‘Winning again is the icing on the cake’: second HOYS title on the trot for small hunter

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Shanbally Legacy
Shanbally Legacy, exhibited by Claire Oliver, winners of the Hamilton Tarmac Small Show Hunter of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 4 -8 th October 2023
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

For the second year on the bounce, Claire Oliver took top honours in the Hamilton Tarmac small show hunter of the year championship at the Horse of the Year Show aboard her own chestnut Irish Draught Shanbally Legacy.

The Pride Of Neath 11-year-old was bred by Joseph Egan out of Kilthomas Lass. Despite holding an impressive record, “Lego” has only been very lightly shown under-saddle. This term his results include winning at Royal Windsor, again for the second time, and picking up his HOYS ticket at the Hickstead Derby.

Alex Robinson
Alex Robinson
Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor

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.