Five Who Made Their First HOYS Count!
First-timer Elsie Lynch had the most magical first HOYS! She not only won her 133cm working hunter pony class, but also stood champion working hunter pony and supreme pony! What a HOYS! Here are five more who made their first visit a spectacular one!
Joyton Sunshine
Five-year-old Welsh section C Joyton Sunshine had jumped just a handful of open tracks with 12-year-old Ella Eynon before the pair took a surprise ticket to HOYS at NPS Area 4. But these cool customers made light work of the 133cm mountain and moorland working hunter pony track to win the class and go on to stand section champion. Though not her first HOYS rosette, this was also Ella’s first HOYS win!
Derw Dream Boy and Millie Knipe
Five-year-old Millie Knipe and Derw Dream Boy smashed their first HOYS appearance by winning the show pony lead rein class and mini championship led by Millie’s dad, James. Though only lightly campaigned this season, the pair had already made quite an impression on the showing world when they took the supreme championship at the BSPS Summer Championships. The Westgrove Dark Secret five-year-old is out of Heniarth Hushabye and was purchased directly from his breeder Julia Owen. Mum and Dad team James and Jade broke him in, brought him on themselves and continue to produce him from home.
Griseburn Major
Dales pony Griseburn Major surprised rider Joe Watson by winning his class, and later the championship. The five-year-old Wolsey Viking stallion is out of Tarbarl Luke, and was purchased by Joe and his partner Rob McIvor as an unbroken colt from breeders Helen and Andrew Horn. He has been lightly shown this time, taking his ticket at the North of England show.
Newoak Midnight Blue and Scarlett Smith
Producers Adam Forster and David Jinks spotted Newoak Midnight Blue at breeder Jackie Newberry’s home and instantly fell for him. “I saw him and told David right away, ‘I’m bringing this one home’, so that’s what we did,” said Adam, who led the four-year-old to victory in the lead rein hunter pony class, having notched up two seconds in the same class on previous occasions. He was ridden by five-year-old Scarlett Smith – also a first-timer – who was riding on behalf of her grandmother Naomi Bradwell.
Briarhill Buddy Bolden
Harriet Dennison and Briarhill Buddy Bolden have hit the intermediate hunter type circuit with panache this year, scoring wins at the BSPS Winter and Summer championships, North of England Spring Show and claiming the first HOYS ticket of the season at Stoneleigh Horse Show in May. He also qualified for the small hunter class under owner Meg Edmonson at the Royal Highland Show and the pair finished 7th in the final lineup. Buddy is one of two to score wins in the intermediate classes produced by Rachael and Julie Helliwell.
