Showing Diamonds Are
In a week categorised by sensational performances, Oliver Hood celebrates his first HOYS supreme win on the reigning Royal International champion, while his father defends a double win and a youngster triumphs in the hacks
Forever shines in supreme horse
Horse of the Year Show, Genting Arena, Birmingham
TEAM HOOD once again brought two major players through to the Ripon Select Foods supreme Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) championship. But whereas last year Allister carried off the title with Our Cashel Blue, it was role reversal when, under judges Joy Hall and Pat Pattinson, his son Oliver was catapulted into the spotlight aboard the champion riding horse Diamonds Are Forever (Freddie).
“It was quality through and through — we loved it the minute we saw it,” said Pat. “We both agreed that it was an out-and-out champion.”
For Allister it was a touch of déjà vu as he rode “Blue” and Freddie to successfully defend their 2016 respective cob and riding horse titles, earning return tickets to the final supreme.
Freddie demonstrated masses of presence, manners and breathtaking movement to win his large riding horse division and championship before Oliver took the reins for the finale.
“He’s a superstar of a horse with very even paces that I used to our advantage,” said Oliver, who was celebrating his first HOYS supreme win.
“Once we’d done our first gallop, I thought we could do anything. I felt a bit of pressure, but I just wanted to enjoy the ride and add a bit of showmanship.”
The supreme freestyle show included floating trot, balanced canters with loop backs, great gallops and square halt, with Oliver’s traditional doffing of his hat earning mighty cheers.
“Freddie can be a worrier and you are sometimes on a knife edge during presentations, but he’s certainly enjoyed his moments here,” said Allister.
Annabel Jenks’ home-bred Diamond Hit eight-year-old has earned 15 consecutive wins and remains unbeaten over the past two seasons. He is the first homebred to stand supreme here in the last 15 years — possibly ever.
Lady Caroline Tyrrell’s winning lightweight cob Blue combined the sort of presence and cheerful outlook that has won him many championships this season, and his supreme show made him one of the favourites.
“He is a true-to-type cob with exceptional conformation. There is plenty of limb below his hocks and he has lovely short cannon bones,” said cob conformation judge John Newborough.
Allister said: “I don’t think he’s ever gone better and I felt such unity with him. He’s a real showman, but it’s hard to motivate him at home. It’s great to have the stubble fields to go round at this time of the year, but he doesn’t think there’s any fun in trudging around muddy fields — he much prefers the show ring where there’s an audience.”
Simon Reynolds took the cob reserve with Clare Trebble’s winning heavyweight Morrows Marksman.
“I was delighted to win this morning and this is a bonus,” said Simon.
DEBUT SUCCESS
ROBERT WALKER took his third hunter tricolour in the last four years when the winning lightweight Viewpoint, making his HOYS debut, followed in the footsteps of previous champions Caesars Palace and Vantage Point.
The Cheshire producer could also have fielded the 2015 champion and Pride Of Place, but decided to ride Jill Day’s six-yearold by Loughahoe Guy.
“He’s one of the most talented horses. He doesn’t have to try to impress as he has that extra ability, natural cadence and manners; he could go along like that in a headcollar,” said Robert.
After heading the middleweight division for Jayne Ross, Bella Malim’s winning middleweight Bloomfield Valhalla took reserve.
All 66 horses forward were given a good spin by ride-judge Robin Sharp, who celebrated his 72nd birthday the previous day.
Victory in the heavyweight class went to Emma Peet’s Bloomfield Ambition, ridden by Kirstine Douglas, who was still clearly in discomfort after injuring her ankle in a fall while judging at Dublin.
Producers James Munro and Russell Skelton’s journey from the far north of Scotland proved worthwhile when Ebony King topped the small hunter final with James in the saddle.
Freda Newton’s son of Aughabeg Patch was a four-yearold champion in Dublin for PJ Casey last year and since joining James and Russell, the five-yearold has done some arena eventing and dressage.
“He’s got limb and movement and we’re so pleased with his progress,” said James.
The horse’s Dublin rider, PJ Casey, who found Ebony King when he was hunting through the
‘Scamp’s temperament is his strong point’
ALI TALBOT (YOUNG LOCHINVAR)
field he was turned out in, was there to see him win.
“We can’t find horses like that any more, so I’ll have to revisit that field,” said PJ.
Danny Carroll completed a magical 2017 double when Red Why Salute added the working hunter championship to his Royal International tricolour.
The Cheshire rider and his Why Me eight-year-old proved they were just as effective in a tight arena as over the wide open space of Hickstead by jumping a fluent and balanced clear round.
“This horse is brave and careful and he has the biggest heart,” said Danny. “To win at Hickstead was amazing, but to come here and do the double, jumping 12 fences in a tight arena, is a dream.”
Course-designer David Cole and Cheshire Jump Services turned the Andrews Bowen arena into a stately home scene and 10 combinations jumped clear.
