Horse of the Year Show - Wednesday Round Up
Wednesday 06 October 2010
Today's Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) opened it's doors to a sea of excited Showjumping fans as they eagerly waited to witness the very best in equestrian entertainment at the NEC in Birmingham.
The exciting day saw the start of some of the national showjuming championships to be fought out over the week in addition to some spectacular displays including Frederic Pignon and his six amazing stallions. The show will continue to thrill all week, culminating in Gala night this Sunday, for which limited tickets are still available.
The opening showjumping final at HOYS, the British Showjumping Amateur Classic, saw a gripping battle between riders from all across the country. The class, which excludes the top 150 riders in British Showjupming's ranking list, focuses on amateur competitors and has featured at HYOS for the past three years. Di Fairclough, from Burtno on Trent, riding the bay mare Limerick, took the title with a double clear in an unbeatable time of 34.37 seconds. Hot on her tail was Ami MEasor riding Belle Fleur, the pair finished third in the class last year so will be delighted to do one better this year, finishing in a time of 34.78.
Thomas Plaster jumped a perfect double clear with grey mare Amilie Jr Z to be crowned Squibb Demolition National Pony Foxhunter Champion in a time of 34.73 seconds. This was a great start to the week for Thomas who will also be competin gin the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers on Friday. Second place went to Chantelle Duggan riding Rumworth Taylors Twilight and third place went to anna East riding Nookie Bear.
The Tri-Zone Senior Newcomers Championship always presents some amazing up and coming talent and this year was no exception. With a tricky triple combination catching some out and a full up to height set of plants to catch some others, 10 of the 23 were through to the jump off. The course builders definitely asked some serious questions with tight turns, big oxers as well as long run ups - the riders had the opportunity to really show the audience what a jump off was about. Georgie Crumley riding Strihjder IV had the audience behind her and was obviously pushing to make every second cound and finished in an amazing time. However, Anthony Condon was not to be beaten on the long striding Molly Malone V making the course look effortless and finishing 0.16 sec in front of Georgie in a time of 36.95 seconds.
The final showjumping clas of the day was the HOYS 7 & 8 Year-Old Handicap Championship. The class see's Britain's potential showjumping stars battle it out over a testing course with a Handicap in height for the younger horses. John Whitaker rode two 8 year olds in the jump-off including odds on favourite Argento on whm he finished in second place. He could not do enough to beat son Robert Whitaker who took the title on Mandy Hall's Waterstone II in a time of 33.4seconds. Last year's champion, Nicky Boulter, riding the now 8 year old Super Trooper de Ness narrowly missed out on beating the two Whitaker's to the top slot in a time of 34.64 seconds.
For full results visit www.hoys.co.uk
1d4uw6apxk7ej.jpg "Alfie Diaper Delivers in Style with STX UK Pony Foxhunter Win Aboard PJV Bella")
.jpg "Holly Gerken and Live Wire Electrify Arena UK with Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round Victory")