The international show jumping classes at this year’s Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) are set to be an exhilarating highlight of its 65th running, following the confirmation of the 15 foreign international show jumpers attending.
Among the riders are two Olympic medallists and a former World Champion. They will compete alongside an equally exciting field of British International show jumpers, which includes World Number One Ben Maher.
The foreign international riders due to compete at HOYS, which runs from 9th – 13th October at Birmingham’s NEC, are:
• Constant Van Paesschen (BEL)
• Jos Verlooy (BEL)
• Kara Chad (CAN)
• Daniel Bluman (COL)
• Abdel Said (EGY)
• Julien Epaillard (FRA)
• Daniel Deusser (GER)
• Dermott Lennon (IRL)
• Denis Lynch (IRL)
• Cian O’Connor (IRL)
• Lorenzo De Luca (ITA)
• Aimee Aron (USA)
• Lauren Hough (USA)
• Laura Kraut (USA)
• Alise Oken (USA)
Olympic team gold medallist Laura Kraut has previously enjoyed success in the Andrews Bowen International Arena at HOYS, having taken the 2006 Leading Show Jumper of the Year title with Anthem. She secured her Olympic gold medal with Cedric just two years later at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Cian O’Connor won his Olympic bronze medal a little closer to home, at the London 2012 Olympic Games. He shared the prestigious Puissance title at HOYS in 2006 with current World Number One Ben Maher.
Former world Champion Dermott Lennon secured Ireland's first ever win at the World Championships in 2002. More recently, he took the honours in the Dick Turpin Stakes at last year’s HOYS riding Loughview Lou-Lou.
More of the riders due to compete this year have previously gained titles at HOYS, including Abdel Said who currently holds the Vinopolis Speed Horse of the Year title with Skara Glen's Naiky d'Elca. Julien Eppaillard took this title the year before riding Commissario.
A total of 11 International classes will be held throughout the week with a joint prize fund of £150,500. Four of the classes also carry Longines FEI World Ranking Points.
The classes kick off with the Grandstand Welcome Stakes on Thursday 10th October and conclude with the prestigious Leading Show Jumper of the Year on Sunday 13th October. This class holds the week’s biggest prize fund of £40,000. Other crowd-favourite international classes at HOYS include the Tagg Puissance on Saturday 12th October and the Five Fence Challenge on Friday 11th October.
- See more at: http://hoys.co.uk/
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