John Whitaker wins Cock o’ North trophy 36 years after first victory

THE Great Yorkshire Show’s main show-jumping contest, the Cock o’ the North Championship, turned out to be a family affair for the sport’s famous Yorkshire-based dynasty of the Whitakers.

In a tense final jump-off yesterday, father John and son Robert were pitted against each other - and it was John who took the title.

“He thinks he’s the Cock o’ the North, but I am,” said a delighted John Whitaker as he came out of the arena on Peppermill. But he added: “It’s as good for me if Robert wins as myself.”

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The crowd gave John Whitaker a standing ovation as he took his victory lap of honour, 36 years after he first won this competition riding Ryan’s Son. Robert, who had four faults at the last fence in the final jump-off, was nevertheless pleased with the way his horse, Catwalk, had performed.

Robert has been riding the eight-year-old, owned by his mother Claire and Mandy Hall for a year, and said: “These shows are making him into a top horse.”

The final top eight in the tough competition included two other members of Huddersfield’s Whitaker family.

John’s daughter, Louise, came seventh riding Dazzle and cousin Joe Clayton did exceptionally well to come third, riding his uncle Michael’s horse, Mr Darcy.

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A total of 31 riders competed for the prestigious Ripon Select Foods Cock o’ the North Championship, but a demanding course meant that only five went through to the final jump-off.

Along with John, Robert and Joe, the others to go clear were Tim Davies riding Salome 11 and Will Funnell with Billy Angelo who were placed fourth and fifth respectively.

It is not often that the crowd at the Great Yorkshire Show rises to its feet – or that John Whitaker is seen with such a big smile on his face – but both happened yesterday afternoon. He took home the lion’s share of the prize money of £8,000 and the Cock o’ the North trophy, and Robert was not far behind with prize money of £5,550.

A stunning gallop in front of the grandstand in the main ring proved to be a winner for the cob Hallmark X1 and his rider Simon Reynolds. The horse took the Top Spec Supreme Ridden Championship for the second year running in front of an appreciative crowd.

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Hallmark X1 won the inaugural championship last year ridden by Jack Cochrane when he was owned by Rosemary Hetherington from Middleham. Now owned by Heather Boden from Astley, Lancashire, Hallmark won both the Irish Draught and Maxi Cob classes at the show and has won three Horse of the Year Show qualifiers.

Doncaster-born Simon Reynolds, now based near Atherstone in Leicestershire, took his hat off to the crowd and decided to go for the gallop, knowing he was up against some strong competition.

“Yorkshire people love to see a good gallop down that ring and we got the crowd with us,” said Mr Reynolds.

The reserve went to Jayne Webber riding the champion riding horse, Comberton Clancy, owned by Carol Bardo and Jackie Beatham.

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The Cuddy Supreme In Hand Championship went to a Welsh Section B pony, Boreton White Prince, owned by Ann and Len Bigley from Herefordshire and shown by their daughter, Catryn. They also had a Welsh Section D cob in the Cuddy final, Llanarth Prince of Wales.

“It was definitely worth the five-hour trip to get here,” said Miss Bigley, who thought the judge Richard Ramsay might have favoured a big horse as winner rather than a native pony.

“But he told us Prince was a fantastic showman and he does love a crowd,” added Miss Bigley.

The grey stallion has been owned by the Bigleys for two years and was bought to run out with their mares.

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He has been entered for only three shows this year, including the Great Yorkshire and has been champion at all of them. Now he will go on to compete at the Cuddy Supreme Championship at the Horse of the Year Show.

The reserve champion was the brood mare Euphoria 11, owned by Charles Upham from Devon.