Allana Clutterbuck takes her first HOYS win in the prestigious Redpost Equestrian Foxhunter Final
Thursday 05 October 2023
.jpg "Allana Clutterbuck takes her first HOYS win in the prestigious Redpost Equestrian Foxhunter Final")
Allana Clutterbuck etched her name onto the historic list of champions in the HOYS Redpost Equestrian Foxhunter Championship with a thrilling victory on British Showjumping’s president Michael Bates’ home-bred Dirk IV.
The HOYS Foxhunter Final has long been the novice championship every rider wants to win with famous names and showjumping heroes Harvey Smith, David Broome and John and Michael Whitaker, Nick Skelton and Scott Brash all on the champions’ list that stretches back to 1954.
Frustratingly, a Horse of the Year Show win has always eluded Allana in the 10 years she has competed her since the age of 12, although she has been second several times.
“I’ve been second five or six times, to finally win here is an amazing feeling and I’m eternally grateful to Michael for allowing me to ride him,” said Allana, who now joins this illustrious roll of honour.
Twenty-two riders initially bid to take the 2023 title over a technical course of 1.45m fences and, amongst several hard-luck stories, only four conjured up all the right answers to access the jump-off. With all four horses supplying foot-perfect clears second time out, it was all about the clock.
Rebecca Marsh posted a competitive target in her opening round on the 12-year-old Stevie G but was immediately bettered by Hollie Pearce with the big-jumping Ublesco 9-year-old James O Hara H by half a second. James Wilson made his bid on the 7-year-old Vagabond De La Pomme daughter Vuitton of Picobello Z but failed to catch either of them. It was down to Allana in the final draw to decide on the result.
“I didn’t see anyone else’s round but caught the tail end of the rider before me,” said Allana. “I thought he was quick and he went into third – I knew I had to go fast!”
Hollie looked hard to beat but that didn’t deter Allana and she set off with determination and grit on the 10-year-old Dirk. The atmosphere rose to fever pitch as she progressed, verbally encouraged by the excited crowd as she quickened the pace, and the shouts became a roar as she made the final turn across the penultimate oxer and risked a gallop to the last, securing the win by 0.97 seconds.
“I stuck to the route we’d discussed beforehand and it seemed to come off. When I turned up to the water tray there was a forward stride and everywhere following was on a forward shot. I knew I’d be quicker and just kept kicking to the last, saw the stride and he’s such a good horse [he jumped it].
Allana started riding the Nectar Des Roches x Heartbreaker gelding in February, winning the Under 25 Grand Prix at Pony of the Year Show and qualifying for the HOYS Foxhunter Final just two months later. But this marked their biggest win to date, emulating her hero John Whitaker’s win back in 1981 on Hopscotch, who went on to international success.
Does Dirk have the same attributes?
“I think he can go all the way,” said Allana, with conviction. “He’s got so much jump, he’s so careful, he’s built right, he’s got everything, his nature, temperament, the lot.”
HOYS, NEC, Birmingham – Thursday, 5 October 2023
Redpost Equestrian Foxhunter Championship
1st Allana Clutterbuck & Dirk IV – 0/0 - 36.40 seconds
2nd Hollie Pearce & James O’Hara H – 0/0 - 37.37 seconds
3rd Rebecca Marsh & Stevie G – 0/0 - 37.82 seconds
4th James Wilson & Vuitton of Picobello Z – 0.0 - 38.96 seconds
Image: 1st class Images
