It is one of the most sought-after accolades, and last week we showed you the 22 animals vying to be crowned the Cuddy in-hand supreme champion.
This evening (5 October), Moelgarnedd Stadros stood top of a stellar final line-up at Horse of the Year Show.
The six-year-old Welsh section B stallion (above) is owned by Gareth Williams and produced by Colin Tibbey.
Standing reserve supreme was the horse winner, Martin Wood’s Ballycreen Rainbow Magic, beautifully presented by Simon Charlesworth.
Martin and Simon were the defending champions after taking the title here last year with Romanno Royale, following Rendene Royal Charm’s success in 2014.
Reserve in-hand horse was Charles Upham’s Chantry Clover Girl, while the Shetland Sharptor Trinity stood reserve pony for David Hodge and Julian Walters.
There were 22 finalists, including an amateur husband and wife duo and several owners qualifying animals for the first time. Scroll down to see the full line up and find out where they collected their HOYS tickets.
1. Native Star
Sarah Milnes’ home-produced three-year-old collected her ticket at the BSHA National Champs (9-11 Sept), handled by Kerry Jagger.
2. Cockney Ruby
Simon Charlesworth presented this three-year-old by Rendene Royal Charm for Martin Wood at Bucks County (1 September).
3. Miss Velvet Brown
This three-year-old lifted the Cuddy qualifier for owner Rosemary Penn at the Sport Horse (GB) national hunter championships (20-21 August). Miss Velvet Brown is by Aveia and was bred by Ann Bassett.
4. Sharptor Trinity
This nine-year-old Shetland mare was pulled forward from 13 entries at Pembrokeshire County (16-18 August). She is owned by David Hodge and Julian Walters, who are based in Okehampton, Devon.
5. Tiger Attack
Billy and Joanne Moran’s home-bred four-year-old topped a 19-strong class at the NPS Summer Championships (2-4 August).
6. Colbeach Duet
A former winner under saddle at HOYS and the Royal International, Jerome Harforth’s eight-year-old picked up her Cuddy ticket at the Scottish Horse Show (19 July). The mare was shown with her first foal at foot — a filly by Turberry Top Cat.
7. Ballycreen Rainbow Magic
This is the second qualified horse owned by Martin Wood. The three-year-old by Kings Master is produced by Steve Pitt and stood top of 18 entries at TSR Summer Gala (16-17 July).
8. Idyllic Perdita
Allister Hood judged the Cuddy qualifier at Great Yorkshire Show (12-14 July), where his choice was this nine-year-old home-bred of Mark and Liz Kilbey. The welsh section A, shown with her colt foal at foot, is the first Cuddy finalist for the Kilbeys in nine years.
9. Berkeley Square
This Irish-bred grey shown with her Wish Upon A Star foal at foot is owned by Michael Cooke and Tony Reynolds. She collected her ticket at Kent County (8-10 July) and this is the first horse that Michael and Tony have qualified for the final.
10. Paddock Rio
Lynn Wilson’s six-year-old Welsh section B stallion topped the Cuddy qualifier at Royal Norfolk (29-30 June).
11. Kellythorpes Notorious
Lisha Leeman’s colt by Kilvington Scoundrel qualified at Royal Highland (23-26 June). The yearling is produced by Jerome Harforth and was shown by James Crockford.
12. Moelgarnedd Stadros
Producer Colin Tibbey led this Welsh section B to victory at Royal Cheshire (21-22 June). The six-year-old by Hilin Carnedd out of Weston Park Musk Rose is owned by Gareth Williams and has been used at stud for the last two seasons.
13. Valeur Dancing Fairy Lustre
This 15-year-old section B broodmare collected a first in-hand ticket for Paul and Julie Landon at Royal Welsh (18-21 June).
14. Moorcroft Master Tom
Carl Hester had 15 forward at Royal Three Counties (17-19 June), and he awarded the ticket to this Welsh section C stallion. The six-year-old is owned by Dafydd and Sian Morris, and was shown by Dafydd.
15. Fouroaks Coco Chanel
It poured with rain during the Cuddy qualifier at Derbyshire Festival (11-12 June), but this Welsh section A still dazzled to collect the ticket for owner/handler Sarah Tibbey. Coco Chanel, by Gwynrosyn Frenin out of Fouroaks Carmela, was given to Sarah by breeder John Lowe as a surprise Christmas present.
16. Chantry Clover Girl
This 12-year-old will be making her fourth appearance in the final at HOYS after Henrietta Knight gave her a ticket at Royal Cornwall (9-11 June). Led by Charles Upham, the mare is by Power Blade and out of Paris Clover.
17. Raritat
Jane Townshend’s sport horse has showjumped to 1.20m level in the Netherlands, and collected her Cuddy ticket at South of England (9-11 June). The mare was shown by Alex Kelly with her seven-week-old Timolin foal at foot.
18. Castle Emperor
Vanessa Clark’s Connemara stallion headed the Cuddy line-up at Midland Counties (4-5 June). Vanessa produces the five-year-old herself and he meets handler Jack Cochrane at shows.
19. Shildon’s Excalibur
Bath & West (1-4 June) was this three-year-old’s second-ever outing for owner/breeder Vicki Rudd, and he duly earned a Cuddy ticket. The Welsh part-bred by Rotherwood Peeping Tom, led by Mark Reeves, was chosen from a line-up of 24.
20. Ysselvliedts Highwood
This Dutch-bred Welsh section A is home-produced by amateur husband and wife team Nicky and Tony McGuire. Nicky works at an animal feed store and Tony, who led the eight-year-old stallion at Devon County (19-21 May), is a gardener.
Continued below…
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21. Colne Tigerbay
Ann Overton-Ablitt’s home-bred section A stallion qualified at Nottingham County (14-15 May). Handled by his producer Sam Morsley, the three-year-old is by Nantdywyll Telor and out of Colne Tiara.
22. Brookvale Mr Tom
The first Cuddy ticket up for grabs in the Emerald Isle — at the Northern Ireland Festival (22-24 April) — went to this six-year-old by Mynach Arion. Owned by Connor McCormick, the home-bred stallion was led by Connor’s son, Charlie.
Don’t miss the full HOYS report in the 13 October issue of Horse & Hound.
