Fergal Holohan lands the Under 25 Championship and Amy Capper is crowned 148cm champion at a successful Pony of the Year Show
Friday 10 April 2026
Fergal Holohan emerged triumphant in a battle for supremacy against Mathilda Glaesel for the Under 25 Championship crown and the top prize of £2,000 st Pony of the Year Show 2026 at Arena UK, Grantham.
Five of the initial 16 competitors posted clear rounds over the 1.40m track, Fergal and Mathilda claiming two apiece.
“It was a decent track, technical and a good test,” said Fergal.
Mathilda touted an early lead on IPad Blue M, but Fergal executed smooth, tight lines to forge ahead with the 10-year-old CES Celtic Son (Celtic Hero B Z x Chippison) for an unassailable lead. Mathilda chased on second ride Tangelo Gold to finish ahead of her first ride but still 1.34 seconds in arrears for second and third.
Fergal focused on his own horses and strategies.
“I really appreciate all the help I get from my Mum [Fiona] and I stuck to my plan with both my horses, to do the best I could. The jump-off actually suited my other horse [Karima II] better, but she unluckily had a fence down. I knew what I wanted to do and aimed for that, said Fergal. “I’ve only had him nine months and he’s still getting used to this level and going against the clock in a jump-off, but he has plenty of ability and there’s plenty more to come, and we’re slowly gaining experience.
148
Amy Capper landed the 148cm Championship Grand Prix to conclude Pony of the Year Show 2026 on a high with the handsome stallion Oscar Van De Beekerheide.
Course-designer Jason Abbs set a fitting, technical track of 12 fences starting at 1.35m for the field of 16 competitors in the big outdoor sand arena, and six of them found the key to bid for the coveted POYS 148cm title.
Under pressure trying to set a target for others to chase, early riders were caught out by now substantial square oxers, each unluckily tapping out a front rail to finish on four faults each. It was left to Holly West and Runard Lass, a 17-year-old Appaloosa mare she took over from Emily Irvine in November, to post the first clear. But she had left the door open and next in, penultimate drawn Amy, seized the advantage, jumping a flawless round on the 16-year-old Oscar Van De Beekerheide, breaking the finish beams with an impressive 4.53 seconds to spare. Henry Leggott chased hard in the final draw and was in contention all the way, beating the time with more than three seconds in hand, but the front rail of the final oxer caught Blossom’s Jessop Panache out, and the costly rail dropped them to third.
Amy only claimed the ride on the Dutch-bred Oscar (Orchids Florist x Isarco) in the New Year from elder sister Lucy, who finished second in the HOYS Pony Showjumper of the Year last year. The pair quickly established a rapport, moving up from initial 1.15m classes to the Winter Premier JA Classic series in a matter of weeks; winning at Kelsall Hill and taking second at Arena UK.
“I found him easy and we made a partnership quite quickly. He’s friendly and likes attention; he knows how handsome he is,” said Amy. “The course was technical, but the jump-off suited him and my sister know how he goes in a jump-off so she gives me tips.”
Aimee Paxton’s decisively quick round took out strides down every distance and rode a flourishing gallop to the last oxer to land the Under 18 Championship with Chilli’s Duke. Thirty-two riders came forward over the 1.40m course but only seven answered every question to access the jump-off. Aimee set a devastating early target on the nine-year-old Chilli’s Duke (Chilli Morning x Rock King) wiping more than four seconds off Olivia Brightmore’s opener on Toronto VGW. Honey Bowes gave her a run for her money riding Lagrandessa W, however, splitting the two to take second place 0.68 seconds behind the winning time.
“He [Chilli’s Duke] was bought to event because of his bloodlines by his previous owner, but she found he was too careful over cross country and he didn’t like not seeing the landing side. He’s brave and bold showjumping though and enjoys his job,” said Aimee, who bought him at the end of his seven-year-old year as her first horse following in the hoofsteps of her JA pony Las Vegas VI, who set the bar high.
“I was hoping to find another and he had a raw, natural jump that just needed fine-tuning, but it was a lovely surprise when we found he was good enough; he’s the perfect first horse. He’s a people person, constantly nudging you for attention and scratches in the stable when you’re mucking out – when you get to his withers, he turns and starts scratching you!”
Darcy Breen conquered all in the Under 25 B&C Handicap Championship with Just Jack XXI. The 1.20/1.25m course almost halved the 20 starters, with 11 returning to tackle the jump-off. The Zeus IV x Neopolitan nine-year-old – a former ride of Joanne Whitaker – joined Darcy only a month ago but the pair have quickly bonded with experience gained in the one-star classes in Gorla Minore, Italy, and fired a warning shot earlier in the week by winning a qualifier. Darcy’s clean lines and deceptively fast round on Jack secured the win from the Grade B 1.25m section by almost four seconds. Emmy Giannotta rode Cynthia IV (Grade C) into second ahead of third-placed Honor Dabbs on Martini Um Bongo (Grade B).
Millie Davies eased Kensis N into victory in the Elementary Under 25 Handicap Championship. Nine of the original 26 starters returned for the jump-off, with Millie and the 11-year-old Kensis N (Douglas x Julio Mariner) by a quarter of a second. Maisie Farnham claimed second place on Heartstring with Lotti Mae Bullock in third aboard Olympic I.
