visit to HOYS.
The four-year-old Toc Hill Sir mare has collected four other Championships over the season with Robert Bedford. “She’s just a natural,” said Robert. “She develops in that atmosphere. She comes out every time and she never fails.”
The Reserve Champion title went to Elizabeth Whitehouse’s Saredon Elinsore. The nine-year-old mare is by the Metherington Upton Hamlet, a three-time HOYS Champion.
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
