Julia and David Topham Barnes to sponsor the Show Hunter Pony of the Year and Hack of the Year at Horse of the Year Show 2012
Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), "The World's Most Famous Horse Show", is delighted to announce that former breeders Julia and David Topham Barnes will sponsor two of its Championships this year. Continuing their sponsorship of the Hack of the Year for the fourth year running, they will also sponsor the Show Hunter Pony of the Year for the first time. Both Championships will take place in the Andrews Bowen International Arena at Birmingham's NEC.The top placed ponies in the Topham Barnes 122cm, 133cm, 143cm and 153cm Show Hunter Pony of the Year sections will all go forward to contest the esteemed title of Topham Barnes Show Hunter Pony of the Year in a nail biting final on Saturday 6th October. The ponies competing for this prestigious title should ideally be scaled down hunters while still maintaining pony characteristics. They should have more bone and substance than a show pony, but, like them, have excellent conformation and presence.
For the past three years, it has been the winner of the smallest section, the Topham Barnes 122cm Show Hunter Pony of the Year, who has successfully fought off the competition to take the title: Mrs Shirley Dennison's Crystal Vision ridden by Harriet Dennison in 2011, Mrs Samantha Darlington's Wortley Celebration in 2010 and Mrs Debbie Thomas' Greylands Maid in the Dark in 2009.
The Topham Barnes Hack of the Year Championship brings together the winners of The Stennett Family Large Hack of the Year and the Small Hack of the Year in the Andrews Bowen International Arena on Thursday 4th October.
Having bred a small selection of horses and ponies at their stud near Epsom, the majority of Julia and David Topham Barnes' stock has had great success winning at many County shows and at Horse of the Year Show.
Julia, now retired from breeding, commented: "Although our prime interest was in breeding and showing Hacks and Show Ponies, we have always had a great admiration for the qualities of the Show Hunter Pony and we try to watch these classes whenever possible. Last year at HOYS we noticed that the Show Hunter Pony section was without a regular sponsor, so having so much enjoyed sponsoring the Hack Championship for the last three years, we are thrilled to be able to include these classes for 2012."
Helena Pettit from Grandstand Media Ltd added: "We're delighted to have Julia and David Topham Barnes sponsoring two of the most prominent classes at HOYS. The Show Hunter Pony of the Year is considered one of the most famous children's classes at HOYS, while the Hack of the Year was one of the original classes first run in 1949. Their connection with, and passion for, showing aligns perfectly with these classes".
The 2012 Horse of the Year Show promises to be another exceptional not-to-be missed event! It will host the finals of the most highly regarded national showing and show jumping championships, alongside an exciting line-up of equestrian entertainment, including an exclusive new display to be announced soon, the Equimax Pony Club Mounted Games for the Prince Philip Cup, Osborne Refrigerators Scurry Racing, a Dressage Demo with Richard Davison and a Show Jumping lecture demonstration with Tim Stockdale. The popular Think Like a Pony Interactive Feature Area will make a welcome return, and of course the famous HOYS Retail Village, featuring hundreds of trade stands, will be on site to tempt every taste! Visitors are advised to book their tickets early to avoid disappointment.
For show information, including the full show timetable and timings, and to book, visit http://www.hoys.co.uk or call 0844 581 8282.
