Iwan Carpenter and his home-bred Merllyns Special Illusion won the GFS Saddles Senior Newcomers Championship (feature image, credit 1st Class Images) on the opening evening of Horse of the Year Show 2026 at the NEC Birmingham.

Last to go in a four-way jump-off, the 22-year-old North Wales rider recorded 35.46 seconds to finish more than a second ahead of Holly Smith and Flying Saucer O.S. Alex Hempleman and Billy Foster took third.

For Iwan, winning with one of his first home-breds made the result particularly special.

“He is one of our first home-breds, so it makes this win extra special because to have bred your own horse and then to compete at such a big event like this is unbelievable. And to win it, it’s just phenomenal.”

A decisive jump-off in the Senior Newcomers Championship

More than 20 combinations contested the championship, but the first clear round did not arrive until well into the second half of the class. Eventually, just four combinations qualified for the jump-off.

Alex Hempleman set the leading time before Holly Smith edged ahead by four hundredths of a second. That left Iwan knowing what he needed to beat, although he chose to concentrate on his own approach.

“I just stuck to my plan in the jump-off, and it paid off with him,” he said.

His round proved comfortably quick enough. However, the winning margin came as a surprise.

“I didn’t feel quick as I was going around. I thought I had just done enough, maybe, to sneak into the lead, but when I finished and looked up and I saw it was over a second I was gobsmacked.”

From home-bred youngster to HOYS winner

Iwan has produced Merllyns Special Illusion from a four-year-old, making the championship another step in a partnership he has developed himself.

The horse has already won several classes this year. Meanwhile, Iwan’s own season has included his first ranking-class victory, although he counts this HOYS result among his best.

“He has won quite a few classes this year, and every question I ask has always met with a good answer.”

Having competed at HOYS since his pony days, Iwan is familiar with the occasion. Even so, the atmosphere remains part of its appeal.

“I have been coming here since I was on ponies, you know, and you get used to the atmosphere,” he said. “You don’t really get anywhere like the atmosphere you get here.”

More from Horse of the Year Show 2026

Iwan’s victory followed an opening day of returning champions and first-time winners. Read our HOYS 2026 day one results round-up for more showing and showjumping results.

The show continues until Sunday 11 October. For streaming details and selected championship times, see our guide to how to watch HOYS 2026.