The final result proved a triumph for Cheshire, as in addition to the winner, Cheshire Forest Hunt stalwart Stephanie Scott had two horses in the top three and she piloted Mr Seniority into third place (see box, below).
Ali Talbot’s Young Lochinvar (Scamp) belied his five years to take the Topham Barnes hack title after giving a flawless display of manners, movement and obedience to win his small division before taking the championship.
“I cannot believe how well he has handled everything,” said Ali, who last took this title with Colbeach Starlight Express in 2004. “He was only a novice at the beginning of the season and he has never seen anything like this.
“His temperament is his strong point and although we nearly didn’t bring him, thinking he needed another year, we thought that after qualifying he deserved a chance.”
A telephone call from Richard Telford and viewing by producer Jerome Harforth brought Ali and Scamp together three years ago.
“We’d been searching for a replacement for a few years and when Richard tipped us off and Jerome said you have to have this horse, the deal was done,” said Ali, who bought her son of Kilvington Scoundrel as a two-year-old from breeder Doreen Calder.
“Jerome has taken Scamp from a baby to a grown-up and I couldn’t have asked for more tonight,” added Ali, a partner in a Manchester-based law firm.
Reserve was Suzanna Welby’s Elusive, who stood top of the large class for Jo Bates.
Another sired by Kilvington Scoundrel, Elusive has enjoyed a brilliant season with championships at Windsor and the Royal International among his highlights.
Jayne Ross again ran out of superlatives to describe Time 2 Reflect, who headed the ladies’ side-saddle final.
“She just walks into a ring and says, ‘Let’s do this’,” smiled Jayne. “Many horses give a different ride side-saddle and astride, but she stays the same. She never fusses or pulls, but takes you along smoothly at every pace.”
This was Jayne’s third ladies’ victory in a row, following success with Dianne Stennett’s Hello
Dolly in 2015 and 2016.
Jayne also took the reserve riding horse title for the same owner with Casino III, who retained his 2016 title after again heading the small division.
‘HE WAS WILD’
LYNN RUSSELL is an artist at finding and producing raw Irish cobs and a prolific winner with many of them both side-saddle and astride, but it is only this year that she has collected the maxi cob title here, with Baileys Horse Feed’s Jovian, and celebrated with a bottle of Taittinger champagne.
“It was a gift for writing Horse & Hound’s letter of the week [a tribute to photographer David Miller, who died last July]. We said we’d only open it if we had a good win and this was a very special one.”
“The winner had bone, depth and substance with a good front and plenty of power behind,” said conformation judge John Newborough.
Lynn bought the Star Kingdom
‘That centre line was emotional’ REBECCA COURT ON BEWARE CHALK PIT’S FINAL SUCCESS
six-year-old Irish draught grey unbroken after viewing a video two years ago.
“He was totally untouched, but his movement was good enough for me. I had a slight doubt whether he would grow into a cob, so we haven’t rushed him — this is his first proper season,” she said.
“He gives a soft, light ride and he has the most comfortable canter, which is why I also ride him side-saddle.”
Rebecca Court enjoyed a dream last ride on Beware Chalk Pit when he who won the SEIB racehorse to riding horse final. After three years and 21 wins in the show ring, the ultra-consistent 13-year-old, who won over £9,500 when in training with Jonathan Geake, was retired from showing.
“He is a real show horse who had won every conceivable title except a HOYS one, so it was so emotional to trot down that centre line on our last ride,” said Rebecca, who has had “Pete” on loan from his owner Ann Leftly.
Clare Fitch has an enviable record in the pure-bred Arab championship and she gained a fourth win, this time aboard Mary-Ann Wragg’s nine-year-old gelding Mirv.
“He switches on in the ring and has great paces, even showing dressage potential,” said Clare.
Home-bred by Psadisho
Ibn Esstashan out of Mirvana, Mirv had a successful in-hand career with Clare’s partner Steve McCormick before going under saddle. This was his third HOYS.
“The winner performed well and we loved his outlook and movement,” said conformation judge Ann Hooley. “I was disappointed, though, that at the end of the season some horses were carrying too much weight.”
ALL HAIL HECTOR
IT has been a year of firsts for the owner and rider of the winning ridden heavy horse Hales Hector.
While owner David Curtis had previously driven his 10-year-old Percheron in tandem, pair, team and single turnouts, this was his son of Ryan Day’s Stewart’s debut season in ridden classes.
For the rider, Household Cavalry corporal of horse Jamie Bradbury, “Hector” is the first horse he backed and rode away.
“Ridden work was another string to Hector’s bow and I was a willing test pilot. We’ve had a couple of ridden outings and he has improved so much,” said Jamie, who did the administration for the HOYS 2014 musical ride of the Household Cavalry.
For the second year running, Martin Fountain claimed the
Shire horse of the year title.
The Derbyshire breeder had three horses entered including Woodhouse Calendar Girl, but when his 2016 champion became unsound on the eve of the show, Woodhouse Miss Dynamite stepped up to become the choice