Day three: Round up

Day three at Horse of the Year Show saw the start of the International Showjumping, with a fantastic line up of both British and foreign talent. Taking the Grandstand Welcome Stakes was Irish Nations Cup rider, Anthony Condon. Now based in Cheshire, Anthony won in thrilling fashion to take the £3,300 top prize with Zira VH Kapelhof Z, clocking a lightning time of 40.98 seconds.

Onto the Grandstand Media Five Fence Challenge and there was an unusual three-way tie between British riders Holly Smith and Helen Tredwell, plus Irish star Shane Breen, who agreed between them to share the spoils after round four, a course that culminated in them jumping a fence of 1.80 metres (5ft, 11 inches).

Opening the evening performance was the Leading Pony Showjumper of the Year, won by Scottish teenager Shaunie Greig. Shaunie, from Dunfermline in Fife, triumphed with Casino Royale VIII to land a class first contested in 1949, with previous winners including Michael Whitaker, William Whitaker and Louise Saywell. Ten combinations qualified for the jump-off from 27 starters, including reigning champion Tixylix, a 19-year-old pony seeking its third win in the class following victories in 2010 and 2016. However, it was Shaunie who proved too consistent for the rest, clocking a time of 33.32 seconds, with Allana Clutterbuck and Sultan du Bary finishing second and Hannah Barker taking third with Amman Valley Santino.

Onto one of the most prestigious showing titles, the Cuddy supreme In-Hand Championship, and it was the turn of Broadstone Dolce Vita to take the title. The 17-year-old mare owned by William Moran and Pearl Underwood now has one of the most prestigious and sought-after titles in the showing world to her name, following a prolific winning ridden career with Amy Underwood. She’s been with William for the last three years and together they have claimed numerous championship titles.

“I’ve been breeding for 25 years and it’s always been my dream to win the horse section of the Cuddy, let alone the Supreme!” He continued: “When I first saw her [Broadstone Dolce Vita], I thought, that’s good enough to win the Cuddy.”

Returning to the International Showjumping and closing the show was the NAEC Stoneleigh Stakes which saw British master and HOYS regular, John Whitaker take the win. John clocked 29.07 seconds to take the top prize of £7,350, with Phillip Miller second aboard Roulette H, 42 hundredths of a second behind, and the Czech Republic’s Emma Augier De Moussac third on JCS Chacco.

Tomorrow will see an exciting line up of Showjumping including the ever-popular Puissance, this year under new sponsorship from Naylors Equestrian. Stay up to date with all of the action at Horse of the Year show at www.hoys.co.uk – and you can catch the live streaming each evening at http://www.britishequestriansport.tv/

Ends

Image caption: John Whitaker, winner of the NAEC Stoneleigh Stakes

Image credit: 1st Class Images

For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2017, or to request a selection of copyright free images, please contact:

Horse of the Year Show Press Office

Grandstand Media Ltd

Tel: 02476 858 205

Email: press@hoys.co.uk