Special Penny on HOYS bus
An ‘outstanding’ Welsh section B lands his return HOYS ticket, a Dales nets her Olympia championship and first ridden combinations take the mini tricolours
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD Gabriella Kozersky-Gillham and Waxwing Penny Farthing (Cookie) booked their return passage to Horse
of the Year Show (HOYS) in the junior mountain and moorland (M&M) section, where they will be looking to improve on last term’s second place there.
“We’re over the moon to qualify at our first attempt this season,” said Gabriella’s mother, Katrina.
“Cookie was purchased as a yearling from his breeders, Tom Best and David Blair, and he’s become a very special pony to us.”
His producer, Sarah Parker, will ride the nine-year-old palomino in the HOYS open final, after qualifying him at
Royal Norfolk.
“He’s a true showman — full of charm and presence — who loves his job,” added Sarah.
Conformation judge Joanna MacInnes concurred: “The champion was not only eyecatching, but has the substance that’s missing with some section Bs and was outstanding on the day. The reserve was mannerly and ideal for these classes.”
This reserve was Emma Boardman’s multi-garlanded Welsh cob Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso, making his debut in junior ranks and ridden for the first time by Ellie Kirkbride, 15.
“Several people wanted to buy him specifically for this class, so I thought I would dip my toe in the water,” explained Emma.
CAUSES FOR CELEBRATION
ELLIE’S sister, Abbie, celebrated her 14th birthday over the bank holiday in style when taking the British Skewbald and Piebald Association honours here on dual Royal International (RIHS) winner Hopgarden Playboy, who was already Hickstead bound for 2019 after qualifying at Denbigh and Flint show.
“My champion was the only one who galloped and what he gives away in height, he makes up for in quality and movement,”
commented Peter Hodgkinson.
Sarah Parker — who has amassed 22 HOYS tickets to date — also featured in the Olympia semi-final ring, where she stood reserve with the Heathcote’s nine-year-old Welsh section A, Uphill Freddie Fox, the reigning RIHS mini champion who has qualified for all three HOYS M&M flat classes.
The champion was Rene Bradley’s Hett Solitaire, shown by Amy Smith. “She’s a very good example of a Dales and has a powerful way of going, really engaging her hocks,” enthused judge Allan Robertson.
Fresh from their supreme success at Equifest, the new partnership of Olivia Brightmore and her home-produced Shetland, Lotuspoint Cassius, wasted no time in notching up another clear victory, when securing the HOYS mini championship.
“Our champion owned the ring and impressed from the start, never faltering throughout,” commented Russell Marks.
The charismatic Shetland has big boots to fill, though, as Olivia won the HOYS supreme pony title with Thistledown Van Der Vaart in 2017.
“I think watching Olivia riding there solo this time will be just as magical,” said her mother, Rachel.
A newer combination of six weeks, namely Harriet Oldershaw and Glebedale Jumble, by HOYS winner Glebedale Mumbo Jumbo, stood below Cassius both in the 21-strong first ridden class and championship.
“He was light in hand and carried his jockey well,” said co-judge Jenny Crane.
ROCKETED TO THE TOP
CRAIG ELENOR and his Dartmoor charge, Springwater Saddlers Wells, ridden by his seven-year-old daughter Scarlett, rocketed to the top of the lead-rein class, beating 22 other combinations and pipping another Dartmoor, Harry Heathcote’s Hisley Caliph, led by Sarah Parker, en route to the coveted HOYS ticket.
Sixty-three M&M workers passed through the turnstiles under Jo Custerton and Allan Robertson. Kirsty Aird and
Gwen Rae’s working Fell stallion, Greenholme Emblem, came hotfoot from winning at Blair Castle to capture the tricolour, after scoring 97/100.
“He was a pleasure to judge and the best I’ve seen all season,” said Jo.
“Although he had already collected his HOYS ticket at the Royal Highland, we want him to jump different courses as part of his ongoing education and what better than one of Graham Barclay’s,” explained Kirsty.
The first to jump and with manners to burn was Lacy Aldo (Darcy Sproat) who finished reserve. They will be making their debut at HOYS next month.
Greenholme Emblem later added the TopSpec supreme ridden accolade to the three others he has acquired this season when standing above Lotuspoint Cassius, under Liz Mansfield-Parnell.
Her choice for the in-hand equivalent was the dual-purpose Welsh D stallion, Thorneyside Royal Command, exhibited by Lynn Scott. In reserve was Rhona Timson’s home-bred five-year-old riding pony stallion, Brindlebrook Masterpiece, handled by Adam Brooke.