IRISH-bred horses again led the way in the hunter sections at the 2019 Horse of the Year Show at the NEC Arena in Birmingham, with the TopSpec supreme ridden champion horse accolade going to the winning heavyweight and hunter champion, Jill Marsden and Tracy Moulden’s Twinshock Warrior.

Bred by Brendan Corcoran in Co Offaly, this Ricardo Z seven-year-old gave rider and producer Jayne Ross a seventh supreme title.

“He’s a big horse, who loves a big arena, but because he is so well balanced and has great cadence, it is easy to close him down indoors even in the gallop.

“He’ll now enjoy a few mornings autumn hunting,” said Jayne, who scooped four championships over the week, but elected to ride Twinshock Warrior (aka Bernard) in the final supreme.

The pure-bred Irish Draught Bowland Lucky Slipper (Alices Diamond Slipper) finished second in the heavyweight line-up for Magnus Nicholson, with the former Dublin winner Redbridge Tiny Tim (Montpelier Seaview) standing third for Richard Telford.

A surprised Jasean Spraggett was the first winner on day three riding Noble Queen Bee. The Garrison Royale eight-year-old, bred by Paddy Mullally has been a prolific working hunter winner, finishing fifth here on the opening day, before Spraggett decided to try the weight classes.

Queen Bee gained a one-mark winning margin over Jayne Ross riding Kay Campbell’s in-form Temple Ogue (Furisto), who was bred by Anne Murphy.

Standing top of the middleweight division was Robert Walker riding Jill Day’s Northern Pride.

Bred by John Donaghy by Power Blade, this cracking five-year-old has had a brilliant season and deservedly went on to take stand hunter reserve to Twinshock Warrior.

Another Irish Sport Horse, the Kings Master nine-year-old It’s The Kings Speech, bred by Geraldine Graham stood second for Harriet Snook.

Jayne Ross gained her first victory of the week in the small hunter division riding Kay Campbell’s Church Rock Cashel. Found in Ireland by Jackie Beatham two years ago, Jayne fell in love with the Thomas Lewis-bred Cuileog Cashel six-year-old when she went to see him soon afterwards.

“He is a little firecracker who loves life and he’s one of the yard favourites,” said Ross.

Rider and producer Edward Young stood second with Be Smart and Robert Walker took third with Jill Days Brilliant Lad four-year-old Killcarna Brilliant.

Turning heads

Hayden Hankey and his own and Catherine Witt’s five-year-old Heads Up really did turn many heads when winning the Cuddy working hunter.

After jumping an immaculate round over David Cole and Cheshire Show Jump Services superbly presented 14-element track, the OBOS Quality five-year-old gave the Master of the Northdown Hunt, Lesley Webb, a superb ride.

With just one BE Event, a couple of show jumping classes and a single working hunter to qualify on his CV, Heads Up belied his young age.

Hankey bought Heads Up from Jim Derwin a year ago to go eventing. “I don’t tend to run five-year-olds too much, but with three events cancelled we needed some mileage on the clock without wear and tear.

“Eventing is still our main aim, but he has so much scope, he could make a top show jumper,” said Hankey.

Louise Lyons again brought Paulette Cooper’s Northern Ireland Festival qualified MJM Laszlo into contention. Bred by Janey Murray, the Classic Vision nine-year-old jumped his usual copybook clear round and for the second year running filled the runner-up.

Taking third for Micheala Bowling on his last working hunter appearance was Portphillip CE (Ekstein).

Having enjoyed his first HOYS senior ride in the small hunter final riding Jill Day’s Carnsdale Wise Guy, Sam Walker, the son of Robert and Sarah Walker, went on to take the intermediate hunter title with the Mannix Keenan-bred five-year-old son of Ricardo Royale.

Comeback kings

There were Irish-bred cobs a plenty in three classes and it was Lady Caroline Tyrell’s the charismatic Our Cashel Blue who took first blood for his rider and producer Allister Hood.

Winners and cob champions in 2016 and 2017, standing supreme two years ago, both horse and rider were sidelined last year, Blue having a cancerous growth removed and Allister suffering a heart attack.

