Trevor Breen clinches the Leading Showjumper of the Year Title
Monday 13 October 2025
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The 2025 Horse of the Year Show reached a thrilling conclusion on Sunday night as Ireland's Trevor Breen and Kannoon Blue won the Leading Showjumper of the Year Grand Prix.
Just 17 months after suffering fractures in his lower neck and back following a fall at the Hamburg Grand Prix, he recorded an outstanding career win after an absorbing jump-off.
Eight combinations went through to a race against the clock - six clear rounds and the two quickest four-faulters - with a top prize of more than £16,000 on the line.
Ultimately, a second successive clear for Trevor and the nine-year-old grey gelding was enough to keep his rivals at bay, with none of them matching that feat.
Sandy McLean and Gino F took second place, while Robert Whitaker and Vermento finished third, with Jodie Hall McAteer fourth, John Whitaker fifth and William Whitaker sixth.
"Kannoon Blue is a phenomenal horse. He is home-bred, and this guy is really coming of age this year," Trevor said.
"He is just getting better and better. I have always believed in him, and he ticks all the boxes - he has huge scope, is unbelievably careful and he is getting quicker. I really think that there is not much he won't be able to do in the future.
"I was out from Hamburg to just before Christmas last year. I got going again in Dubai, I won a Grand Prix out there, and just kicked on from there.
"This year has been a phenomenal year. I couldn't have dreamt of it when I was lying in the hospital bed in Hamburg. Huge thanks to my team - my family, my owners and staff at home. Without them I wouldn't have been able to come back.
"This is a really cool show. All the riders love riding here. John Whitaker, a legend of the sport and last to go, I nearly wanted him to win myself!"
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The day's penultimate international class - the Thistledown Investments Six Bar - produced a five-way tie following a final round when the last fence rose to 1.95 metres.
Mark Edwards (Tinkers Touch), Nathan Bull (Casaltonia - OS), John Whitaker (Sharid), Oliver Fletcher (Quintine Van D'Abdijhoeve) and Sebastian Hughes (Colorado Volo) shared the prize after each having four faults in the fifth and last jump-off round.
The competition saw six obstacles in a row that are raised in height after each of a maximum five rounds, and the five riders could not be separated.
Images: 1st Class Images
