Hat Trick for Ellen at HOYS as she's crowned Show Jumper of the Year

 

What a superb show for Ellen Whitaker from Barnsley, South Yorkshire HOYS has been. Not only did she win the Puissance and Speed Horse of The Year titles but this evening, was also crowned HOYS Leading Show Jumper of the Year with her father and Dawn Makin’s impressive chestnut gelding Equimax Occolado.
 

Producing the only double clear of the competition across a track which not only included three Doubles and a Triple Bar of 1.60m in height and 1.90m in width, but also Verticals and Oxers that really tested competitors  the maximum.
 

With an atmosphere that starting building up from the outset, it was absolutely electric by the end of the evening. Adored by the crowds, when Ellen produced the only double clear of the competition they were on their feet cheering, whistling and waving flags in their appreciation showing their support of what many described as a ‘fairytale ending’ to the show.
 

 As fourth rider in the six horse jump off, and knowing that each of the riders before her were carrying faults she took the calculated decision of going for a steady clear. Producing exactly this, a clear round that was absolutely foot perfect she then sat outside watching the two riders following her have fences down. 

Unable to keep back the emotion Ellen was almost inseparable from Equimax Occolado,  a horse she has now been competing for almost a year as she said  “I just can’t believe it. I’ve always wanted to win this – it’s really been an amazing week for me. I haven’t had the best year and to come and win this just means so much, I really can’t explain it”.   
 

Making it a Great Britain 1-2-3, it was Ben Maher who took second place on his own and Quainton Stud’s eye-catching grey Wonder Boy III. Having had an unfortunate four faults in the first round he was invited into the Jump Off as the fastest four faulter. Carrying his faults forward he set an incredible pace as pathfinder in the Jump Off producing a incredibly stylish clear in a very fast time of 46.23seconds.   Third place was taken by Beverley  Widdowson’s impressive eight year old grey gelding Carlo who although finishing in a faster time accrued an unlucky four faults.
 

Results:
1.  Ellen Whitaker / Equimax Occolado   (0/0 – 53.69seconds)
2.  Wonder Boy III / Ben Maher (4/0 46.23 seconds)
3.  Carlo / Nick Skelton (0/4 52.68 seconds)