Day five of HOYS was a thriller with three of the most popular classes being contested in the international arena - The Sky Sports Trophy, The Accumulator and the hugely popular Puissance. But one well-known rider took a tumble while jumping the famous red wall - read on to find out who it was.
The British Number one Michael Whitaker claimed two of the international classes, one of which - The Accumulator - carried valuable rider world ranking points. In the Accumulator points are awarded for fences jumped clear with the final fence having an optional joker – scoring double points if jumped clear, but knocking off double points if it fell. Riding his own Viking, Michael scored the maximum 65 points available in the quickest time, stealing victory from the Thursday’s double winner Nick Skelton (on Big Star).
Earlier in the day, Michael surprised himself with a win in the Sky Sports Trophy on Nick Ward’s Wild Rose. We caught up with Micheal to find out more about his talented mare and why the win was so unexpected.
The Tagg Puissance provided a thrilling finale to the penultimate day of the 2011 Horse of the Year with two riders sharing the honours after clearing a whopping 2.20m (7ft 3in). After four rounds, only four riders remained in the competition and the infamous big red wall was raised for the final time.
Only Nottinghamshire’s Joe Clayton - with Nick Ward’s Leonardo - and Scotland’s Douglas Duffin, riding Julie McLellend’s Volcano, were able to clear the huge obstacle to share first prize. This was the first time Leonardo, a multiple puissance winner with Joe’s cousin William Whitaker, has won at HOYS.
“It’s only the second time I have ridden him in a puissance,” said Joe. “He felt confident, I didn’t!”
Before tonight, Douglas Duffins ride Volcano had never been in a puissance, although he has been a successful Derby horse.
“I got a wall to practice over at home, but have never jumped him as big as I did tonight,” said Douglas. “He never said no tonight and bust a gut to make sure he cleared the final round.”
Tina Fletcher caused the biggest stir of the night with her involuntary dismount in the fifth round of the Puissance. After bravely taking on the wall, Hello Unique IX was not quite quick enough with his back legs and unseated Tina on landing (see image in our gallery below).
The H&C Team are now even bigger fans of this horse, as after depositing his jockey on the floor, he promptly turned round and went over to make sure she was alright. Clearly Tina and Hello Unique have a very special partnership.
Results
Harry Jo Co. 6 Year Old Championship
1st - Louise Saywell on Quantas II
2nd - Robert Whitaker on Asterix EZ
3rd - Simon Buckley on HFS Valentino
HOYS 128cms Championship
1st - Harry Charles on Murkas Headmore little Lightning
2nd - Joshua Bridge on Grianagh Harley
3rd - Harry Charles on Murkas Mathews Girl
HOYS 138cm Championship
1st - Christine Pritchard on Bear Me In Mind
2nd - Olivia Poole on Oakhurst In The Spotlight
3rd - Zoe Smith on Derreentige Toby
The Sky Sports Trophy
1st - Michael Whitaker on Royal Rose
2nd - Laura Kraut on Belmont
3rd - Jaime Guerra on Hermes
The Accumlator
1st - Michael Whitaker on Viking
2nd - Nick Skelton on Big Star
3rd - Robert Whitaker on Omelli
The Tagg Puissance
1st - Douglas Duffin on Volcano
1st - Joe Clayton on Leonardo
| 5:30pm | Wonder Dogs |
| 6:00pm | Top Marks: Be Brave |
| 6:30pm | Farming Sunday |
| 7:00pm | The Leader Of The Pack |
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