The Sport Horse Breeding of GB Working Hunter of the Year Championship has been an integral part of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) since 1951 and competition this year was as fierce as ever.
34 combinations started out over David Cole’s course of rustic fences, with marks available for both jumping and style. The testing track soon narrowed the field down to 12, who were all invited back to the Andrews Bowen International Arena for the ride and conformation judging. Ride judge Jessica Stalling, one of Australia’s most accomplished show riders, worked her way through “a very strong field” while conformation was judged by HOYS-winning producer Simon Reynolds.
After a nail-biting wait for the evening presentation, it was Libby Cooke’s seven-year-old Sports Horse Uisneagh Camus (Bert) who was crowned champion; a title which has eluded Libby amongst wins at many other major shows and numerous placings here at HOYS, including Reserve.
Determined not to settle for bridesmaid, Libby came back from Bert jumping her off last year to produce a foot-perfect performance today. “He jumped too high last year and I didn’t stay on,” she explained. “It wasn’t his fault; he’s amazing. I’m very lucky to have him.
Libby has owned Bert since a four-year-old. “I bought him from John O’Brien in Ireland who I buy all my horses from. I have taken my time with him because I knew he was special – I’m not sure everyone believed me, but I knew he was.
“He’s very sweet, very clever, very easy.
“We hack out day to day. I have no school or field to ride in – he likes to go in the field to eat grass and he likes the apple trees in there! We mainly hack and I put him in the lorry to have a jump every other week.”
Bert produced one of three clears in this class to also nail the ‘See a Stride, 75’ fence; a special anniversary twist on the course in honour of HOYS’ diamond jubilee.
This optional but challenging new addition stood at 1.30m above the course of 1.20m fences. Those willing to tackle this fence were awarded an extra five marks, while those who took it on but failed to clear it had 15 marks deducted from those all important tallies.
Reflecting on the track, Libby said: “He [Bert] made it feel quite easy, but a lot of people have said it’s the toughest track they’ve seen for a long time – especially the second half of the course.
“To win this time hasn’t really sunk in; it’s something we all dream of. I’ve been lucky enough to win at all the other major shows but not here – and it always grates on you a little bit. You think I’ve got to do that, and now I have. It’s a bit unbelievable.”
Reserve Champion was Davina Featherstonhaugh’s eight year old Hunter, Longwood, known as Billy at home. Davina and Billy also jumped clear earlier in the day, including the anniversary fence.
Feature image credit 1st Class Images.
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.