News

Wednesday, February 7

Stallion Event Running order now live

The Running order for the Stallions exhibiting at this weekends British Breeding Stallion Event are now and listed on the Stallion Event page - click here

Monday, October 23

British Bred Ponies Score at HOYS

Katie Bradburne races to a HOYS Blue Chip Pony Newcomers win   Katie Bradburne scythed ultra-tight turns and a breath-taking final gallop to the last to secure the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers title at Horse of the Year Show with Claire Crossman’s Shovern Inca. It marked the second Blue Chip Pony Newcomers victory in two years for the Bradburne family; Katie’s elder brother Thomas won the 2021 title on Derryinver Rocky. “I’m so happy, especially with the pony, he’s still very novice,” said Katie, emotional over her first HOYS title. “The atmosphere and the crowd are amazing, it’s something you never forget.” The 10-year-old British Bred  Shovern Inca – bred by Jill Webb – is by Eros, the stallion son of Diarado and out of a Wrayton Boaz mare. Twenty-seven hopeful competitors came forward over course-designer Ben Townley’s 1.20m track with five negotiating every fence cleanly to qualify for the jump-off, an on-form Hollie Gerken bringing two ponies through. Hollie set a sensible target on the promising but still novice Velini 6-year-old Velini’s Silver Star but Katie slashed the time by more than three and a half seconds with daring turns and a risky, gasp-inducing gallop to the final vertical, the punchy line executed at an acute angle. “My coach, Fiona Hobby, told me to go for the last.  I was nervous in the jump-off but even more nervous when Hollie went in [last to go on her second ride],” said Katie, 15, who used all her skills learned from racing parents, ex-jockeys Mark Bradburne and Gee Armytage.  “I definitely want to stick to showjumping, not racing.” Hollie chased hard on Jennifer Hudson’s 11-year-old Ballycarrow Mirahs Sparrow and was deceptively fast following similar lines but stopped the clock 0.46 seconds in arrears to slot into second ahead of her other ride Silver Star in third. “I thought at one time Hollie would catch me, but I was so quick to the last and that’s what got it [the win],” said Katie, who started riding the Eros III 10-year-old ‘Inky’ in January, taking over the reins from Thomas. “He was very green when Thomas rode him, and we struggled with the rideability but we’ve worked on it and he keeps improving – it showed today! I’m so proud of him,” said Katie.   Hollie Gerken claims her second HOYS title in the Equine Rescue Services 138cm with Another Barney Hollie Gerken has enjoyed a tremendous Horse of the Year Show and captured her second major title in two days with the Equine Rescue Services 138cm Championship on Another Barney. Only two days earlier, Hollie was crowned Leading Pony Showjumper of the Year with Ramiro High Society. Twenty-three hopeful competitors tackled the 1.25m course but only three answered every question to qualify for the jump-off. Portia Taylor-Wilson looked to be setting a serious target for the following two riders but the audience broke out with cheers as she approached the final fence and Whitethorn Smokey toppled the top rail of the vertical. Hollie, who had claimed an amazing 10 qualifying HOYS places, also picked up second in the Pony Foxhunter and second and third place in the Pony Newcomers, looked cool and confident as she rode into the ring aboard the 9-year-old Another Barney, who finished second in this Final two years ago with Tabitha Kyle in the saddle. Another Barney is by West Country Sport Horses’ Filesco, the stallion son of Boss VDL, who traces back to Indoctro and Nimmerdor with Phin Phin on the dams side, and out of pony mare Patch, breeding unknown. Hollie exuded assurance and self-possession as she executed smooth yet tight lines, posting a clear round and beating Portia’s time by 1.62 seconds. It proved to be the only double clear, last to go Alfie Diaper faulted on Go Fast D’Argan to finish third. News Kindly provided by British Showjumping Images courtesy of 1st Class Images
Monday, October 23

Renkum Stud daughter aids Rachel Hall's victory after 36 year gap

Rachel Hall makes a winning return to HOYS 36 years after her last victory to take the NAF Five Star Bronze League title Rachel Hall (nee Edmunds) last made an appearance at Horse of the Year Show – then at Wembley arena – in 1987 when she won the Pony Foxhunter title on her coloured pony Arapaho.  This year, she bested her 13 rivals to land the NAF Five Star Bronze League Final on Renkum Balousina. “It’s the most amazing experience to ride through those curtains into the arena, it’s what it’s all about, everyone wants to ride at HOYS, but to go in and do well is beyond dreams,” said Rachel, who is based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire. Rachel took a 20-year break from competing when family life and two daughters took over, but started riding and competing again when her elder daughter went to University and Balousina was left at home. “We didn’t want to sell her, she has such a lovely personality, she’s more like a dog,” said Rachel. Five of the 14 competitors cleanly negotiated the 12-fence 1.10m course to make their way into the jump-off with Jassy Pyke setting a competitive target in the opening round on Bon Amego. Two horses later, Rachel found slightly tighter lines and risked taking out a stride with a gallop to the last to seize the title by 0.35 seconds.  “I tried to keep steady to get the turns in and took a flyer to the last,” said Rachel. The Baloubet Junior Z x Lauriston 9-year-old mare – British-bred at Renkum Stud – was purchased as a just broken 4-year-old from friend Margaret Tyers of English Bridles and a gift given on their qualification may well be considered as ‘lucky tack’. “Margaret was so excited we qualified for HOYS she gave me a bridle, girth and stirrup leathers,” said Rachel, who endured a heart-stopping moment before Balousina had gone through the start in round one. “She is quite spooky, even hacking, and spooked at the flowers. I was here early for familiarisation in the arena but there weren’t any flowers out then but once she jumped the first fence, she was fine, going forward and focused.  I’m very pleased, she jumped super.” The Amateur and Veterans Championships at Aintree Equestrian Centre and Racecourse is now the focus.  “I’ve been before but it will be her [Balousina] first visit and I’m really looking forward to it as my younger daughter Ella will be riding there as well, and then Balousina will have a well-deserved break,” said Rachel.   News Kindly provided by British Showjumping Images courtesy of 1st Class Images
Monday, October 23

James Whitakes Secures victory on British Bred son of Argento

James Whitaker secures victory in the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet Grade C Championship with Just Call Me Henry at Horse of the Year Show On the final day of Horse of the Year Show, James Whitaker stepped into the limelight to command victory in the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet Grade C Championship with Just Call Me Henry . “I was lucky as he had a spin round [this arena] in the Foxhunter Final on Thursday to finish fifth, but he was unlucky [with the fastest four faults in the first round],” said James. “He’s a bit of an over-achiever and won a four-star class at Hickstead in the summer.” A field of 22 came forward over the 1.40m course and, with several hard luck four fault stories amongst them, only five returned clear rounds to go forward into the jump-off. James proved economical all the way to take a handsome 1.81 second win on the British-bred 8-year-old by his uncle John Whitaker’s former top ride Argento, out of a Kannan mare and bred by Murray McLeish and Steve Fag. “He’s naturally fast, if you looked at the time of my first round, he’ll be one of the quickest, so I knew if I kept the jumps up, he wouldn’t be far away,” said James. “I don’t want to jinx anything, but he finds it all effortless and wins at almost every show he goes to. I need to keep him and hope someone doesn’t come along and wants to buy him.” Aintree Winter Classic this coming week is now on the schedule. “This Grade C Final was my plan, now I’ve got to make a new one!” News Kindly provided by British Showjumping Images courtesy of 1st Class Images
Monday, October 23

British-bred winners at Horse of the Year Show 2023

         Mark Edwards scores a victory double at Horse of the Year Show   Mark Edwards has enjoyed a phenomenal summer season with his horses, most of them bred and produced at home on the family farm in Cowbridge, South Wales, and his success looks to continue as he bagged two major wins at the prestigious Horse of the Year Show at the NEC, Birmingham. Never a slouch against the clock, Mark came out fighting for the win in the first of the three-star international classes, the Grandstand Welcome Stakes, with his father Martyn’s Dillinger NE. “It’s his first three-star show but he jumped here last year in the Foxhunter and Grade C so he has a little experience in that arena, but he went in there and really grew into the occasion,” said Mark. Thirty riders came forward over a course standing at 1.45m with Sienna Charles, daughter of 2012 London Olympic gold medallist Peter, taking an early lead on Chawton before being relegated to an eventual third by Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca.   But third-drawn Mark was determined from the off, slicing into every corner and tight line on the 8-year-old gelding to edge ahead by 0.15 seconds.  However, last to go Joe Whitaker gave Mark a run for his money, flying round on Icaterina to beat the winning time by an incredible two seconds – but the top rail on the penultimate vertical hit the floor to drop Joe down the line. “It was a long class to watch and I’m not a great watcher, I thought I’d probably be second or third when I came out of the ring.  I knew the last couple were the ones to watch in the draw and it wasn’t over until Joe Whitaker jumped but it’s a great start to the week,” said Mark. Mark has produced Dillinger (Diarado x Carismo) from 2020 and his novice days, progressing though the grades to contend the 2022 HOYS Foxhunter and Grade C Finals and winning area trials on the county show circuit in 2023.    “He’s a great horse and the breeders, Ros and Denis Palmer were here watching him today and we really think a lot of him.  I think he’s got a real big future ahead of him and hopefully there’s more to come,” added Mark. Mark was firing on all cylinders to record a second win later in the day, piloting Royale Tale into the top spot of the NAEC Stoneleigh Stakes. “It’s a very strong field this year but she’s so naturally quick and I got in a good rhythm, everything came as I wanted and she tried her heart out,” said Mark. Twenty-five competitors, including Tokyo Olympians Scott Brash and Harry Charles, contended the fiercely competitive three-star 1.45m speed but the British proved the fiercest of the lot, filling the top five places. Nonetheless, on-form speed king Mark, built on his first win to hit the turbo button and, with the pedal to the metal, took the tightest of lines to win with more than three seconds to spare on the equally enthusiastic Royale Tale. This 8-year-old, winner of the Newcomers and Grade C Finals at Horse of the Year Show in 2022, was bred by Sean and Charlene Daly and is sired by Mark’s home-bred former top ride Montreuxs Tale and out of a Cavalier Royale mare.  Mark and his father Martyn spotted her potential early on, secured her purchase and have produced her from the beginning from a 4-year-old. “This is her third win here, she won two national classes last year and has stepped up to the international stage.  She’s a great mare and she wants to win as much as I do,” said Mark.   Kindly Supplied by British Showjumping Images supplied by 1st Class Images
Friday, August 4

Virtual Futurity Open for Entries

NEW ENTRY DEADLINE 22 AUGUST 3PM! We are very pleased to announce that entries are open for our popular Virtual Futurity Series! How does it work? 1. Prepare Your Videos You need to submit 2 videos for your virtual futurity entry: 1. Veterinary Evaluation 2. Frame and Movement The footage you need to provide varies depending on the age of your entry, to see a full list of what is required, with example videos and useful checklists you can print off and take with you as you do the videos, go to:  https://british-breeding.com/futurity/futurity-virtual-evaluations/how-to-prepare-your-futurity-videos 2. Complete Your Entry To make your entry, go to our Event page on Horse Monkey: https://horsemonkey.com/equestrian_event/49061/British+Breeding+Virtual+Futurity Entries are now open until 22nd August! 3. Send Us Your Videos There are 3 ways for you to send us your videos.  - Upload them to Youtube - Upload them to Vimeo - Send us a wetransfer to  sportteam@britishshowjumping.co.uk 4. Video Checking Our Team then need to check your videos, so please make sure we have them all as soon as you have completed your entry, and absolutely no later than 18th August. If there is anything missing, we will contact you. To create a good video, remember a few tips: - film with the sun behind you - hold the phone in landscape when filming movement and conformation from the side - make sure you send everything we need 5. Evaluation Our teams will then work together to evaluate the entries. This process is scheduled to finish by the middle of September. 6. Feedback We then send you an email with your results and a detailed report from the evaluators. We will also organise a Virtual Futurity Highlights Webinar with some of the best moments from the series.  Any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch: Telephone: 02476698800 Email:  sportteam@britishshowjumping.co.uk
Sunday, July 2

Adrian Speight is on a winning streak with British Bred Millfield Baloney

Adrian Speight is on a winning streak with British Bred  Millfield Baloney   Adrian Speight hit winning form with Judith Whitham’s Millfield Baloney, winning over £10,000 in under a week on the county show circuit at Royal Highland Show and Royal Norfolk. “What a horse, he jumped some great rounds for a 17-year-old but the more he does, the better he is, he’s like a well-oiled wheel,” said Grimsby, North Lincolnshire-based Adrian. The pair clocked up good results at Suffolk County, winning the Welcome Stakes and taking a close second in the International Stairway to collect over £2,000 in prize money, but they hit the jackpot at Royal Highland, winning the £8,000 to the winner Coutts RHS Grand Prix. Twenty-two riders tackled the challenging 1.50m course over 13 fences with five coming through to the jump-off, a confident Adrian taking every tight, inside turn option to win with more than six seconds to spare over nearest rival Carmen Edwards on Happy Valerie. “He did everything, I couldn’t have asked for more,” said Adrian, who has partnered the Balou Du Rouet x Kanudos gelding – bred by Sue Jaggar of Millfield Stud in Settle, North Yorkshire – for five years. Four days later, they added the International Stairway at Royal Norfolk Show and a further £2,500 to their tally.  They supplied the only clear in the first round with the fences standing at 1.50m but were joined in the jump-off by the fastest faulters – carrying their faults from the first round – for a four-horse jump-off, but the pressure was on.  Fellow rider Phillip Miller – on four faults from round one – jumped clear second time out to lead the class. “The ground on the first day was absolutely spot on, the effort that has gone into maintaining the Grand Ring is second to none, it was fantastic, but some overnight rain made the going on the soft side.  Baloney prefers it on the firm side of soft and Phil’s horse jumped a good second round and that adds to the pressure.  I had to keep the pace up in case we had a fence down but it went my way on the day,” said Adrian, who finished 5.72 seconds in front of time as well as producing the only double clear. Baloney may be of an age now, but he keeps Adrian on his toes. “The biggest thing is keeping him focused, he has so much blood and still puts in the occasional spook, even at his age.  We keep him in the same routine and have tried to do a bit less with him, but he thrives on jumping.  Great Yorkshire is next on the bucket list – I’d love to win the Cock o’ The North, we clocked the fastest time but had the last fence down last year,” added Adrian.   Kindly supplied by British Showjumping &  Photo provided by Top Shots Photography  
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