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Welsh Home Pony Show Draws Top Young Talent from Across the Country for Horse of the Year Show Qualifiers
Wednesday 30 July 2025
Last weekend, the David Broome Event Centre played host to the prestigious Welsh Home Pony Show, drawing top young talent from across the country. The action-packed schedule featured several key Horse of the Year Show qualifiers, offering riders a chance to secure their place at one of the biggest events on the calendar. Across the weekend, tightly contested jump-offs and flawless triple clears determined who would get their ticket to the final, with combinations rising to the challenge in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
In the Demolition Services Ltd Leading Pony Showjumper of the Year Qualifier, 34 talented combinations came forward to contest the challenging course and battle it out for a coveted ticket to Horse of the Year Show. After two demanding rounds, just three riders advanced to the jump-off.
Cate Kerr and John Roberts’ Cosmic Girl III emerged as the standout pair, producing the only treble clear of the competition to take a convincing win in 43.01 seconds. Cora Dowey and Sam Dowey’s Armene Du Costlig followed in second, jumping clear through the first two rounds but collecting eight faults in the jump-off, finishing in 43.85 seconds. Third place went to Henry Leggott aboard The Blossom’s Stud Blossom’s Big Claim, who posted the fastest time of 39.02 seconds but added 12 faults in the final round.
In the Enablelink Horse of the Year Show 128cm Qualifier, 27 combinations came forward to contest the title. Just four progressed to round two, but with two withdrawals, only two combinations advanced to the jump-off. Kobi Hunter Watt and Fay Vooght’s Derraveragh Two Tone took the win, producing two clear rounds before picking up four faults in the jump-off, stopping the clock at 44.55 seconds. Alfie Bailey claimed second with Aniela Inceman’s Priestwood Special Edition, also finishing on four faults in the final round with a time of 47.84 seconds. Third place was shared by Alfie Bailey on his second ride, Pleasure De Ness, also owned by Aniela Inceman, and Emelia Cook with Alice Bowman’s My Little Liesel, both of whom jumped double clear before withdrawing ahead of the jump-off
In the CT Equine Collection Horse of the Year Show 138cm Qualifier, a strong field of 40 starters was narrowed down to 10 for the second round, with just five combinations making it through to the jump-off. Of those, three riders delivered impressive triple clears.
Claiming victory was Christina Cotton aboard Monica Cotton’s Mayfly Black Pennell, who set the standard with a flawless performance in a winning time of 35.66 seconds. Lucia Caroline and Katie Sawers’ Chacha Real Smooth followed closely in second, also jumping triple clear and stopping the clock at 36.64 seconds. Rounding out the podium was Holly West riding Marion West’s Coppenagh Celtic Rebel, delivering a composed clear in 43.73 seconds to secure third place.
NB: Results pending official grading.
Images: Showground Photography
