Pembrokeshire County, IDS Breed Show and more
A radiant section A makes light of muddy conditions and a veteran impresses under side-saddle
SO much rain fell overnight that commentator Carey Knox referred to conditions in the main ring as “ideal for bog snorkelling”. Consequently, there was a lastminute relocation to a jumping ring for the Cuddy in-hand and supreme championships, where all classes had been cancelled.
Twelve came forward for the Cuddy in-hand qualifier and judge Robert Parker-Jones shortlisted five.
Having had a second look, particularly at their walk and trot, Fouroaks Coco Chanel got the nod. With her head high and alert, the 14-year-old section A broodmare moved effortlessly around the saturated ring alongside her owner Sarah Tibbey.
“She was true to type, pretty and had scope with correct movement and conformation,” assessed Robert Parker-Jones.
“Coco” last won here two years ago when crowned section A and overall Welsh champion.
“She was gifted to me by her breeder John Lowe at Christmas 2014,” said Sarah. “In three-and-ahalf years, she’s only been beaten once. She’s quirky, though, and doesn’t like everyone; she prefers being handled by a female.”
This will be Coco’s second visit to Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) for the Cuddy final after qualifying last term at Derbyshire Festival. This season, the mare has been champion at Great Yorkshire, the National Pony Society (NPS) summer championships and South of England.
Sarah and her husband Colin have three through to Birmingham so far, the same number of equines they took there last year.
Judge Nina Clayton-Shields, who chose Coco as her section A winner, said: “She’s up there with the best I’ve ever judged. Some ponies couldn’t cope with the mud, but this one got better and better. I studied her closely and I honestly couldn’t find a fault in her. She has a lovely fine neck with her head adjoining beautifully and a back end to match.”
TEENAGE TRIUMPH
THREE weeks earlier, Peter and Ann Jones’ 12-year-old Welsh cob stallion Menai Cardi Llwyd qualified for HOYS under saddle at Royal Welsh. This time he competed in-hand and the dun won the Welsh cob championship en route to standing overall Welsh. He was also Cuddy inhand reserve.
“I would have loved to have done both in-hand and ridden at HOYS in the same year,” said Peter. “It just goes to prove what a versatile breed the Welsh cob is.”
Robert’s verdict was, “An outstanding, dual-purpose stallion with scope and movement”.
The winning part-bred
Arab was Caro Mackness’s
Mark Tamplin-produced Time
For Crime. Mark also had the mountain and moorland (M&M) champion, yearling Fell
Darrenvale Diamante, forward for the Cuddy.
“It’s not been bad going considering I only brought two here,” said Mark.
The coloured champion was Claire Edwards’ Panteryrod Bentley, an eight-year old piebald who was also shortlisted for the Cuddy along with Howell and Yvonne Davies’ nineyear-old section B broodmare, Cadlanvalley Georgia.
Nineteen-year-old Banjo II triumphed in veteran and sidesaddle classes for the third time and then went on to stand overall reserve supreme.
“He’s had four outings this season and is unbeaten,” said Banjo’s owner and rider Gemma Rees, who inherited the gelding from the late Margot Harwich five years ago. “He won the Concours D’Elegance class at Royal Welsh. After he won at HOYS in 2004, Ron and Debbie Thomas retired him as a seven-year-old and he became a hunt master’s horse for the Fitzgerald.”
Robert said the horse’s age was immaterial.
“He never hopped, skipped or jumped once and his limbs were clean. The whole picture was lovely,” he said.
WINDRUSH IS A WINNER
BOOKING his fourth consecutive visit to Olympia was Jenny Crane’s 16-year-old Fell Murthwaite Windrush. Ridden and produced by Steph Peto, their six-hour journey proved worthwhile when they lifted the native British Show Pony Society open ridden title.
Bred by the late Thomas Capstick, “Windrush” was best of breed at Olympia last year and won at HOYS in 2013, the same year he stood supreme in-hand at the Fell pony stallion show.
“I’ve owned him for seven years and he started his ridden career at 12,” said Jenny. “This year he has started doing working hunter classes and he won the novice and veteran finals at the NPS summer championships.”
James Castle, who judged conformation in the ridden hunter section, said he paid particular attention to how horses travelled.
Ride judge Clare Chamberlayne added: “I looked for an animal that could canter in the mud and carry themselves.”
They chose the five-year-old novice winner Noble Hotshot, owned by Lisa Gray and ridden by Amy Tough, as champion.
“Our champion is a beautiful stamp, kindly and softly produced with quality,” observed Clare. “It didn’t miss its step and went well in the ground.”
Reserve was the small hunter Golden Tasset, ridden by Olivia Bowen, who stood supreme here last year.
“It gave a lovely ride, had experience on the ground and knew the terrain,” commented Clare.
Top ridden cob was Sara Williams’ nine-year-old tricoloured Palmanyola.
“He qualified for Search for a Star at HOYS in 2015, the Royal International this season and he’s already got his ticket to Hickstead for next year,” said Sara of the home-bred who lives out all year round at the foot of Mynydd-YGaer, a hill 295 metres high.
Three-year-old Libris Topspin, by Langaller Starring Role out of the three-star event mare
Royal Twist, won the overall sport horse and in-hand hunter championships.
“His future lies in advanced eventing,” reflected owner
Charles Upham.
Sport horse judge Ellen Walton said: “It’s an excellent example of good British breeding.”
In-hand hunter judge Tim Wiggett said his winner made a sixhour journey to get here worth it.
“It’s a true stamp of a horse. Quite outstanding, beautifully made with plenty of bone and depth,” added Tim.