Handsome Romeo charms the judges
A 2016 HOYS winner delights the judges in show pony ranks while one show team dominate the intermediates
IN what can only be described as a hectic 48 hours, Madison Dalley from South Wales claimed the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) show pony championship with her 138cm winner Archwood Romeo Gigle (Jack). Only 12 hours before, Madison had ridden her 19-yearold Welsh section A gelding Treowen Rhys to book a first time visit in the senior showing
and dressage final at Olympia after taking the championship at Sunnybank Equestrian Centre.
“It has been a mad few days, but we love coming to Stithians,” said Madison’s mother Leah. “Jack loves the atmosphere of a county show and went beautifully.”
Having won at HOYS last season at only their second show together, the 12-year-old black gelding gave a wonderful account of himself; the home-produced pair performed a flawless threeloop canter serpentine to impress judge Paul Brightwell.
“My champion was an out and out winner who really sat up and performed,” he said.
A six-hour journey paid off for the reserve champions, 16-yearold Jessica Soltermann and the attractive bay gelding Wycroft Donatello, who headed the 148cm class. Another duo that are homeproduced, this pair narrowly missed out qualifying at South of England last month.
“We were second at South of England, but went on to stand champion. It was brilliant but also gutting,” said Jessica.
DOUBLE LUCK
TEAM QUINEY fielded both the small and large intermediate show riding type winners, as well as the overall intermediate champion.
Trainee chartered accountant Claudia Gale rode the 12-year-old Tavillain, by Kilvington Scoundrel, to head the large qualifier before taking the top accolade. Owned by her parents Peter and Sue Gale, the dark bay gelding was found for them by Team Quiney, who have produced him for the past two years.
“He qualified here last year too, but I was away on holiday so it was lovely to do it ourselves this time,” said Claudia, who is in her final year of intermediate classes.
Team-mate Georgina Reik was also holidaying last year when she got the call that her Kilvington Scoundrel mare Whalton Goodness Gracious had qualified. She too earned the ticket herself this time, in the small division.
The 18-year-old, who recently finished A levels, said: “We won by nine marks — I'm so proud. Both Claudia and I were very emotional with our wins.”
Sisters Abi, 16, and 12-yearold Tori Dymond dominated the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) 2018 coloured horse or pony qualifiers. Abi rode the bay skewbald Masterdancer to head the plaited pony section and the championship, with Tori piloting the diminutive dun and white mare Bushmoor Echo (Pixie) to finish second and reserve.
Pixie is usually ridden by Tori’s younger cousin, Samuel Laity, but he was at school concert rehearsals.
“I wish I could steal Pixie more often as she is such a lovely pony to ride,” said Tori.
LOCAL SUCCESS
NATHAN ARNOLD, who produces from a yard just a stone’s throw from the showground, emerged victorious in the hunter championship.
With RIHS 2018 qualifiers offered for the first time,
Nathan rode Amanda Element’s middleweight victor Ballangaras Monterrey for producer Brett McKinnon.
The eight-year-old bay middleweight gelding was a catch ride due to usual jockey
Jess Cronk contesting the intermediate classes. Reserve was the small winner, Designer Diamond, owned and ridden by Helston-based Annette Buckingham.