The Keystone Cob crowned cob of the year at HOYS

Jayne Webber claimed her second championship of the week, when The Keystone Cob was the choice of Sarah Smith and John Keen to take the Equimax & Eraquell cob of the year title.

The six-year-old went beautifully to win his heavyweight division, and then gave a brilliant gallop to clinch the title. This was the perfect tonic for owner Carol Bardo, who under went an operation on her back earlier this week, but she made a special effort to travel to the show, and arrived just in time to see her horse collect the tricolour.

In his first open season, the Irish-bred brown gelding has notched up a string of impressive wins.

“We’ve had an extra special day. After the week Carol’s had, it’s fantastic to have her here this evening, and the horse was an absolute star,” said Jayne.

Taking the reserve was Jack Cochrane riding Rosemary Hetherington’s winning lightweight Hallmark IX.

Also coming into the final reckoning were the second placed lightweight, Simone Cuddy’s The Duke, who was ridden by Robert Oliver, and Camilla Neame’s So Smart who claimed second spot in the heavyweight class for Robert Walker. After notching up four HOYS wins, and standing supreme ridden horse in 2006, So Smart was retired, and will now go hunting with his owner.

In his first season showing, Peter and Kathy Bowdler’s Unlimited claimed the Benson Group small show hunter of the year title. The Rhutspon eight-year-old was bought in Scotland last October, and he won on his debut at the BSHA spring show at Barton in April.

“We really didn’t expect him to cope so well with the atmosphere,” said Charles.

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