Section A stallion takes the Cuddy title at HOYS

Mandy Higgins’ charismatic seven-year-old roan section A stallion Pinewell Bucks Fizz, handled by Colin Tibbey, took the Cuddy supreme award on the second day of the Horse of the Year Show’s diamond jubilee.

“When he was born we thought the name suited his colour,” said Mandy, “but we soon discovered it suited his character as a foal.”

Robert Walker had to do a marathon sprint from one end of the complex, after winning in the hacks, in order to show Jill Day’s two-year-old hunter Vantage Point to head the Cuddy horses.

“This really was a first,” said Jill, “as we never show in hand, but he’d already qualified when I bought him after Newark & Notts.”

After the first mountain and moorland working hunter pony class produced several clears, it was all change as poles fell and eliminations mounted up in the next class. However, Barbara Williams’ Trefynys Princess Saskia and Louise Jones went clear for the section C mare to claim the title.

“I think after the first class they upped the height and then the doubles were catching ponies out,” said Barbara. “But Louise rode it really well, and Saskia is so full of character she just makes you smile.”

Reserve for the second year running went to Katie Bacon with Julie Barton’s Moortown Honeyman who took the title here two years ago. The Dartmoor stallion’s breeders Diane and John Jordan, travelled up from Devon to support him. They have produced two Cuddy finalists previously.

Natasha Yates was another to score her first HOYS win when taking the iintermediate show hunter title with Twice as Smart. Lightly shown this season, the five-year-old who was champion at East of England is produced in Wales with Debbie Thomas, and meets up with Natasha, who works in London, at shows. He will go home to Cornwall for a winter break.

Results Thursday 9 October

Balanced horse feeds working hunter M&M(P Rennie, K James) 122cms.— 1& res. J Barton’s Moortown Honeyman; 2, J Price’s Colliyers Oriel; 3, K James’s Bronheulog Monarch. do 138— 1& ch. B Williams’s Trefynys Princess Saskia; 2, A Bebbington’s Rushmoor Sunrise; 3, J Cooper’s Starcrest Mel Aur. do 148.— 1, T Barrett’s Prince; 2, C McCullagh’s Gwarchod Sparkling Comet; 3, P Cox’s Burnmoor Caradog.

Cuddy supreme in hand (C Tamplin) pony.— 1 & ch. A Higgins’s Pinewell Bucks Fizz; 2, A Daunt’s Cotrell Lara; 3, S Grimshaw’s Moluccas Cinnamon Secret. do horse.— 1& res. J Day’s Vantage Point; 2, T Wareham’s Top Totty; 3, M Hennesey’s Atonement.

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