Izzy Taylor proved that Barrington Boy is one of the most exciting young event horses in Britain by winning the WL Straughan & Sons CCI3*-S at Alnwick Ford International Horse Trials on Johnny Hornby’s seven-year-old gelding.
The 2024 British Eventing national six-year-old champions were fourth after dressage on a score of 26.9 in this highly competitive class, and added nothing to that in the showjumping or cross-country phases.
This is the Sligo Candy Boy-sired Barrington Boy’s fifth success of the 2025 season.
Izzy said: “Barrington Boy is an exceptionally talented horse and I am delighted with his win today, especially for his owner Johnny Hornby, who is a massive supporter of mine. It was well worth the long drive up to Alnwick Ford!
“The ground conditions were incredible, especially given the current weather conditions, and the cross-country courses, designed by David Evans, were great – really flowing – and really good for the young horses learning their trade.”
Second, on a finishing score of 28.4, was Sweden’s Therese Viklund, riding Sella, while local rider Katie Magee took third on 29.4 with Cushlas Indigo.
Oxfordshire-based Izzy, a regular visitor to this popular Northumbrian event, also won the Houghton Country Open Intermediate section on another Johnny Hornby-owned horse, Barrington Shadow.
Seventeen-year-old Jago Jackson scored his first international victory in the NIS Group Ltd and Encon Technical Services CCI2*-S with his own Cooley Top Boy. The pair completed on their dressage mark of 29.4.
Jago found the Ramiro B seven-year-old at Richard Sheane’s Cooley Farm as a just-backed four-year-old, and has produced Cooley Top Boy himself.
“He’s the coolest character,” said Jago. “He used to be a bit anxious at events, but the past few times he’s got quite cocky – he thinks he knows everything now! He’s a big, flashy horse and he’s taken time to grow into himself and find his jump and his confidence across country.
“He’s been perfect this week. I think he could be a pure showjumper – he’s awesome and gives everything a foot – and he came out oozing with confidence on the cross-country; so on his line, and took me round with ease. I couldn’t fault him.”
It was a first trip to Alnwick Ford for Jago, who is undertaking an equine apprenticeship with rider and coach Kylie Roddy.
“It’s a beautifully run event and the ground couldn’t have been any better. Because we were third in the CCI2*-S at Belsay last month and won here, it means that we have a real chance of winning some money in the Northumberland Challenge [the big-money series which unites the three Northumbrian events of Belsay, Alnwick Ford and Burgham at CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S and BE100 level with a total potential prize-pot of £65,000], so we will definitely be making the trip back up north for Burgham at the end of July.
“When I was told about the Northumberland Challenge, I was amazed – this is not an easy sport in which to win money, and this is a real chance for eventers to strive for big rewards.”
Jago is hoping to be named on Britain’s team for the Junior European Championships, for which the final trial is at Burgham (24-27 July), and will be bringing his long-listed horse Barrington Highlight K as well as Cooley Top Boy.
Second to Jago was Melissa Joannides on Graf Leopold, with Michael Jackson third on Oscar, the 2023 and 2024 Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse champion as both a four- and five-year-old.
Intermediate sections, sponsored by Voltaire Design and Acousteel, went to Katie Magee on Newton and Jennifer Stead with DSH Luckey Town.
Alnwick Ford International Horse Trials continues on Saturday and Sunday with a full range of British Eventing classes from Novice to BE80, and Pony Club area competitions.
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