Julie Bankier rode Kate Bankier’s bay mare, Toncynfigg Liberty X (Tina), to victory in The Binks Family Show Hunter Pony of the Year Championship at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), rounding off her last year in Show Hunter Pony classes in style.
Rising up the ranks from their third-place finish in the 153cm class last year, Julie and the seven-year-old mare, Tina, qualified for HOYS first time out and have only done a bit of light showing this season.
The mare has been based at Adam Winbourne’s yard in Hampshire since the family bought her two and a half years ago. Adam said: “She has a lot of quality and she’s very glamorous… She’s also very mannerly and went superbly in the ring today.”
This was Julie’s third HOYS win but her first Championship. She’ll now move on to Intermediate classes next season with a new ride. In the meantime, all eyes will be on the pair in the Ruckleigh School Supreme Pony of the Year Championship.
It was a good day for the large Show Hunter Ponies, as the Reserve Champion also came from the 153cm class; second placed CSF Chantilly Galway Girl (Dolly) owned by Lorraine Scott and ridden by Jessica Reed-Else.
Jessica started riding the six-year-old in May this year and they’ve fitted a lot into their first season together. She is based with Emma-Jayne Dujardin but Jessica will bring her home over the winter.
This is Jessica’s highest achievement to date in her riding career. She first competed at HOYS in 2012 in the First Ridden Mountain & Moorland class when they finished eighth.
The plan now is to come out again next year and contest some Intermediate classes.
The winner of the 143cm class was on her second celebration of HOYS 2019. Lydia Trice returned fresh from her Reserve Championship win in The Baker-Beall Family Intermediate Show Riding Type of the Year yesterday. This time it was her mother Victoria’s pony, Little Miss Darcey (Darcey), who delighted her support team with a win.
The seven-year-old partbred mare was backed by Penny Hollings and had only been to one show before she came to Lydia three years ago.
Lydia said: “I adore her. She’s heaven to ride, so soft, forward and balanced. You can go over any ground out hacking and she stays balanced.”
Unconvinced she could make it two HOYS wins when she woke up this morning, Lydia has rounded off her penultimate year in Show Hunter Ponies very nicely.
The 133cm section was won by a pony who went to his new owner, Abbi Vaughan, straight from HOYS last year. Scalacre Eclipse (Bert) was found by producer Julie Templeton for his new rider, Grace Vaughan.
“We introduced Grace to him [Bert] at HOYS and they have spent the year getting to know him,” said Julie, who explained that Bert has lots of personality and character. “I was very pleased with how he went today. He was nice and forward; he just flowed.”
This was Grace’s first HOYS win and she also enjoys pony racing, having previously competed in the Shetland Pony Grand National.
The final section of the day was the 122cm Show Hunter Ponies. Nine-year-old Harry Edwards-Brady delighted the crowds when he took the spoils on his mother Emma’s pony, Gryngallt Page Too (Billy).
Harry made his first appearance at HOYS 2013, aged just three, when he qualified for two lead rein classes and grabbed the attention of the national press due to his young age. He’s qualified for HOYS every year since and last year was his first year off of the lead rein, finishing second.
The Welsh Section B has been produced by Sam Quiney for the past two years and Emma says Sam has “helped Harry no end.”
“He [Harry] said this morning he was going to win,” laughed Emma. Harry has three years left in 122cm classes, so he and Billy will have plenty of opportunities to defend their winning title.
Class sponsors, the Binks family, have had horses competing at HOYS since 1968 when David Tatlow won his first hunter championship title for the family with State Visit, they have been great supporters ever since. All three Binks daughters, Helen, Harriet and Hannah have successfully competed from Lead Rein through to Intermediates and on into Small Hunters.
ENDS
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2019, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk
The Binks Family Show Hunter Pony of the Year Championship, Julie Bankier riding Toncynfigg Liberty X © 1st Class Images
