Heronsmill Tiger Lily - a pony that has been bred and produced for the show ring all within a five-mile radius of Tenby had a very successful trip to the 2019 Horse of The Year Show at the NEC.

‘Lily’, as she is known by at home, was bred and is owned by Sally McMillan (a solicitor), of Begelly, has been produced by Sarah Baker, of Copybush Stud Farm, St. Florence. And has been shown this year by Matt McGivern (practice manager of Tenby Surgery), of Manorbier.

Earlier this year, Lily was entered for one of the Riding Pony Breeding classes at the Royal Welsh Show. Lily and Matt won their class, then won overall champion riding pony and from there went on to take overall Supreme In-hand Horse Championship at the Royal Welsh Show 2019 out of another 1,400 equines entered at the show - this booked their placed in The Mr & Mrs Cuddy In-hand Supreme Championship at HOYS.

The prestigious Cuddy Supreme In-Hand Championship has an extensive qualification route. Horses and ponies have to not only win their class, but go overall in-hand champion of the respective show in order to qualify. Only one equine per show qualifies.

There are 22 qualifying shows throughout the UK and Ireland. Thus meaning the top 22 equines battle it out in the final at the Horse of The Year Show every October.

The small team all from the Tenby area set off to the NEC happy to be taking part. Heronsmill Tiger Lily put her best hoof forward to win the Overall Supreme Cuddy In-Hand Championship in the Genting Arena of the NEC on Friday evening - an accolade that her Uncle Copybush Catchphrase and Sarah Baker (then Jewson) also achieved (and was the last pony from Pembrokeshire to do so) back in 1994.

Twenty-five years later, Lily wore the very same rug that her uncle ‘Fraser’ won at the show a quarter of a century ago.

“We hoped that would be a good luck charm and history would repeat itself, which it most certainly did!” said Matthew.