The evening performance on day two at Horse of the Year Show welcomed The Andrews Family Hack of the Year Championship finalists to the Andrews Bowen International Arena. The line up consisted of the first and second placed horses from both The Andrews Family Small Hack of the Year and the Culford Lodge Commodities Large Hack of the Year which took place earlier in the day.
All four horses put on a fabulous show in a bid to impress judges Jennie Loriston-Clarke MBE and Nancy Graylen. However, only one could be crowned as the Champion for 2022, and that honour went to the Large Hack winner, Ballinclare ridden by Jo Bates.
The six-year-old bay mare known as Annie is under new ownership this year; Ami Miller purchased her from Lorraine Homer in February. Despite Jo Bates taking the ride at HOYS today, the mare is very much for Ami to ride as Jo explains: “We are so proud of her, she is only six and she has the most beautiful nature and the kindest temperament. She is for Ami to ride but I have really just been helping her this season. I have had such a great team riding her here this year and I’d like to thank my daughter Holly for her help with the horses.”
Marked by Horse & Hound as “one to watch” back in 2020 after she won at the BSPS Summer Championships, she is certainly proving to live up to expectations.
Reserve champion went to the very deserving Small Hack winner, Young Lochinvar, owned and ridden by Alison Talbot. The pair won the Hack of the Year Championship back in 2017 when the beautiful gelding was just five-years-old, and have since placed second in 2018, 2019 and now 2022. By the late Kilvington Scoundrel and out of Fair Ellen, the little horse had big boots to fill, and he’s certainly done himself proud today.
Now nine years of age, the bay gelding showed his maturity in a foot-perfect show, oozing elegance and style. Alison, who bought the gelding as a two-year-old, could not be prouder of his achievement.
The Hack of the Year Championship was one of the original classes at the very first Horse of the Year Show back in 1949. The Champion is eligible to contest the Supreme Products Supreme Horse of the Year on the final evening of the show.
Dales stallion clinches victory in the National Pony Society/Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain & Moorland Ridden Pony of the Year Championship
For the native pony enthusiasts, Thursday really is THE day at Horse of the Year Show. As the only country in the world to have 11 native breeds, the mountain and moorland showing circuit in Great Britain is hotly contested year after year.
Just under 200 pony and rider combinations have been competing in the M&M ridden breed classes over the past 48 hours, all with the determination to contest the overall National Pony Society/Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain & Moorland Ridden Pony of the Year Championship. Whittled down to just 20 combinations, the top two from each breed class performed for their final chance to be chosen by judges Marie-Claire Nimmo and Joanna Jack. There are not many occasions in equestrian sport where you see such an array of different breeds, heights and ages compete against one another which is what makes this discipline so unique.
After much suspense, the highly coveted champion title went to the striking five-year-old black Dales stallion, Griseburn Major ridden and owned by Joseph Watson.
Joseph said: “I don’t really know what to say. Things like this don’t happen to me, I just can’t believe it. I bought him as a three-year-old from the stud and he’s probably done about 10 shows in his whole life. We did four HOYS qualifiers this season and qualified at North of England Summer Show. I am trying not to do too much with him and after this week he will have a well-deserved rest.”
The Lancashire based rider was one of a few amateurs in the final line up and he gives credit to his partner Rob McIvor: “He wasn’t the easiest pony when we first got him but my partner Rob has worked wonders with him and now he’s just so easy and he never puts a foot wrong.”
Reserve champion went to the Welsh Section C stallion, Lynuck the Showman ridden by Rebecca Penny. Showing his great consistency after winning the M&M Ridden Welsh Section C class at HOYS in 2019, the 12-year-old chestnut once again impressed the judges with his wonderful manner and flowing paces.
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2022, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk
