It’s the first day of the Horse of the Year Show – and already three showjumpers are celebrating already after winning in the main arena at Birmingham’s NEC.
Emily Morris (pictured) and her horse Ultimatum II won the Horseware Bronze League Championship for amateur riders. The Whitchurch-based rider was almost 3sec faster than her nearest rival in the jump-off .
Morris, a surveyor for the mental health charity MIND, was up at 3.30am this morning to make it to the show. It was her first time competing at HOYS for 25 years, having previously competed at the show as a child in the pony classes, but it was her first win here.
“Just to get here was amazing, so I’m just in total shock that we won today. But we went in there and he gave his all and won it for me,” said Emily. “He can be very spooky, so coming here – his eyes were on stalks,” she added.
The Silver League Final saw a much closer finish, with Cumbria’s Rachel Walker (Bo Gi) winning by just 0.13sec ahead of Jessica Baugh (Castlemitchell Princess).
“I was hoping to get placed, so to win it is something else,” said Rachel. “I took her into the arena at 5am this morning to have a look round as she hasn’t been before. I love cantering into that arena, the atmosphere is unbelievable.”
In the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Championship, 15-year-old Lottie Tutt from Aylesbury won on board her pony Market Angel, giving her the biggest win of her career to date.
“She’s only young, but I knew she had the scope,” said Lottie.
The mare was by the stallion Argento, but when she didn’t grow enough to be classed as a horse, Lottie was given the ride.
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