Alex Leggott was the only rider to go into the jump-off of the Children on Horses Championship double-handed, and the favoured odds gave him victory with second ride Blossom’s Jewel Princess Maximus. Twelve from the field of 25 conquered the 1.30m track to contend the jump-off but clear proved more difficult to obtain second time out with Mia Breen taking an early lead on KI Crack 41. Charlie Barker gave a good account of himself to sweep into the lead on Acarno B with more than two seconds to spare, but penultimate drawn Alex more than made up for his four faults on first ride Blossom’s Billy Heinz. Setting out at optimum pace and taking all the shortcuts on the Dutch-bred 12-year-old mare, Alex gained a 0.71 second advantage to claim the title and the Children on Horses leading rider award.
“He had a fence down with his best horse [Blossom’s Billy Heinz] but he was very determined with Princess Maximus and left nothing to chance,” said Alex’s father John, who is very open about Alex’s autism. “Autism is an advantage for the child, but not the people around them. Alex’s hyper-focus and extreme concentration is beneficial; his brain works so fast and when everything is going well and correctly, it is a colossal advantage.”
Anya Dewey Clarke, 11, has won every major 128cm title going in her short career, including HOYS, Royal International Horse Show, London International Horse Show, British Showjumping National title last year and the 2024 and 2025 POYS title with Jim (Cobid). On this occasion, Kilcreene Snapdragon stepped up to the plate to start 2026 in the same vein and hand Anya her third consecutive title win. Second in 2024 and fourth in 2025, the 13-year-old posted the winning round to take the POYS 128cm Championship by the narrow margin of a tenth of a second. Alfie Bailey netted second on Ice Queen TW and Lily Mae Waldron eased Castlepark Giant into third in the five-pony decider.
The jump-off of the 138cm Championship promised to be a cracker as 11 competitors came forward, including two rides apiece for Evie Whitaker and Felicity Watts. But poles fell as riders chased the time, and the tactics of early drawn Grace Robertson Widdowson paid handsomely. Grace provided the sole double clear for victory on Myshall Duncan, an Irish-bred 19-year-old she started competing in January. Eleanor Bastian Mason was almost nine seconds faster, but a pole on the floor cost her dearly, and she had to settle for second on Jim Done. Alex Leggott finished third on Blossom’s Letterkeen Bettyn.
An on-form Maisie Conway seized a victory double in the 11 and Under and Mini Championships for a double set of rugs and sashes. Maisie claimed the 11-year-old and Under crown with her equally enthusiastic Drombane Liath as young showjumpers battled it out for supremacy. The 22 contenders were halved for the final decider, Maisie and her 16-year-old partner of 18 months proving the quickest to take the win with 1.50 seconds to spare. Conor Barnes slipped The Silver Horse into second place with Poppy Williams claiming third and fourth with Ice Queen TW and Miss Charming.
Maisie scored her second championship title in the Mini Championship, finding and executing breath-taking turns on the nine-year-old mare Cwmdistaw Hermione in an exciting 13-pony decider, winning by almost two seconds. Clara Clark finished second on Stardust 11 and Rosie Collins Beech, the only rider with two in the jump-off, filled third riding last-to-go Thunderbird V.
Raphaela Dawson seized victory in the Talent Spotters Championship and celebrated a three-year partnership on the Kanshebber x Kantje’s Carlando 12-year-old Kryptonite Van Orchid. The pair posted one of only two double clears in the 37-strong class conducted over a 1.20m course. Ella Kay eased Catness 8 into second with Charlie Barker third aboard Abano D.
Olivia Brightmore secured victory in the Medium Novice 1.10m Championship with Inis Sle Anorah Stone. The 18 starters were reduced to four for the jump-off, but clear rounds in the second round proved impossible to achieve, Olivia winning with the fastest four faults by 1.25 seconds on the nine-year-old Irish-bred mare.
Betsy Thomas galloped to victory on Kohinoor Come On Annie in the 1m Championship. Fifteen of the 34 original competitors made their way into the jump-off with initial clears, Betsy cutting all the corners to break the finish beams with more than three seconds in hand on the 12-year-old mare. Lexie Lane rode Boulabeha’s Little Princess into second and Anya Dewey Clarke filled third spot on Jackpot Des Bauges.
Eve Giannotta regained her Intro Final 2024 title with the coloured 15-year-old Oreo Patches, netting victory from fifth draw, also celebrating three years of competing together – their first competition was at this show in 2023. Thirty-one combinations initially tackled the 90cm course with 12 qualifying for a hot, competitive jump-off. Nonetheless, Eve ensured the crown was theirs as she cut every corner on the equally eager Oreo Patches to win by 0.77 seconds. Harriet Mustoe used her lat round to slot Delflip into second with third filled by Betsy Snell riding Starflower.
Mia Stathapoulos held off all challenges to be crowned Prelim Open Champion on Killea Tina. Forty-four competitors initially came forward to contend over the 80cm track, with 19 gaining access to a competitive jump-off. Mia, who has partnered the Irish-bred 13-year-old since the British novice days more than four years ago, found the shortest route to win by 0.74 seconds. Eve Giannotta clinched second on Knocknahorgan Fr Ted with Rosie Collins Beech in third riding Thunderbird V.
.JPG "Honey Bowes Closes the Winter Championships with a Win in the Winter 1.35m Championship")
