Sally McMillan’s three-year-old filly, Heronsmill Tiger Lily (Lily) has scooped one of the most prestigious and sought-after titles, the Cuddy Supreme In-Hand Championship at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
This Championship does a lot for the promotion of breeding horses and ponies, with many broodmares competing over the years, and this year’s winners showed that Supreme In-Hand champions do run in the family.
Heronsmill Tiger Lily is out of Copybush Eye of the Tiger whose full brother, Copybush Catchphrase, also won the Supreme In-Hand Championship as a three-year-old, a quarter of a century ago back in 1994. Now, another generation on, history has repeated itself.
In fact, Lily has been wearing the very same rug that Copybush Catchphrase wore here at HOYS in the nineties.
Bred and produced in Pembrokeshire, the mare was handled in the ring by Matt McGivern. She won the Pony section earlier on in the day before standing Champion.
Matt, who is a regular in ridden classes at HOYS, said: “It’s beyond our wildest dreams… As a kid you dream of winning at HOYS, and to do it first time in-hand is incredible.”
Two-year-old Tiger Cub won the Horse section and stood Reserve Champion. He is owned, bred and shown by William and Joanne Moran. Tiger Cub’s sire, Tiger Attack, was also bred by William and has been a Cuddy Supreme In-Hand contender three years running.
In his first season out, the youngster has stood Supreme at three shows and was champion at the Great Yorkshire Show. They qualified for HOYS at the Northern Ireland Festival.
William has been breeding horses for over 25 years. He landed his first Supreme In-Hand Championship triumph – winning the Horse section and overall Championship – with the late Broadstone Dolce Vita back in 2017.
The Cuddy Supreme In-Hand Championship has an extensive qualification route. Horses and ponies have to not only win their class but go overall in-hand champion of the respective show in order to qualify. Only one per show qualifies.
Mike, Simone and Yasmin Cuddy have been a long-standing sponsor of Horse of the Year Show and have supported this Championship class since 1998.
ENDS
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2019, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk
Cuddy Supreme In-Hand Champion, Matt McGivern handling Heronsmill Tiger Lily © 1st Class Images
