Showing Moretonin-Marsh, NPS Area 10, Bucks County and CHAPS Championships
New faces secure their first tickets, a second-placed show hunter pony lands his section title and supreme championship finalists impress a dressage legend
SIX champions came forward for the supreme pony championship under Carl Hester MBE and Rosemary, Marchioness of Northampton. There were some eye-catching performances, but it was the youngest rider, 11-yearold Brodie Birtwell and his mini mountain and moorland (M&M) champion Thistledown Lion Heart (Simba) who captured their attention with a gold medalworthy display.
“This was a proper child’s pony who answered every question. Manners are of the utmost importance and the child rode very well,” noted Rosemary.
Simba is impeccably produced by Sharn Linney and secured Brodie’s first Horse of the
Year Show (HOYS) ticket earlier in the day in the first ridden qualifier. The pair won by six marks and went on to claim the championship over the lead-rein winner, Rachel Brightmore’s Thistledown Oasis,
ridden by Lily Ahern-Lee.
Brodie’s mother Lyndsey purchased Simba in April and the seven-year-old grey gelding took the supreme WOW Factor title at the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) championships the week before.
“To get our HOYS ticket is the icing on the cake, as Brodie and Simba have worked so hard in their first season together,” said Lyndsey.
Finishing reserve supreme was the M&M working hunter pony champion, Lola Bass, with Welsh section B Cottown Little Rupert. Lola, who hails from the Isle of Man, was standing in for usual jockey Elizabeth Galliers, who was returning from a holiday in France and unable to make it to the show.
“Rupert”, an eight-year-old gelding, was purchased two years ago and this will be his first visit to the NEC.
“There were only four clears as the course was very challenging with a triple that had a water tray in the middle. But the trickier the course, the better for our Rupert,” said Lola, whose family stays with Elizabeth’s grandmother, Bridget Dickie, when they come over the water to compete.
BITTERSWEET CHAMPIONSHIP
NO one was more surprised to be called forward as champion than 17-year-old Eleanor Fairey, who had ridden her show hunter pony, Tambrook Silhouette, to
finish second in their final 15hh qualifier of the year. The pair have been consistent throughout the season but have missed out on their ticket this year, ensuring the championship win was a bittersweet moment.
“I wasn’t expecting that at all,” said Eleanor, who gave a blistering gallop to seal the title. “He goes on the gallops a lot so he is pretty amazing at showing off his faster paces,” she added. Produced by Olly and Jo Burchell, the six-yearold bay gelding was placed at Royal International (RIHS).
Chartered surveyor
Imogen Trice secured the hack championship with her own small hack, Royal Engagement, also known as Nemo. Produced by Team Quiney for the past six years, Nemo has become one of the most consistent horses on the circuit and is also qualified in the small intermediate show riding type class with Imogen’s 14-yearold sister, Lydia.
“Nemo has won at most major championships and has had nine top three placings at RIHS, including winning it twice. The last time we qualified as a hack was in 2015, where we finished second. He just loves the crowd and thrives in a big atmosphere,” said Imogen.
FULL SIBLINGS ON THE HOYS BUS
REBECCA PENNY secured the large breeds M&M championship with the flashy Welsh cob stallion Larnleighs Express (Eric), owned and bred by Nicki OldershawGlenn, who was delighted that both Eric and his full brother Larnleighs Dictator (Ernie) will be heading to HOYS together for the first time.
“Eric and Ernie are by my late stallion, Craignant Express, out of Abergavenny Nutmeg and both are previous HOYS finalists, but this is the first time both of them have qualified for the final in the same year,” said Nicki. “As a breeder, it will be a proud moment to see them in the ring together.”
Rebecca also piloted the Highland winner and eventual reserve, Julie Barton’s Cuddybound stallion Ellister Islay Spruce, who was partnered by Abbie Hamper in the championship.
Jayne Ross also secured a momentous double. Not only did she claim the supreme horse championship with Kay Campbell’s hunter champion Temple Ogue for the second consecutive year, but Michael Cook, Tony Reynolds and Carol Bardo’s riding horse champion, CSF Cummer Paradise, also produced by Jayne, stood reserve supreme with Scott Dixon in the saddle.
“Our supreme was the most complete horse that was very correct in its frame. It had three beautiful paces, immaculate selfcarriage and a monster walk with no tension,” said Carl Hester.
“He just had so much presence,” added Rosemary.
One of the biggest classes of the day was the M&M junior large breeds qualifier, which saw 28 ponies forward. Securing their ticket by five marks was the attractive Fell mare Greenholme Caitlin, jointly owned by Jenny Crane and Jo Baker and ridden by 13-year-old Kizzie Lucas.
A previous RIHS winner, Caitlin is produced by Steph Peto and is known as “Mrs Consistent”.
“She just pings along, sits up and smiles — she makes me smile, too,” said Kizzie, who went on to take the championship.
Harriet Drake and Derinoghran Dawn have played the bridesmaid this season, finishing second here for the third time in the three qualifiers they have entered this season.
“Luckily we qualified at Monmouth,” said Harriet.
Charlotte Green took the junior reserve title with the small breeds winner Ravenshead Caradog. The nine-year-old chestnut Welsh section A has come up through the ranks with Charlotte and her brother Henry, taking them from first ridden to junior classes. She also finished fifth in the open Welsh section A qualifier here, which was won by Sue Kernan’s palomino stallion, Lledrith Nemesis.