News

Friday, February 7

British Breeding Stallion Event - Programme and Running Order now available

The full programme and the running order for this weekends British Breeding Stallion Event is now available Click here to find out more Don't miss out on the last few hours of being able to purchase your discounted pre-purchase tickets (£15*pp and discounts for multiples *plus booking fee)- available from ticket source until midnight tonight. Then ticket sales £20pp on the door with either card or cash.  

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

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
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