A thrilling day three sees the start of the international competition at Horse of the Year Show

Fresh from his European Championship bronze medal, Nick Skelton made an instant splash upon his return to Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) as the international classes got under way for the week. The Warwickshire-based British Number Two made the ideal start to his campaign at the ‘World’s Most Famous Horse Show’ by landing the Grandstand Welcome Stakes with Beverley Widdowson’s Unique from first draw in the jump-off. “Unique’s had five weeks’ holiday and today’s course was a nice one to start off with,” said European bronze medallist Nick. “He’s a nice horse who can be used for all types off classes.”

 

Nick’s current vein of form was further illustrated when he went on to land the Jump 4 Joy Ltd Trophy, the last international class of the day. Nick’s mount Big Star had previously landed the 6 Year Old Championship at HOYS in 2009 and by taking tonight’s prestigious title which carries world ranking points and contributes towards the Leading Show Jumper of the Year Grand Prix on the final evening of the show, has proved what an elite prospect he is for Nick. World Number 10 Dennis Lynch took the early lead with an impressive round which kept him in that position for another 14 riders. However, Nick utilised all his skill and expertise to slice off 1.65 seconds from this time with a superbly fast clear round.

 

Guy Williams’ prediction that he would win the Horse & Hound Foxhunter Championship with Andy Doswell’s Djakarta came true tonight as he took the class by two seconds from nine rivals in the thrilling jump-off. The eight-year-old mare has a phenomenal record both nationally and internationally with Guy, making her the favourite to win. “Every show she goes to, she wins a class,” said Guy. “She never touches a fence and goes quickly, even in the first round. The course tonight suited her really well and I was able to spin her back to fences in the jump-off to save even more time.”

 

Just before the emotional retirement of her reliable speed horse Kanselier, then aged 18, at last year’s HOYS, Ellen Whitaker won the Xerox Special Event Services Cup with him. Stamping her mark on the first day of international show jumping, she reclaimed the class tonight with her relatively new partner Arena UK Lando, who is owned by Norman Olly. “I got him at the beginning of the year,” said Ellen of the chestnut gelding. “I liked everything about him, not just his jumping ability but also his character.”

 

The showing enthusiasts were out in force for the opening classes in the Andrews Bowen International Arena with the Topham Barnes Hack of the Year sectional classes. The Garrick Surface Coatings Small Hack of the Year was taken by Robert Walker with Royal Engagement. However, it was the first and second from the Stennett Family Large Hack of the Year who took the top spots with overall champion Marquis of Travistock, owned and ridden by John Keen, and Wallaroo Bay and Leon King filling the reserve place.

 

The PRP Rescue Services M&M WHP of the Year Championship was the talking point where Pumphill Buckthorn was aiming to land back-to-back titles, but had to settle for the reserve spot on the day as Brooksan Kitchener and Sophie Hetherton-Davies put in an elegant display to become the champions.

 

The second day of the Equimax Pony Club Mounted Games competition saw the conclusion to the Equimax Cup in the afternoon. In another tight and fast-paced round, Bedfordshire based Oakley Hunt West maintained their advantage to lift the trophy by a single point from old rivals and last year’s winners Devon & Somerset. The prestigious Prince Philip Cup kicked off in the evening and Oakley began the first of seven rounds for this prestigious title in a similar vein by taking a four point lead. Only four teams took part in this initial phase and after a particularly dramatic twenty minutes, Devon & Somerset lie in second with Orkney and Rockwood Harriers in joint third.

 

Essex-based former point-to-point rider Katie Jerram was an apt winner in the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse of the Year class over in the Caldene Arena with Night Prayers. In 2010 the pair had taken reserve but twelve months on they went one better to take the title and provide an poignant win for Jerram due to the time it has taken to retrain this former Brian Smart-trained gelding to enable him to continue in this vastly different discipline.

 

The iconic Cuddy Supreme In-Hand Championship went the way of Parvadean Delight. The Ceri Fell-owned mare saw off competition from 21 horses and ponies across two different height categories to secure what is widely regarded as the ultimate in-hand showing championship.

 

Celebrations were rife in the Caldene Arena this afternoon where the Brineton Colne Mountain & Moorland Mini Pony of the Year was taken by Newark Balladier for Cheshire-based Victoria Mcdowell, who with handler and producer Julie Templeton was top of the Colne Mountain & Moorland Lead Rein Pony of the Year. Taking a respectful reserve was 2010’s Show Hunter Pony of the Year, Wortley Celebration.

 

Thursday is the day for the harness championship and Jeff Osborne, who sponsors the HOYS scurry driving championship through his company Osborne Refrigerators, scored his first win in a showing championship by taking the Xerox Special Event Services Harness Champion of the Year. Driving his own black Hackney Hamewith Lochnagar, Jeff proved himself under two judges with his elegant turnout. “I’ve had scurry wins here before, but after 40 years of trying to win at HOYS with hunters, cobs, show horses and hacks, I’ve finally pulled it off in the driving,” said Jeff, who is also contesting the scurry title this week as well.