Hood awarded for Performance of the Year

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Top show producer Allister Hood has been selected as the first recipient of the Roger Stack Award, given to the person who has produced the outstanding showing performance of the year at Hickstead.

Norfolk-based Hood was given the award after winning the British Horse Society Supreme Horse title at this year’s Longines Royal International Horse Show, with his riding horse Diamonds Are Forever.

Allister not only took the overall Championship but also had two other horses through to this year’s Supreme, with his cob champion Our Cashel Blue finishing in runner-up spot. In October, Allister and Diamonds Are Forever became one of a few select showing combinations to do the RIHS/HOYS supreme double in the same year. In addition, Allister has now won more Hickstead supreme championships than any other rider.

He was presented with the award at Hickstead’s annual Showtime Ball (Saturday 18 November), in front of 200 guests.

“There could be no finer recipient of the inaugural Roger Stack Award than Allister,” said Hickstead Director Lizzie Bunn, who presented Hood with the award on the night. “He has had an outstanding season, and he was a great friend of Roger, in whose honour this award has been created.”

Roger Stack was one of showing’s greatest advocates – a top class rider, producer, trainer and competitor, a former Chairman and President of the British Show Horse Association, and Hickstead’s Director of Showing for 15 years.

Last year’s Showtime Ball marked the last time many people from the showing fraternity saw Roger, who sadly died on Christmas Eve in 2016.

Allister commented: “I was so honoured to receive this award, and really felt quite emotional. Roger is greatly missed by us all and this trophy will take pride of place at Buttons Farm.”

The Showtime Ball gives owners, riders and producers from the showing world the chance to return to Hickstead for an end-of-season party. The Ball also raises funds for improving the showing facilities at the All England Jumping Course, and this year a raffle and fundraising auction raised more than £10,000.

The money will be put towards making further improvements to the new Roger Stack Arena, which was completed ahead of this year’s shows, plus adding extra roadways in the stable field.