Charles has the wow factor
One of the most consistent natives lands the supreme pony title, while a five-year-old stands ridden native champion
A WELSH section A lead rein campaigner eclipsed all competition to claim a first Ruckleigh School supreme pony title for producer Sharn Linney.
Thistledown Van Der Vaart (Charles), one of the most consistent mini natives on the circuit and H&H’s mini marvels cover star earlier this year (1 June), was bred by Grandstand Media head Sandy Anderson. He had already made history on day one when nailing a third successive mini title, beautifully shown by Sharn and capably ridden by Olivia Brightmore, seven.
In the preliminary judging for the final pony supreme, this utterly delightful combination pulled out even more stops, delivering a polished show which included Sharn swapping sides and Charles performing a reinback that would put many a hack to shame. Incredibly, in the main arena finale, they raised their game still further, with Charles pinging along, never missing a beat for his happily smiling jockey.
“We were looking for type, suitability and that ‘wow’ factor,” said judge Pat Pattinson, who officiated alongside Joy Hall. “We loved this pony as it had all those things plus manners to burn — it is the ultimate child’s pony.”
It was a poignant moment for Olivia, though, as Charles has been sold and will appear with a new jockey next season.
“To go supreme really is beyond my wildest dreams,” said an emotional Sharn. “Bringing him back after winning his section twice before meant there was pressure on him from the start, but Charles is one in a million and he loves his job.
“He gave everything his all, right from the first day — and with a smile on his face the whole time. He is the pony who put me on the map and I owe everything to him.”
Prior to this ultimate triumph, Sharn was already celebrating after achieving top six placings with eight of the nine ponies she fielded here — including three of the four contenders in the hugely-competitive Brineton Colne/Kare Plus mini section, which has seen record entries in qualifiers this season.
It was a HOYS debut for the second-placed lead rein, Thistledown Kintra, ridden by four-year-old Jessica Summers and led by her sister Morgan, and Glebedale Mumbo Jumbo, piloted by Lily Brennan, was second in the first riddens.
FIRST HOYS WIN
A FIVE-YEAR-OLD first-season Connemara mare sprang a major surprise when beating a host of established stars to claim the NPS/Baileys ridden native title.
Kelly Jones’ Danish-bred Skaergaardens Delicious Love overcame strong competition to head her strong class and then beat 17 other main arena finalists.
“This pony stood out as a champion right from the start,”
said Ann Nicholls, who judged this super-strong section with Jackie Cooper. “She was eyecatching in type, movement and character — she floated.”
Kelly, who breaks, schools and produces a range of horses and ponies from her base near Southampton, was already on a high after posting her first HOYS win, but the championship result exceeded all expectations.
“In the class itself I thought if I worked as hard as I could, I felt she would be as good as any,” said Kelly. “The only unknown was how she would react to the atmosphere. By the time we got to the championship, I wasn’t worried about that — but no way did I expect to get anywhere against all those proven ponies.”
The pair have had a number of setbacks this season, but the most serious came in the lead-up to HOYS.
“We were going to Newbury Show last month and the lorry was involved in a head-on collision — it’s a miracle no one was seriously injured,” she said.
“Since then I’ve just taken Delicious out to do fun things to make sure she was OK. We haven’t actually competed until today.”
Kelly bought the mare, justbacked, last year after seeing an advert on Facebook, and drove to Denmark herself to collect her.
“I had heard from friends and judges who’d seen Delicious that she was gorgeous, so I decided to take a chance,” Kelly added.
Schoolteacher Beth Simons conjured an outstanding performance from her homeproduced Welsh section D stallion Ballynacoy Prince, who belied his lack of mileage to win and stand reserve. Although Beth’s sister Maggie has won at HOYS before, this was a first Birmingham red rosette for Beth. The Pembrokeshire-based pair also came with few expectations, and their surprise and delight when called forward was plain to see.
“We’ve had him for five years, but he hasn’t really done that much,” said Maggie, who partnered Yrallt May Day Surprise to victory in 2013. “We’d never taken Prince under either judge before, so we didn’t expect a thing. We just wanted him to go well and be in the final line-up.”
TATLOWS’ FOURTHGENERATION WINNER
ALICE HOMER, better known for show and working hunter ponies,
‘She was eyecatching in type, movement and character’
JUDGE ANN NICHOLLS ON CONNEMARA SKAERGAARDENS
DELICIOUS LOVE
notched up her first HOYS win when Beverley Malim’s reigning Royal International (RIHS) young riders’ champion, Catriona Of Meggernie — an open breed class winner on day one with Scott Dixon — headed the inaugural junior native large breeds class.
This was only the second outing for Alice with the trim Team Ross-produced Highland mare, but the pair then went one better to take this new overall title. In so doing, Alice became the fourth generation of Tatlows to win at HOYS.
Reserve went to the small breed victors, Libby Grota with her family’s home-bred Welsh section B Cadlanvalley Mikado, a five-year-old who had contested only five shows before undertaking this major test.
Part-time hairdresser Amy Smith filled in a missing tick on her CV when her scopey Connemara worker Laburnum Richard (Pedro) produced the best of only four clears in the upper height division and then stood champion.
Although the Lancashire-based 10-year-old gelding has been champion at Royal Windsor for the past two years, won for the English team in Clifden this term and aided the squad to second place in Dublin — the top-scoring pony at both Irish events — this title has long been a major aim for Amy.
“He won his class here in
2014 and was second last year,” said an emotional Amy. “I have always wanted this championship for him.”
A sense of déjà vu continued for another professional hairdresser, Ashley Bird, who stood reserve after winning the 143cm class with his Welsh D stallion, Gwerniago Gethin. Not only was this the same result as last year, but the pair also repeated their 2016 form to stand second at RIHS by one mark.
A first attempt proved a successful one for Juliet Rogers’ charming Exmoor mare, Barhill Marigold, who headed the 122cm workers with Northumberlandbased Gail Whetter. The Suffolk Show champion worker — a daughter of three-times HOYS ridden contender Rosefinch — also went on to stand fifth in the small breeds flat class here.
“We thought just qualifying was the highlight of our season, but that’s certainly not the case now,” said a joyful Juliet.