Rounding off day one of Horse of the Year Show in style, the audience in the Andrews Bowen International Arena were treated to an extraordinary result in the final class of the day and another ‘first’ with a two-way tie in the Addington Equestrian 2019 Ltd Talent Seekers Championship. Jay Halim and Tim Davies congratulated one another on their joint win in a time of 31.23 seconds, both sharing the same sentiment of gratitude.
Jay Halim set the time with eight-year-old Aragon Z owned by Duncan Arthurs, explaining:
I actually grew up admiring Tim [Davies] and watching him compete, so it is a real honour to share this win with him today. Aragon is a special horse and really deserves this win. I unintentionally had an extra stride down the double so I was concerned I had left it open for someone to come in and beat me. I was second in this class a few years ago and I thought that the same was going to happen, but thankfully I kept my lead. It’s a childhood dream to win at Horse of the Year Show so I can finally tick that box and look ahead to what’s next. Hopefully this will give everyone supporting me confidence in what I am doing allowing me to continue on the path I’m on. A win is a win and I am so chuffed!”
Tim Davies was last to go in the jump off riding eight-year-old chestnut gelding, Lionel Van De Markieslanden, owned by Barrett Watson.
It’s an honour to share the win with Jay; I watched his round and noted his time. My horse is quick but when I looked up at the clock I knew straight away that we’d drew. He’s the perfect person to share it with though and I’m really pleased for him. I jumped the horse here last year and he was very careful, you just never quite know how they are going to react in the arena. I mainly compete here in England producing young horses so it means a lot to win a big Championship here at Horse of the Year Show. I’ve had him since he was four years old and he was a tricky horse but I knew he’d come good. To come here and win with him is just incredible.”
The winning pair join the list of previous winners of this well-supported Championship, which include some of the sport’s greatest household names.
As a real platform of young horse talent, the class also incorporates the Brightwells 7-year-old Championship which was won by the highest placed seven-year-old horse, Green Grass, ridden and owned by Northallerton’s Paul Barker. Overall the combination came third in the class with a time of 31.36, showing just how close this jump off was this evening.
Addington Equestrian Centre is a leading equestrian venue in Buckingham, owned by Mr and Mrs Winter who have developed it into one of the leading equestrian show centres in the UK. Since January 2019, under the new management of Chris Parker, the venue has continued to provide the very best facilities and host some of the biggest events in the equestrian calendar, but will have a new, more inclusive attitude towards local competitors and those beginning their journey in the equestrian world with the aim of creating “an Addington for all”.
Horse of the Year Show is on every day this week through to Sunday 6th October at the Resorts World Arena, NEC Birmingham. For more information head to www.hoys.co.uk
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.