However, they bounced back in style to produce their customary foot-perfect performance to win their lightweight division before taking the championship.

Although the 10-year-old blue and white cob is Irish-bred, frustratingly, little seems to be known about his breeding or early history.

The second placed lightweight, Sue Benson’s The Bone Maker nine-year-old Whitegate Dazzler took the reserve for Anne Leaver and the John Maginn-bred Come T 11-year-old Bling Cobsby stood third for Vicky Smith.

Last year’s cob champion Silver Diamond (Silver Jasper) retained his heavyweight crown, with Baileys Horse Feeds’ Starfall standing second for confirmed Irish cob fan Lynn Russell.

Jayne Ross took third place with the interesting newcomer, the Killea Hill five-year-old Randalstown Cromwell.

Stephen Norris topped the maxi cob final Elizabeth Bury’s Lord Alexander.

Bred by John Burke by Gortlea Ruler, this powerful chesnut included autumn hunting as preparation for HOYS.

“He can be tricky, and he loves to stay in a routine, but he loves hunting and he is a serious jumper,” said Norris. Standing second was Lynn Russell riding Baileys Horse Feed’s much admired Cappa Sham.

Another for Ross

Jayne Ross produced and rode both riding horse winners. First blood went to Dianne Stennett’s Painted Black 11-year-old Casino III, while her winner in the large division was Michael Cook and Tony Reynold’s CSF Cummer Paradise, a seven-year-old grey mare bred by Bridget Connoll, who is by Billy Twomey’s former Grand Prix show jumping ride Je T’Aime Flamenco.

British breeding prevailed in the hack classes, Jayne Ross and Robert Walker taking the championship and reserve honours with the large and small winners Forgelands Hyde Park (Kilvington Scoundrel) and Parkgate Royal Visit William (Aimbry Chester).

In the coloured finals, for the second year running, Vicky Smith topped the non-native horse division, with Alan Marnie’s Irish Sport Horse taking the reserve to the traditional pony Del Boy V.

Vicky Hesford scored a win with Red Rock in the native/cob final. This seven-year-old cob was bought four years ago from Val Sheehan.

Connemaras

For the second year running, Galway’s Joe Burke travelled across to Birmingham to handle Aniar Cashel (Banks Timber) in the Cuddy supreme in-hand championship where they finished fifth in the pony section.

Vanessa Clark’s striking eight-year-old dun stallion Castle Emperor was runner-up in the class and now holds the record for the highest-placed Connemara Pony in the class.

Bred by Henry O’Toole in Clifden, Co Galway, Emperor is by Clark’s late Castle Comet, who is still the only pony to stand Supreme at both HOYS and Olympia.

Connemara ponies also proved their worth over a testing working hunter course with Amy Smith heading the M&M exceeding 143cm final and taking the championship with the Thomas Folan-bred Laburnam Richard (Rynn Richard).

A good contingent of young Irish riders travelled to Birmingham and enjoying victory on her jumping debut at the NEC was Amber Marnane who won the 143cm (plaited) working hunter final riding Danny’s Pride.

The Fernville Danny-sired 10-year-old Connemara pony, bred by Edwin and Siobhan Murray, was also jumping here for the first time. “We are over the moon,” said Amber’s mother Melanie.

The Robbie Fallon-bred Cashel Bay JJ won for an incredible sixth time at the venue. Fallon’s home-bred by Castleside JJ is owned by Polly Eddis and was ridden to win the Snuggy Hoods 153cm Working Hunter Pony of the Year class by Susie Eddis.

Also travelling from Ireland to compete in the workers were Rachel Moore and Jodie Creighton who took second and third places in the intermediate final riding Country Strong and Newmarket Alloy.

Also qualified and entered at HOYS were Anna Byrne (Fairyhouse Coco), Jodie Creighton (Derrygimbla Atlantic Storm), Tiggy Hancock (Corries Jack In The Box), Josh Williamson (Plasdavrene Matty’s Mate) and Charlotte Goor (Barkway State Affair).