Look sharp! Dizzy Rascal takes HOYS showjumping title

Tilly Bamford riding DIZZY RASCAL, winner of Class 9, 138cm Championship, during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 6 -10th October 2021

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Tilly Bamford made the most of her first time at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) by taking her first win, in the 138cm championship on Carole Bamford’s Dizzy Rascal.

With a host of top talent in the eight-strong jump-off, including defending champions Tabitha Kyle and Playboy Van De Zoetewei, and two more rides for Tabitha, Tilly and the 14-year-old mare dug deep to take the title by the best part of a second.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.

Look sharp! Dizzy Rascal takes HOYS showjumping title

“It feels amazing,” said 12-year-old Tilly. “I got a bit close in a few places but she really helped me out and tried her hardest for me.

“I was a bit nervous but I think they were good nerves, and as soon as I was in the arena and everyone went quiet, I forgot the crowd was even there.”

Tilly was given Dizzy as a birthday present last year.

“I had another amazing pony who is quite old and sadly went lame,” she said. “He looks exactly like her so when she arrived, I looked out and thought it was him! Since then, she’s done the best she could for me.”

Cate Kerr and Dunbarover IV made HOYS history as they became the first combination to take the 128cm championship twice.

The 12-year-old rider and Lisa Kerr’s 10-year-old gelding gave a superb polished performance to win their second title, with national title-holders Hollie Gerken on Black Jack II second.

“I was quite nervous but I just put that behind me and got on with it!” she said. “I knew Hollie’s pony would be really quick so I just had in my head to keep going. He can be quite strong but he was very relaxed today.”

Cate said “Yogi” is a very gentle pony, whose favourite place in the stable is by his feed bowl, and who “always has a floppy lip!”

And the last piece of advice she was given before she went into the arena? “‘Enjoy it!’” she said.

You might also be interested in:

‘He’s my best friend in the world’: speed-riding masterclass secures HOYS pony title

‘No words for my elation’: 13-year-old rider takes pony Foxhunter title