Hacks and Mountain & Moorland Ponies are Crowned Champions on Day Two of HOYS

Thursday’s evening performance at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) saw two very

prestigious showing Championships get underway in the Andrews Bowen International Arena. 

The first and second placed Hacks from earlier on in the day came forward for The Andrews Family Hack of the Year Championship. 

Displaying elegance and style in abundance, the Champion was announced as the winner of the Small Hack, and last year’s Reserve, Shirley Dennison’s seven-year-old bay gelding Manhattan ridden by Harriet Dennison. 

Nigel, as he is known at home, is by the prolific sire Kilvington Scoundrel, who has sired so many of the Hack Champions here at HOYS. Nigel and Harriet produced another foot-perfect performance to the delight of International judges Kate Halliday and Gregory Gerry from Australia. 

An elated Harriet said: “We’ve had Nigel for three seasons. I started out doing Intermediates on him and Rachel and Julie Helliwell have produced him from the start. 

“He’s a mummy’s boy so he adores Rachel and she’s worked really hard with him to get him to where he is, but he’s just so rewarding and tries really hard. It’s a real team effort.”

Reflecting on tonight’s performance, Harriet said: “He’s a showman when you get in there and he tries really hard for you, but he’s exceeded any expectations we had for him. It’s a dream to go in there and compete, let alone take the title.”

The Culford Lodge Commodities Large Hack of the Year winner took the Reserve title; Sharon Haworth’s Carrhouse Hidden Asset (Sid) ridden by David Bennett. The eight-year-old Thoroughbred cross is by Stanley Grange Stateside out of Hibernica and was bred by Sharon.

“We [Sharon and I] picked him as a youngster for me to ride,” explained David. “He’s been brilliant and won loads, but we’ve never had a Hack win at HOYS.

“The ride judge said she really liked riding him because he’s a little power house. He’s very forward off the leg.”

Part of Sid’s HOYS preparation was to go for a good gallop on the beach near their home in Lancashire, something he loves to do along with plenty of hacking. 

The first two days of HOYS are a Mountain & Moorland spectacular and the prestigious

National Pony Society/Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain & Moorland Ridden Pony of the

Year Championship is a culmination of 11 class sections showcasing all 12 of our wonderful native British breeds.

With 22 ponies in contention, in the end it was the top-placed Fell pony, Wildhoeve Okidoki, owned by Ruth Roberts and produced and ridden by Clare Fitch, who was crowned Champion. Oki, as he is known at home, is by Klompjes Ivanhoe out of Uldale Black Misty and is now 15 years old. He won the Fell class back in 2021 with Clare and made his HOYS debut back in 2017. 

Clare has had a very successful couple of days here with a second centre line moment on the Highland, Valerock Monroe, also owned by Ruth. Clare’s daughter Domenica took the ride on the Dun stallion for this evening’s Championship. 

“I’ve had the most amazing week with both ponies,” said Clare. “I knew he [Oki] was good enough. As he’s got older he’s just got better and better. We’ve formed a partnership and he just trusts me. I love him to bits.”

The judges’ Reserve Champion was winner of the Welsh Section B class, Cadlanvalley Buzz Lightyear, ridden and owned by Myranda Houton from Ayrshire, Scotland. As the last class section to run, Myranda and Buzz came more or less straight from collecting their red rosette in the TopSpec Arena to the evening performance.  

“I’m so happy,” said Myranda, who produces Buzz herself alongside a full-time job. “The highest placing I’ve had at HOYS is third. 

“I bought him straight from the Cadlanvalley Stud as a three-year-old. I broke him lightly and then turned him away. We did a couple of shows at four as a novice and I turned him away again each winter. We only do five or six shows each year. 

“Buzz has qualified three years in a row for the Open B’s and the Juniors – he’s a pony in a million.”

The class winners in the National Pony Society/Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain & Moorland Ridden Pony of the Year Championship were as follows:

Welsh Section D – Tireinon Llew ridden and owned by Danielle Garner 

Welsh Section C – Gems Malt Whiskey ridden and owned by April Gilmartin

Welsh Section B – Cadlanvalley Buzz Lightyear ridden and owned by Myranda Houton 

Welsh Section A – Marsh Walk On By owned by Lucy Richardson and ridden by Lilly Richardson

Dartmoor – Feldons Red Kite owned by Samantha Walker and ridden by Evie Walker

New Forest – Ravenstone Fudge II owned by Beverley Bayes and ridden by Stephanie Turner

Fell – Wildhoeve Okidoki owned by Ruth Roberts and ridden by Clare Fitch

Highland – Valerock Monroe owned by Ruth Roberts and ridden by Clare Fitch

Connemara – Moyabbey George owned and ridden by Alisa Vines

Dales – Tarbarl Hogmonay owned by Lynda Johnson and ridden by Vikki Smith

Exmoor/Shetland – Latijn V.D. Helling owned by Aliya Khan and ridden by Libby Grota 

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