Horse of the Year Show: working hunter, show pony, coloured, ridden Arab, SEIB Search for a Star

After lifting the Cuddy Supreme In Hand Championship yesterday (Thursday) at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), Jack Cochrane again took the Cuddy honours, this time with Firefly’s half brother Mountain Ember, who successfully defended his 2006 working hunter title.

Home-bred by the late Ann Vos, Mountain Ember is by Lord David S out of Fire Mountain. “This has been the most amazing 24 hours” said Jack, who has produced the 13-year-old throughout a successful in-hand and ridden career.

Another home-bred took the show pony title, Sue Hinchcliffe’s Roseberry Highland Fling clinching the championship after heading a strong 148cm line up. Produced by Gill Thompson, and ridden by her daughter Charlotte, the five-year-old is by Duntarvie Catamount out of Lintonhills Country Classic.

After heading their coloured native division, Sarah Walker and So Smart scooped the coloured championship. Camilla Neame’s Irish-bred heavyweight cob clinched the 2006 overall supreme ridden horse title here for Sarah’s husband Robert last October, and will be defending his cob title tomorrow (Saturday). So Smart remained foot perfect to clinch the championship ahead of Lynn Russell riding the non-native winner The Ascoteer.

An emotional Darren Crowe took the Arab tricolour riding Tiffani McCarthy’s former European and International champion PHA Silvern Risalm. Having just recovered from a serious illness, Darren only had time to do one show with the nine-year-old, the pair qualifying with a win at HoCon.

The SEIB Search for a Star champions were Jordan Cook and Fleetwater Executive. Having headed his hack section, the six-year-old Pascal-sired six-year-old rose to the occasion to further impress judges Marjorie Ramsay and Robert Oliver. “I have a great back up team, our success is down to them” said Jordan.

Stay in touch with all the latest news from HOYS with reports on HorseandHound.co.uk, and read H&H’s full report on all the action in next Thursday’s magazine

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