'I've thought about winning for years'

A first HOYS title comes after 10 years of trying, one rider steps in for her injured sister and multimillion pound offers flood in for the seven-year-old champion

ALLANA CLUTTERBUCK won her first HOYS title after 10 years of trying – the Redpost Equestrian Foxhunter championship with Dirk IV.

Allana, who has been competing at HOYS since she was 12, and Michael Bates’ 10-year-old pulled out all the stops to win by one second.

“I’ve thought about winning for years, and what I’d say if it happened, and now there are no words,” said Allana, who was deceptively fast with the Nectar De Roches gelding.

A ground-covering stride and forward riding put them on the attack from the start.

“I knew I had to be really fast,” she said. “I just kept pushing. I don’t think I’ve ever ridden a horse like this; whatever you ask, he’s on it. Michael called about 10 months ago to ask if I wanted to ride him, and I’m so glad he did. He’s got so much jump, he’s so careful, and he’s got the temperament – all the attributes to go all the way.”

James Whitaker is hoping the phone stays quiet, with no offers to buy the super Just Call Me Henry, with whom he won the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet grade C championship.

James and father Ian’s eight-year-old, by his uncle John’s Argento, held their lead from second draw to win ahead of Alex Barr and Talkabout Me.

Their round appeared effortless, the smart bay finishing as if he could have gone round again.

“He’s naturally fast. I knew if we kept them up, we wouldn’t be far off,” James said. “He’s outdone himself this year. He won a Hickstead four-star and here – he wins at nearly every show he goes to.”