Showing Champions Celebrate with a Full House on Saturday Night at HOYS

Under the spotlights of a full house on the penultimate evening of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), judges JJ Kemp (South Africa) and Gregory Gerry (Australia) welcomed back their first and second placed Cobs from this morning’s Lightweight and Heavyweight classes to select The Harrod and Coles Family Cob of the Year Champion.

Cobs being few and far between in South Africa, ride judge JJ Kemp commented on how light these horses are to ride, which is of course the epitome of a good show cob; good manners and a comfortable ride. 

The Heavyweight winner was crowned Champion; 11-year-old Taylors Hero ridden by Richard Telford and jointly owned by Anne Vestey, Richard and Stuart Ashton. Anne was watching ringside and was “unbelievably happy” with the win. 

Richard said: “We bought him when he was four and he was quite feral and a bit frightened. We had to keep starting and stopping with him… so we didn’t really start showing him until he was eight.”

“Last year was his first open season and he finished seventh here. This year he’s finally got his head round it.” 

Lightweight winner Copenhagen stood Reserve, owned by Rowena Stevenson and ridden by Simon Reynolds. 

The British Show Pony Society Children’s Riding Pony of the Year Championship is one of four showing Championships that first ran back in 1949. This year, both the Champion and Reserve were sired by Cusop Dimension, who is this year’s Leading Sire of the Year. 

The overall Champion was Landemann Bird of Paradise owned by John Harvey and ridden by Beatrice Taverner-Jordon. The eight-year-old bay mare was bred by Martin Jones and was right at home under the spotlights of the Andrews Bowen International Arena, having won the 138cm section earlier in the day. 

Speaking after the presentation, Beatrice said: “I was a bit nervous because she’s never been in there [the Andrews Bowen International Arena] before. She’s very happy when she wants to be – she likes being out at shows.” 

Reserve Champion was the 128cm section winner Stoneleigh Showtime (Charlie) owned by Helen Davies and ridden by Izzy Walker, daughter of showing supremo Rob Walker. The seven-year-old bay gelding is a much-loved member of the Walker household. 

Winner of the 148cm section was Copybush Time Lord, owned by Emma Andrews and ridden by Harriet Storey.

It was an emotional win in The Andrews Family Partbred Pony of the Year Championship for Victoria Harker’s Stanley Grange Crescendo, a six-year-old bred by Jerome Harforth and sired by Turberry Top Cat. 

Victoria, aged 20, has produced a few HOYS winners, but this was her first centre line moment in the saddle with her very special partner Benji. 

“Every time I’ve blown the candles out on the cake, this has been my dream,” she said. 

Victoria met Benji after HOYS last year. He belonged to a client at the beginning of the season, but she decided to sell him, so Victoria bought him half way through this season to bring him out as a Partbred. “He’s too beautiful to part with,” she said. 

Thinking forward to the Supreme tomorrow night Victoria said: “We’ll go with the flow and ride it as it comes.” 

Lucy Richardson’s six-year-old mare Whiteleaze Pollyanna scooped Reserve with daughter Lilly in the saddle.  

No stranger to the Miniature Horse of the Year Championship here at HOYS, Charlotte Leonard posted her second Championship win, this time with Scott’s Olympic Dream, her three-year-old skewbald stallion. 

Charlotte has had him since a foal and had some major wins with him, but this was his first HOYS win after finishing fourth last year. 

“From a foal I just loved his front, so we thought he might be quite nice. I didn’t really show him as a yearling as he needed a bit longer to mature, but it’s certainly paid off.”

Charlotte has five Miniatures at home, alongside being a mum and having a full-time job.

“Everyone supports me, so I’m really lucky,” she said. 

Pandoras Bombay Diablo, owned by handled by Emma Williams, took Reserve. 

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