Young Gill follows in family footsteps

For Gill, the success was particularly poignant given that he was following in the footsteps of his grandfather and uncle.

Gill, 15, won the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers’ National Showjumping Championship by partnering Wildwood Silver, a seven-year-old grey gelding, owned by Lynn Barker.

The victory was a case of following family traditions with the teenager’s grandfather, David Boston Barker, and uncle, Paul Barker, having also previously gained a Horse of the Year Show win.

In Friday’s event, Gill and Wildwood Silver produced one of just four double clears. His time of 43.81 seconds was enough to beat off the 25 other combinations in the Championship.

“It’s fantastic to win here,” said Gill. “I’ll be trying to win with him again in the Squibb Group Pony Foxhunter Championship.”

Also celebrating at HOYS was Wetherby’s Howley, who was crowned 2013 Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C National Showjumping champion.

Howley, 21, beat off 21 other combinations to win Sunday’s event on board seven-year-old bay gelding Benedictus, owned by Ann Solis.

Drawn last to go in the jump-off, Howley and Benedictus produced a rhythmical and immaculate double clear to snatch the win from Jude Burgess and Fleur IV.

Howley stopped the clock on 35.82 seconds.

The victory capped a memorable HOYS for the Yorkshireman who, in total, scooped three top- three placings.

Howley hopes that this year’s success is only just the beginning.

“It’s great to win this Championship and I am hoping to compete here in International classes in the future,” said Howley, who has recovered from breaking his back earlier this year.

Howley and Benedictus made it to the Championship Final in the Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C qualifier that was held at Bramham International Horse Trials back in June.

Howley and Benedictus finished there in joint first place.

In the main showjumping event, Irish Olympian Billy Twomey won the Horse of the Year Show’s headline class in stylish fashion. Twomey and the vastly-experienced Tinka’s Serenade dominated the Leading Showjumper of the Year competition, sealing a six-horse jump-off by more than five seconds from countryman and 
London 2012 individual bronze medallist Cian O’Connor.

German Daniel Deusser, meanwhile, claimed a thrilling victory in the penultimate international class. Deusser landed the Vinopolis Speed Horse of the Year title and a winner’s purse of just under £3,500 by edging out Britain’s Guy Williams.