Seven-year-old scores middleweight honours on HOYS debut
An upstanding grey gelding topped the middleweight show hunter of the year championship at the 2021 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) after standing second in the ladies’ side saddle final just two days ago.
The winning exhibit was Angela Coggins’ Bloomfield Eloquence (James) ridden by Loraine Homer, who qualified at the National Hunter Show. Even more amazingly, this was seven-year-old James’ first year competing at HOYS. James was also continuing an unbeaten run in middleweight classes.
This victory tops off an incredible season for the James, Angela and the Homers; in July 19-year-old Alice Homer rode James to stand at the top of the ladies’ show horse class at the Royal International Horse Show.
Watermill Swatch-sired James came over to England from the Ireland-based Bloomfield stud where he competed astride with Jane Bradbury. He was champion at both Balmoral and Gorey shows under saddle.
Angela is best friends with Loraine and bought James as a six-year-old.
At their pre-HOYS outing, the recent British Show Horse Association National Championships, Loraine and James won their middleweight class.
Slotting into second was Robert Walker aboard Jill Day’s Jack Of Diamonds six-year-old Mardi Gras, who qualified at Midland Counties.
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Lucinda Freedman picked up third with her own 15-year-old Silverstone-sired gelding Big Ben, while fourth went to Kirstine Douglas with Morean Hamilton’s OBS Quality 11-year-old Annaghmore Huntsman. In fifth was Lyssa Sheppard riding her own 12-year-old gelding Alfie Conner.
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Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.