Mountain and Moorlands go head-to-head at HOYS

Home-produced from Manchester, Charlene Richardson’s 11-year-old mare, Drumacre Lloer Solo headed the section D’s before claiming the mountain and moorland title on the opening day of the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham.

“I bought her as a two-year-old and planned to retire her after Olympia,” said Charlene. “She’ll go to stud in March, but what a result.”

It was a proud day for the Atherden family when Frazer and Stirlingdene, headed his twin brother Dain with Castle Hill Flash in the Highland, Dales and Fells and then stood reserve with the highland stallion over the Dales.

“We’re competitive, but don’t mind as long as one of us wins,” said Frazer. “We’ve both just begun an access to Farriery course at Warwickshire College at Moreton Morrell, and hope to start a four year apprenticeship after that.”

Poppy Carter, led by her mother Katie, took the mini mountain and moorland title with the section A, Abbeybells Queen Adelaide, owned by Katie and her mother Marg Cartledge.

“When we bought her she had just been backed and she has been the perfect pony for Poppy,” said Marg. “We’ll never, ever sell her.”

Waxwing Thumbs Up took the mini title in 2007 piloted by Charlotte Dent for sisters Georgina Shuttleworth and Diana Leeming. This year Georgina’s son Oliver returned with the section A to claim the red rosette and reserve award on his first ridden HOYS debut.

Kath Vines bought Knockmore Merrel Prince for her daughter, in Ireland four years ago and the Connemara has since triumphed at NPS Spring festival before taking the title at BSPS championships.

“We claimed the first red rosette to be awarded in the new Caldene arena,” said Alisa Vines, “I last won here with Parkhall Cantona four years ago.”

Pony showing results: Wednesday 8 October

Carrs BMW M&M (S Brooks, H Prescott) New Forest, Connemara.— 1,K Vines’s Knockmore Merrel Prince; 2, J Sonnex’s Glencarrig Bobby; 3, C Large’s Willowway Free Spirit. do Fell,Highland, Dales.— 1 & res. S Atherden’s Stirlingdene; 2, S Atherden’s Castle Hill Flash; 3, C Holmes’s Castle Hill Glen. do Dart/Exm/Shet.— 1, Newbury & Lampard’s Lickfolds Snowstorm; 2, P Taylor’s Uppacott Marjosse; 3, D Barr’s Southley Red Ember.do Welsh A&B.— 1, E Waller’s Delami Destiny; 2, M Nevin’s Bengad Rumex; 3, R T Van Praat. do Welsh C.— 1, S Dowdeswell’s Rhyd-ddu-Glyndwr; 2, C Brewster’s Drogeda Pearly King; 3, F Cork’s Tawelfan Red Robin. do Welsh D.— 1 & ch. C Richardson’s Drumacre Lloer Solo; 2, S Thompson’s Pennel The great; 3, Rayfield & Chappell’s Llanfyllin Shooting Star. Brineton Colne M&M ( C Rankin ) mini pony FR— 1 & Res. Shuttleworth & Leeming’s Waxwing Thumbs Up; 2, J Hawkin’s Pendock Pennyworth; 3, L Cassell’s Waxwing Paintbrush. do FR.— 1 & ch. Carter & Cartledge’s Abbeybells Queen Adelaide; 2, J & V Hawkins-Smith’s Eastgate Lady Mystina; 3, M William’s Abbeybells Sister Philomena.

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