Wayne Thorneycroft is one such rider who journeyed from the Scottish Horse Show, arriving back home at 1am and was on the road to the Festival of the Hunter Show at Peterborough just an hour later.

All the efforts paid off though as Thorneycroft took the coloured championship, riding plaited horse winner Shear Impulse.

Having started the season well with a tricolour at the North of England Show, this free-moving eight-year-old mare was winning her second HOYS qualifier having earned her first ticket at CHAPS northern horse show.

Bred by Liam Murphy in Co Wexford, Shear Impulse is by Ballyshiel Cherokee out of Leith Lass.

Thorneycroft bought the eye-catching mare five years ago and did a season with her before selling her to present owner Kim Colosso who returned her to Wayne to ride and produce this season.

“She’s very laid back and chills out at home, but she rises to the occasion in the ring and always gives a good ride,” said Thorneycroft.

Reserve award

Taking the reserve award at Peterborough was Lynn Russell riding very successful eight-year-old skewbald cob Gallifrey.

Ian Smeeth claimed the hunter championship at Peterborough riding Amanda Gallagher’s Ringford Downpatrick, a 12-year-old old Irish-bred bay gelding (breeding unknown) who is normally ridden by his owner in amateur classes, but as she has been ill for much of the season, the reins passed to producer Ian Smeeth.

“He qualified for HOYS first time out last season and this is the first time of asking again this season,” said Smeeth who went on to take the supreme hunter award with the winning lightweight.

Heading the heavyweight line-up was Joanne Singfield riding her Ricardo Z chesnut gelding Rockefeller. Ricardo Z was prominent in the ladies class where former Dublin supreme Lorenzo headed a strong line-up for Faye Ludlow.

The 12-year-old out of Inch Madam has been consistent is a regular Royal International and HOYS finalist in flat and ladies classes and he was ultra smooth again at Peterborough giving his rider and Michaela Bowling superb rides.

Standing top of the amateur lightweight line-up was Hayley Briggs riding Liz Eadon’s Mr Chips, a cracking five-year-old by Chippison out of Star Of Clare.

Heading the heavyweight division was Cerys Ford riding her own Master Bandsman, and standing next in line was Hayley Curtis with her Crosstown Dancer seven-year-old Lord John.

Taking the cob title was David Marsden riding Michelle Cooper’s winning maxi Centaurus who was bought from Lynn Russell.

Marsden meets up with this Irish-bred coloured cob at shows and the pair are enjoying a good first season having qualified as a coloured for the Royal International and HOYS.

Just a few weeks into their partnership, Georgia Darlington and Conan Spartacus took the working hunter pony championship.According to the judges, the eight-year-old grey gelding, who had previously show jumped in Ireland, and Georgia produced the best jumping round of the day.

“He’s a fabulous jumper and a real nice character, we hope to go hunting with the Surrey Union in the winter,” said Georgia.

Rory Gilsenan, who hails from Kells, has perhaps given the commentators at Horse of the Year Show in October a bit of a nightmare as he won the Cuddy working hunter qualifier riding Ev Bois De Villa Deste.

“This was a lovely forward course in a big ring and he jumped a super round,” said Gilsenan.

Four wins

Katie Jerram, who brought several young horses to Peterborough to give them some mileage, was happy with two impressive four-year-olds, the HM The Queen’s homebred Tower Bridge who finished fourth in the open heavyweight class, while the Irish-bred Kings Court (Kings Master) finished in the ribbons in the lightweight division.

Jerram enjoyed four wins at Kent County recently, the Kings Master six-year-old Gortglas Rinarinca winning his lightweight division en route to claiming the hunter tricolour, former Dublin supreme Woodfield Indo (Power Blade), bred by Rosemary Connors, heading the middleweights, Tower Bridge won the novice hunter class and the Irish-bred heavyweight cob Copycat claimed the cob tricolour.

Cheshire rider and producer Robert Walker returned to his roots and celebrated a winning hat-trick and two championships at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Riding Pride Of Place, Walker who finished second in his novice lightweight class eventually claimed the novice hunter championship after a stunning gallop saw him promoted above class winner Charles Le Moignan and Exposure.

Later on in the day, Party Time headed the small hunter class.

Both horses, owned by Jill Day, are full-brothers by Tasset out of Barntown Brown Lady and were bred by the Doyle brothers.

Walker also claimed the cob title riding Camilla Neame’s winning heavyweight Starry Night.

Simon Reynolds maintained his winning form with Heather Clay’s Hallmark IX (Welcome Flagmount), the reigning Horse of the Year Show supreme horse winning an enormous Irish Draught division.