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 probably one of the last horses that dad saw me do well on, so it’s very special.
“This horse has been second and third, so I hoped he’d have his day here one day and now he has, which is fantastic.”
Reflecting on ‘doing the double’ with the two Championships, Oliver said: “Coming into the week I thought I was bringing one of the better teams of horses I’d had for a long time. You hope one will do well, but to have two is just incredible
Team Hood also clocked up second place in the Heavyweights with Rachel McCourt’s Firespell ridden by Amelia Hood.
Reserve Champion went to the winner of the Lightweight Cob; Gillian Eaton’s Ad Blue ridden by Kevin Lee. Second placed was Randalstown Aristocrat owned and ridden by Lisette-Marie Roberts.
The elegant, floating paces of the contenders in the British Show Pony Society Children’s Riding Pony of the Year Championship posed a difficult decision for judges Chris Walker and Fiona Cabrol.
The Harker team pulled off the second fantastic double of the evening in a very strong field. Winner of the 148cm section Rotherwood Fantasia stood Champion, ridden by Emma Harker, while 138cm section winner Stanley Grange Crescendo was Reserve ridden by Matilda Holmes. Both ponies are produced by Victoria Harker and owned by Emma and Victoria’s mother Jenny Harker.
Rotherwood Fantasia was bred by Liz Mansfield-Parnell and is by Landemann Nighthawk out of Rotherwood Flight of Fancy.
“I’m thrilled for Emma,” said Jenny. “I love this mare to bits; the character on her is brilliant and the breeding is brilliant. It’s Emma’s last year [in these classes] and I want to breed from the mare as well.”
Reserve Champion, Stanley Grange Crescendo, is a seven-year-old by Turberry Top Cat and bred by Jerome Harforth. Victoria won the Partbred Pony of the Year on him last year and they will contest the Championship again tomorrow.
The first year Victoria started producing, the team won the Children’s Riding Pony Championship with Ardenhall Blenheim and defended the title the following year.
“They hit the ground running when they decided to produce,” said Jenny. “Victoria is 21 and Emma is 18. I’m thrilled for them because they work so hard”.
Winner of the 128cm section was Helen Davies’ Stoneleigh Showtime ridden by Izzy Walker.
Rebecca Faulkner’s 14-year-old Partbred Stretcholt Roulette stood Shine Source Footwear UK LTD Show Hunter Pony of the Year Champion ridden by daughter Ella Eynon following a win in the 143cm section.
A delighted Ella said: “This has been a dream for me to go Champion on the flat at HOYS. I was Champion here in the Workers in 2022 and to be able to do it on this pony of a lifetime is unreal.
“This is the second year we’ve had him. He doesn’t really like going in the school, so hacking is his main thing and going out in the field.”
Ella has had a very good HOYS, finishing second in two of the M&M classes earlier in the week.
Reserve went to the winner of the 133cm section Jane Lindsay’s seven-year-old Partbred Arab, Tandridge Hallmark, ridden by son Rocco and produced by Emma Holder.
A delighted Jane said: “It’s phenomenal; if you’d seen this pair at the start of the season this was a faraway dream. It was a big step up from a very push-button 12hh that Rocco won on here last year.
“This year we were going in there for the experience and to come out with a smile on our face, so to go in there and be Champion is just beyond anything.”
Nicol Donaldson’s CSF Chantilly Galway Girl defended his title in the 153cm section ridden by Mia Donaldson. The 123cm section winner wasRowfantina My Buddy ridden by Darcie Fielding and owned by Aimie Fielding.
ENDS
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Image credit: 1st Class Images.
