Miranda Wallace’s eight-year-old bay gelding A Red Knight stole the show in The Leeman Family Maxi Cob of the Year Championship in his first season with Vicky Smith.
Judges JJ Kemp (South Africa) and Gregory Gerry (Australia) chose their winner from 15 Maxi Cobs to come forward for the 14th running of this prestigious Championship.
“I didn’t know what the judges would like, so we just had to hope that he was their favourite,” said a delighted Vicky.
“He’s like a Ferrari to ride – and he’s so easy, you just know he’s going to deliver the goods.”
Reserve was the striking Skewbald gelding Indigo Jones owned by Auriel Wilson and ridden by Oliver Hood. This marked Oliver’s third second place of the morning!
Over in the TopSpec Arena, a huge cheer went up for The Ross Family Intermediate Show Hunter of the Year Champion, Briarhill Buddy Bolden. This superb Intermediate Show Hunter, owned by Bridget and Meg Edmondson, won the Championship back in 2022, was second last year and reclaimed his crown this year with Harriet Dennison in the saddle.
The eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse is by Kings Cornet out of Durida, and is produced by Rachel and Julie Helliwell. This year is Harriet’s last year in Intermediates, while Meg rides him in the Small Hunters. At home he spends a lot of time hacking out on the Cumbrian hills.
Talking about his appearance at HOYS for three consecutive years, Meg said: “You always dream about it, but anything could happen. He’s such a legend.”
Harriet added: “He’s such a little showman. He felt on form in there and he gives you his all, all of the time.”
Reserve Champion was Samantha De La Hey’s Royal Illusion ridden by Claudia De La Hey.
It was a family affair in The Honourable Stud Intermediate Show Riding Type of the Year Championship as Carol Taylor’s homebred, Dare to Dream, partnered granddaughter Liberty Taylor-Hopkins to victory.
This was the first year in Intermediates for the eight-year-old by Up With The Lark, but he’s no stranger to HOYS, having qualified for the Hacks every year since he was four and finishing third on Thursday with Liberty’s mum, Amanda.
An emotional Liberty said: “Every time I get on him he gives me everything. You put that bridle on, and he knows he’s got to show off.”
Thinking forward to the Supreme tomorrow night, Liberty said: “I couldn’t have had a better season with him, so I’m just going to enjoy it.”
It was another Reserve sash for Samantha De La Hey, this time with Blakestones Flawless ridden by Matthew Procter. The nine-year-old is by prolific sire Kilvington Scoundrel.
A homebred Arab took the spoils in the Donna Gambrill, Oakways Healthcare Ltd and Amanda Miller, Islandbridge Properties Ltd Ridden Purebred Arab of the Year Championship. Valletta Hunters Song was bred by Georgina Rees who rode him to victory today.
William, as he is known at home, qualified for HOYS last year, but didn’t place. Georgina said the win today was “unexpected” after a scare with a walkie talkie last year meant that he wouldn’t let the ride judge get on him.
Fast forward to this year and the pair looked an absolute picture, giving judge Jessica Stalling a lovely ride in the TopSpec Arena. They also picked up the Best Gelding and Best Home Produced awards.
Georgina is helped by Darren Crowe who rode another of her Arabs in the ring today. Darren said: “[William] rides like no other Arab, he’s unbelievable”.
At home, Georgina and William do a lot of hacking and a bit of dressage. “Everything is about William,” said Georgina. “My life revolves around this horse.”
Emily and Simon Constable’s bay mare Ottiliah JJ scooped the Reserve with Emily in the saddle. They also took the Highest Placed Mare and Best Amateur award.
The first of the pony Championships of the day was the highly anticipated Annabel’s Deliciously British Mini Show Pony of the Year.
It was the Lead Rein winner Derw Dream Boy, owned by Heather Clay and ridden by five-year-old Sienna Clay, who had the HOYS centre-line moment. Produced by Craig Elenor and Sara Parrott, the pony went Champion here back in 2022, where he caught the eye of Sara and Heather.
“We watched him go Champion here and decided he was the one we would really like,” said Sara. “We bought him after HOYS last year.”
“He’s a dream to produce and full of character.”
Sienna’s mum Heather added: “They’ve surpassed all my expectations. I thought she [Sienna] was so small that she might have gone better next year, but they’ve blown me away today.”
Sienna is following in older brother Finley’s footsteps who stood M&M Lead Rein Pony of the Year Champion last year.
Reserve was the First Ridden winner, Archwood Finley, owned and produced by David Jinks and Adam Forster and ridden by Lara-Rae Jones. The Woodview Filidori gelding performed beyond his years in the big atmosphere of the TopSpec Arena.
After a short break to transform the TopSpec Arena into a little piece of the Great British countryside, the Enablelink Ltd Lead Rein Pony of Hunter Type of the Year Championship got underway.
Having impressed judge JJ Kemp across the obstacle course, it was the six-year-old Partbred, Newoak Midnight Blue, owned by Charlene Mennie and ridden by Violet Mennie who clinched the title. Produced by Adam Forster and David Jinks, the pony won this Championship back in 2022.
Coming straight from his First Ridden victory just a couple of hours before, Adam said: “He’s got the most charming personality… he’s an absolute child’s pony.
“We [David and I] bought him from the breeders unbroken at three years old and the minute we walked into the yard I said to David ‘that is coming home because that will win Horse of the Year Show’ – and the rest is history.”
Reserve was Christina Gillett’s Welsh Section B Annandale Line of Fire ridden by Lewis Cousins.
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
