HOYS organiser praises local champion
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The owner of Grandstand Media, the company that runs the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), was delighted to see a Caithness-owned pony taking the supreme title.
Saying that the win caused a "bit of excitement", Sandy Anderson – originally from Caithness himself – said: "I am always delighted to see something good come out of Caithness. It was great for the owners and nice to go that far north.
"It is some achievement – this is the best of the best."
Coco Bongo, owned by Will Calder, of Scrabster Seafoods Ltd, made history at HOYS this month when it became the first working hunter pony to win the supreme award on the final night of the show.
The Grandstand Media chairman, who lives near Nottingham, said: "I saw the pony myself – it is a really nice pony. It's a real worker that does its job.
"From our point of view as a promoter it was great – it shows that anyone can come and win at HOYS. It is always nice to see an amateur win."
Commenting on the number of competitors taking part from the county this year, Mr Anderson said: "It is lovely to see them come down."
With most of the Scottish HOYS qualifying competitions now held in the central belt, he added: "We just wish there were a few more shows with the depth of quality for more qualifiers to be held in Scotland."
Formerly from Watten, where his parents used to run the village post office, Mr Anderson (64) breeds Welsh ponies and is always delighted to send one back to Caithness. His uncle was the late Sandy Anderson, a well-known blacksmith in the county for many years.
When he heard the announcement that Mr Calder's pony had won he radioed straight back to the event office. He was also quickly in touch with his mother Janet (Nettie) Anderson, who lives in Watten, to tell her about the Caithness win.
He said: "She was fair chuffed."
Busy tidying up after the show on Sunday, Mr Anderson was disappointed that he was unable to congratulate Will Calder at the time but has since sent a message.
During the show he did meet other local exhibitors James Munro and Russell Skelton of Team Skelton, who produced Coco Bongo and train 11-year-old Jessica Calder at their base at Dale Farm, Halkirk.
"It has been a combined effort," Mr Anderson said. "You are very lucky to have James Munro up there – he is riding with the top professionals and two years ago he judged for us. We were very pleased with the job he did."
The 10-year-old grey mare, known by its stable name Bluebell, was ridden at HOYS by Chloe Lemieux.
They won the 133cm National Pony Society Snuggy Hoods on the Friday of the show, then went on to take the championship before being crowned the Ruckleigh School Supreme Pony of the Year 2019 on the Sunday evening.
Chloe has been riding the pony in open workers this season, while Mr Calder's daughter Jessica has partnered Bluebell successfully in the nursery classes.
Coco Bongo's major achievement was celebrated in last week's Horse & Hound – the UK's longest-running weekly equestrian magazine – with a front page picture.
Mr Calder said: "Being on the front cover of Horse & Hound was amazing, the stuff of dreams, although one non-horsey friend didn't realise the Horse & Hound was real – they thought it was something that was made up for the film Notting Hill!
"We've been amazed at the good wishes from all over the country and further afield. It's a great thing for Caithness equestrian, putting us on the map."
The supreme pony is now safely home and is enjoying a well-earned break after her amazing achievement and long journey to the NEC in Birmingham.
