Simon Buckley and Wordsworth rewrite the script at HOYS
Thursday 10 October 2013
The road to glory has been less than smooth for the newly crowned Horse & Hound Senior Foxhunter Championship winners, Simon Buckley and Wordsworth. But the second night of this year’s Horse of the Year Show was theirs after a spectacular performance before an excited crowd.
“He was injured by a canoe trailer while out hacking, and was attacked by a dog while in Vilamoura, so it’s really been an up and down journey,” said Simon, 30, from Windermere. “But it’s all come right now.”
The win was made all the more special because Simon’s girlfriend, Johanna Gate, bred Wordsworth.
Lauren Hough made her first visit to the show since 1999 a lucrative one by taking the Sky Sports Trophy with Ohlala. In doing so, she denied Britain’s Derby heroes Phillip Miller and Caritiar Z the top spot.
“It’s a great show to kick start my indoor season,” said Lauren, who has been based in Britain for the past six months. “And it’s wonderful to be back here.”
France’s Julien Eppaillard made a good start to his campaign at this year’s show claimed the Grandstand VIP Event Management Cup with Mister Davier. The Deauville-based rider is no stranger to winning at “The World’s Most Famous Horse Show” having taking the Vinopolis Speed Horse of the Year title in 2011 with Commissario.
“The crowd and the atmosphere make this show very special,” said Julien.
Greeted to a rapturous applause by the crowd, Olympic gold medallist Nick Skelton also scored a win in theGrandstand Welcome Stakes. His team-mate and World No.1 rider Ben Maher is also competing at the Show this week and the pair are sure to encounter some tough competition from the strong field of both home and foreign riders.
There is plenty still to come during the week at HOYS. National showing and showjumping championships will take place every day alongside world-class international showjumping. There is also the Virbac 3D Worming Pony Club Mounted Games and Osborne Refrigerators Double Harness Scurry to look forward to, as well as the two very special displays: The Musical Drive of The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, presented by Home Farm Hothorpe and the Mulbrooke Stud, and Luma the Lion, the small pony ingeniously disguised as a big cat. Visitors can also enjoy educational and fun activities in the Parelli Interactive Savvy Area located in the famousRetail Village. Sunday’s very special gala evening performance will feature a fantastic finale complete with a performance from Military Wives Choirs and three very special equine guests: Arko III, Beckside Little Toff and Holme Grove Prokofiev.
For show information, including the show timetable, and to book, visit www.hoys.co.uk or call 0844 581 8282.
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 c. ESP Photographic1pfznqbockuzs.jpg "Shane Breen lifts the Chard Equestrian 2* Grand Prix with Scarteen")
.jpg "British Showjumping’s Youth Teams announced for Nations Cup in Linz-Ebelsberg, Austria")
