Lookingback at HOYS

It seems incredible to say that this combination is no stranger to the event however they won it in 2011 when they shared first place with Joe Clayton riding Leonardo. This is the first time since 2009 that the competition produced a clear winner and with the wall standing 7 feet 3 inches (sorry but I'm still in 'old money') Volcano's clean jump when four others failed in the final round was some feat. With two wins to his credit at HOYS, he joins an elite group of dual winners which includes some of the all-time greats from the past such as O'Malley, Goodbye, Red Admiral, Sunsalve, Dundrum and Foxhunter. Goodness only knows what this horse, bred in Scotland by the Gillespies, would have to do to claim the attention in the Scottish Equine Breeder's Association's annual award. Only time will tell if he actually does this year.

As much as I was impressed by Volcano, I have to admit to being equally impressed by his rider, Douglas Duffin, who kept his cool and rode with courage to face the big red wall in front of the Show's largest crowd of the week and television's premier sports cameras. His modesty and big smile belie his enormous talent, something which he demonstrates both behind and in front of the cameras. As much as I am in awe of the international success of his fellow young countryman, Scott Brash, I am full of admiration for Douglas, whose beginnings were almost as modest as his early mentor, Ron Brady, who travelled the road to success from absolutely nothing. Ron's now well-established livery and training centre at East Muirhead outside the village of Saline in Fife, continues to provide Douglas with good training facilities and a base for horses such as Volcano.

With many of the world's leading show jumping riders seeking their fortunes elsewhere, spectators were treated to a feast of up-and-coming young British riders, like Douglas and fellow Scot, Graham Gillespie (equal second in the puissance), whose talents were show-cased at Birmingham for what is billed as "The World's Greatest Horse Show". Show jumping aside, the main International Arena witnessed brilliant performance by some other young Scots, not least of whom were the members of Strathearn's winning Pony Club mounted games team, Sophie O'Neil, Sophie Targell-Worth, Iona Wilson, Hamish d'Ath, Sam Ryder and Heather Halley. Trained by Alistair Brewster and helped by Alasdair Ryder, the 'Strathearn' thrilled the crowds to win their heats from Thursday to Saturday and came equal first on Sunday night to claim the overall title. They join other famous Scottish teams to have won such as West Perthshire, Angus, Strathblane & District, Kirkintilloch & Campsie and, of course, the famous Eglinton, which won it on no fewer than thirteen occasions.

One young Scottish rider who claimed my attention yet again (as he has done for years) was Stuart Sloan, a dental student from Dumfries, who has successfully come up the ranks of the working hunter pony competitions. Impressing from an early age, he came of age at HOYS, when he took fourth place amongst his seniors in the open working hunter championship which was won by the only clear round of the competition.

He looked the part in the big ring and rightly returned on Friday night as winner of the intermediate equivalent to contest the working hunter pony championship when he looked to have it in the bag. In both classes his ride was the impressive 158 cms chestnut sports horse Tinkas Flash, a champion at both the Royal International as well as the BSPS Championships, but not at HOYS where the judges favoured an out-and-out hunting pony, Rainbow's Mischief. Stuart's third place with Tinkas Flash at Auchinleck in July, when they finished on their dressage score, possibly heralds the combination's future in the event world; both certainly show the talent, particularly Stuart, who shows the potential to further his career in equestrianism.

As much as the 'workers' held their own excitement, arguably the most exciting showing competition of the week came in the serene world of carriage driving, when elegance, tradition and correctness of turnout are matched in equal measure by the horse/pony and its performance. Scotland's own Alistair McNinch from Ayrshire was one of two judges making the placings and as they whittled down the entries to the final two, it soon became obvious that he and his co-judge could not come to agreement; the body language was to be seen to be believed. Well-known commentator, Carey Knox, was quick to inform the audience as an umpire judge was called, the ringside became uncharacteristically vociferous for HOYS as sides cheered on their favourite. Consequently the brilliant Welsh cob cross Hackney, Brookeborough Duke, qualifier at the Scottish British Driving Society Show, rose to the occasion while the beautiful dun Welsh cob, Dearnevalley Ronaldo, tired a little as his action turned rounder. The choice of Duke was an obvious one as the bay gelding stood champion having been reserve on two other occasions, much to the delight of Alistair McNinch whose choice he had been all along.

Outwith top class showing competition, the likes of which knows no comparison anywhere in the world, HOYS also aims to entertain. Top billing at this year's show went to the Musical Drive of the King's Troop Musical , a marvellous spectacle by any standards but one which I felt was somewhat cramped in an indoor arena and just lacked the impact which it enjoys in outdoor rings. I can still hear the booming of the guns ringing in my ears almost as clearly from the laughter evoked by the performing pony dressed as a lion (aka Luma the Lion), which amazingly performed some 'high school' acts albeit on a miniature scale. The miniature stallion certainly earned the 'cute' factor at the show although there was huge media coverage for Harry Edwards-Brady from Devon, who at just three years of age was the youngest competitor ever to have competed at HOYS.

The Horse of the Year Show yet again cast its magic spell over the horse world for five days in October, maintaining a tradition that has lasted 65 years. Its story this year is too long to tell in a single column so as a taster for a future column I'll leave you with such diverse topics as the Kerry Bog pony, controversy in the world of the workers and Woodlander Farouche, surely one of the most beautiful horses in the world.