Grandstand

HOYS Records Broken!

Ellen Whitaker today completed what has been a record Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) for results and attendance. The Show was hosted in the all new LG Arena in Birmingham and enjoyed huge visitor numbers, with over 58,000 people attending – a significant increase on last year. Visitors were not disappointed and were treated to world-class show jumping including magnificent performances in the show’s top classes by Britain’s leading riders, particularly show jumping’s golden girl Ellen Whitaker.

Last night Ellen won the famous Puissance, before being the only rider ever to scoop the Speed Horse of the Year class for a record fourth time. With her form improving with every class she went on to impressively take the top spot and 1st prize of £7,500 in the most prestigious class of the week, the HOYS Leading Show Jumper of the Year (Grand Prix).

Going into today’s Leading Show Jumper of the Year competition Ellen must have felt confident having achieved such momentous results already. Looking every inch the superstar of the show, she produced a foot perfect double clear on the incredibly stylish jumper Equimax Ocolado, who is owned by her father Steven and Mrs Dawn Makin. Ellen’s rivals were all note-worthy riders with enormous experience and talent which makes her win even more impressive. Second and third went to two Beijing Olympic GB riders, Ben Maher and Nick Skelton. Ben and Wonder Boy II took second place and third went to Nick riding Carlo 273.

Earlier in the day, Ellen won the illustrious Speed Horse of the Year class for a record fourth time during Horse of the Year Show’s final day of competition. In doing so, the twenty-three year-old became the first ever rider to claim this prestigious title, which began in 1986, four times. Her first win was in 2003, when she was only 17, riding Quinten II, before repeating the success in 2006 on Henri de Here. Last year and this year, her faithful 17 year-old horse Kanselier, whom she has had since he was 10, partnered her to victory.

Additional Results
International show jumping kicked off the day with the Xerox Special Event Services Cup. Laura Renwick, after a frustrating week of titles being snatched from underneath her managed to clinch the title on the in form Beluga. Always one to watch against the clock, Laura made no mistakes and came home in a time of 29.52 seconds. John Whitaker’s up and coming star Argento finished a very creditable 3rd in this field of top International riders.

With only two riders in the Leading Junior Show Jumper of the Year jump-off, it was a fierce battle between Laura Robinson and Daisy Davis for 1st and 2nd place.  Laura and grey gelding Paddy Power clinched the prestigious junior title after Daisy and Future Interest were unfortunate to take second place, they rode the course three seconds faster but picked up four faults.
The National Grade C Championship is a true indicator of young talent and gives us a glimpse of the horse and rider combinations that are going to be contesting the A and B grades next season and this year was no exception. Bruce Menzies built on the fantastic form he has shown all week to put in solid clears and claim the top spot with Sultan V.  Danny Dunne looked a very strong bet but had to settle for second place on Wylye Cruise. Third place went to Peter Maloney and Murka’s Vindicat W.

In the showing classes, The Philanderer ridden by Jayne Webber was crowned HORSE DEALS Supreme Horse of the Year and Greylands Maid in the Dark ridden by Katie Roberts won the title of Supreme Pony of the Year.
Richard Davison was presented with the HOYS Equestrian of the Year award on Friday, after judging the HOYS Dressage Masterclass, in recognition of his career to date, and his dedication and commitment to the sport of Dressage. Highlights of his work this year include being the Chef d’Equipe of the GB team who won Team Silver and Individual Bronze at the Europeans in August. Past winners of this prestigious award include Paul Nichols, Pippa Funnell, Zara Philips, Jeff Osborne, Leslie Law and Bill Bryan.
For full results and show information visit www.hoys.co.uk