The Humdinger is HOYS coloured champion again

Coloured horses and ponies took centre stage in the Caldene arena at the Horse of the Year Show today (Friday).

After a morning of hot competition, Jayne Webber (pictured) won her unplaited horse class for the third year running with the super-consistent piebald, The Humdinger, going on to take the section title for a second time.

“He gave me a fabulous ride and was tuned up for the job,” said judge David Bartram.

This lovely cob, owned by Carol Bardo and her sister, Mandy Hughes, put in a foot-perfect performance en route to the top award. “He certainly knows where he is,” said Jayne. “He feels better than ever.”

All the major players were forward but reserve went to a delighted — and surprised — Sue-Helen Bolton with her six-year-old traditional stallion, Del Boy.

“He’s only done three shows this year because I’ve been concentrating on youngsters,” said Sue-Helen, who has a breaking and schooling yard near Preston. “He’s been in the field since June and came back into work six weeks ago.”

Arabian specialist Darren Crowe made a winning HOYS debut with Caroline Sussex’s home-bred 11-year-old, Silvern Prince, to take the pure-bred Arab tricolour.

The expressive grey stallion is usually ridden by his owner, who finished fifth with him here last year. Darren last took the title with Jammilah in 2003 after winning all three classes, and it was the culmination of a winning run for this horse, who had headed four consecutive classes on the run-up to HOYS.

“He’s just got better and better as the season’s gone on,” said Caroline. “Darren has done a brilliant job with him.”

Darren also won the gelding class with the Millers’ Mahradi, but reserve went to Stephanie Turner with another Silvern horse, the O’Rourkes’ Suffolk-based mare victor, Silvern Moonlight.

Results

CHAPS coloured (D Bartram, J Beatham) plaited, pony. 1, S Parrott’s Winchester D; 2, H Ellis-Jones’ Doylan Anuska’s Gift; 3, A Harrison’s Millpond Look Again. horse. 1, R Avery’s Lostock Back to Black; 2, S Ambler’s Endeavour; 3, J Powell’s Jigsaw. unplaited, pony. 1 & res, A Shuttleworth’s Del Boy; 2, S Harrison’s Chantilly Lace; 3, J McTiffin’s G W Dubya. horse. 1 & ch, C Bardo & M Hughes’ The Humdinger; 2, Baileys Horse Feeds’ Deimos; 3, E Green’s Apollo. Hutchinsons Staff ridden arab (C Nelson, R King) pure-bred, gelding. 1, A Miller’s Mahradi; 2, A Boyle’s Maleikero; 3, S Rose’s LVA Estopas Winter Storm. stallion. 1 & ch, C Sussex’s Silvern Prince; 2, L Hughes’ Patros HB; 3, Mr & Mrs D Peck’s Dervatiw Gwyddion. mare. 1 & res, M O’Rourke’s Silvern Moonlight; 2, D Atkin’s Azhiqa; 3, P Pinkerton’s Nequitta.

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