Emperor and Diamond are right on the money
It’s a Connemara one-two in the HOYS ridden championship, while an exciting young gelding lands the M&M novice honours
NPS Area 25, David Broome Event Centre, Monmouthshire
VANESSA COMPTON’S Connemara stallion Castle Emperor headed the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifier ridden by his producer Mathew Lawrence. The seven-year-old has previously matched his father Castle Comet’s record and qualified for the Cuddy four times.
“He’s qualified every year since he was a three-year-old,” said Vanessa. “He was the youngest Connemara to qualify.”
This season the dun picked up his HOYS ticket at Midland Counties. “Mathew and Mark [Northam] are doing a fabulous job and I really appreciate all the hard work they’ve put into him,” said Vanessa. “I’m so pleased, it was just a shame that I couldn’t be there.”
Reserve went to secondplaced Katie Goulding and White Diamond (see box, top right).
“Our champion was a very correct pony which was true to type,” said judge Mark Sheen. “Both the champion and reserve outperformed the others, but we had some very nice ponies forward in all the qualifiers.”
‘SUPER SEP’
MAKING a first appearance at HOYS will be Tarnbeck Septimus, who took the large breeds division with rider Lauren Elliott. The eight-year-old Fell stallion has qualified for Royal International (RIHS) in both the open and Pretty Polly finals.
“I’ve had him on loan since he was a five-year-old from Tamsin Hughes,” said Lauren, who added that he’s known on the yard as “Super Sep”.
“He’s qualified today after a lot of seconds. We did our first open season last year and he’s come out better this year. He’s so good, he even gives my oneyear-old daughter pony rides,” concluded Lauren.
Native producer Aimee Devane was reunited with her former ride — Swchyrhafod Brenin — after nearly five years.
“I was asked to ride him here, but I haven’t sat on him for years.” The nine-year-old Welsh section D headed a 31-strong class for his place at HOYS.
His producer Megan Hewitt was running late after a long trip from Yorkshire, so Aimee could only sit on a couple of minutes before the class. “Luckily I knew where all the buttons were, and they’re still where I’d left them,” said Aimee.
It was definitely a Dartmoor day in the mini moutain and moorland (M&M) ranks. Hackamore Jorja Brown kicked off proceedings in the HOYS leadrein with rider Mimi Demetriou.
The 12-year-old Dartmoor was having only her third outing of the year, having qualified for RIHS at BSPS Area 4A. Produced by Sharn Linney, Jorja Brown scored 44/50 for her show and 42/50 for conformation.
Toby Johnstone and Pumphill Fandango finished in second place. “This was her first HOYS qualifier of the year, so we are all thrilled,” said owner Kate Demetriou.
With a large breeds M&M class going on in the next ring, things heated up for the children on their first ridden ponies with at least four being evicted from the class. The remainder eventually settled down with two more Dartmoor ponies — Newoak Star Edition and Cayberry Hotshot (Daisy May Allen) — sitting in the top two placings in both the class and the championship.
Isla Sturrock, 10, rode Star Edition to take home their Birmingham ticket.
“Isla did two music exams in the morning,” said her mother Caroline Sturrock. “One for harp and the other for grade four singing.”
The 12-year-old Dartmoor is produced by Oli Burchall-Small and the pair is contesting their second season together. “Isla’s quite small but she’s worked very hard and has really earnt this ticket,” added Oli. “Last year was definitely a learning curve for her.”
“After all the chaos in the class in the go-round of this class, the two first ridden ponies who we chose for champion and reserve, stayed safe,” said judge Mark Sheen. “They had a lot to contend with and they really looked after their jockeys.”
Judge Carolyn Whiteley added: “It was a hard class to judge as there was some good ponies that were true to type, but the performances just divided that top few.”
ONE FOR THE FUTURE
KATY MARRIOTT-PAYNE won the Picton novice championship riding Felicity Thompson’s Salcombe Frowder Cove, a four-year-old Dartmoor stallion. Bred by the Thompson family, “Fred”, as he’s known at home, has been to five shows and won every time out.
‘The two ponies who we chose for champion and reserve stayed safe’ FIRST RIDDEN JUDGE MARK SHEEN
“He’ll do the Picton final at the NPS championship show and then put away until next year,” said Felicity, who has been breeding Dartmoor ponies for several years. “He’s been with Katy since January and it was always the plan to take it slowly this year.”
Katy also rode Fred’s sire, Shilstone Rocks Snowy Mountain, at HOYS. The Thompson’s stud is based in Salcombe, Devon.
“They’re both really special to us. Fred is from a rare bloodline because we lost his dam. His sire “Snowy” has an amazing temperament and he passes this on to his youngstock,” added Felicity.