Georgia Allison & Sandow Jacob winners of the NRM Open High Points Show Hunter Series Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Jaimee Whittaker

 

Georgia Allison’s season just got a whole lot better. The show hunter star is the winner of the 2025 Lowry Medallion as the rider with most points at the Defender Horse of the year Show.

She competed at HOY aboard 16-year-old Carabawn Comet, who is owned by Rachel O’Brien, and her own horse, eight-year-old Sandow Jacob.

She’s the first to admit the Lowry Medallion was news to her but on learning that it encompassed such a variety of disciplines she was rapt.

“There are some incredibly talented riders at HOY and to win shows the consistency of both boys over the week. That’s pretty awesome,” says Georgia.

Georgia finished seven points clear of runner-up Vanessa Way, a two-time winner of the Lowry Medallion. “I am chuffed to have won.”

HOY is a happy hunting ground for the Oxford university student who with Carabawn Comet won the Amateur Rider of the Year, secured the Open High Points with Sandow Jacob and took out the Adult Equitation series with contributions from both horses. She also picked up numerous wins and placings over the week long show.

Georgia narrowly missed out taking the Amateur High Points Series by a single point.

Despite all the accolades, Georgia says her biggest highlight of the year was getting both her “boys” to HOY. Both were on debut at the show, making it all the more special.

“It is the first season I have managed to win the open series, so that was exciting, and our first Amateur of the Year title too.”

She’s no stranger to winning plenty of both in previous years and this year topped out the adult equitation with a perfect score.

“I was pretty ecstatic about that. I just love the equitation classes and I don’t think we have been beaten in equitation all season, so that was cool,” she said. “It’s a great class because you don’t have to have the best horse to win, you just have to ride it well. It makes you think as a rider and changes it up for the horses. It is a test of it all put into practice at the same time.”

She was hugely grateful for the support of her mum Bridget, who co-owns Jacob with her and is her “number one groom and supporter”.

“Jacob has her wrapped around his little finger,” she said.

The medallion, which is decided across all ESNZ disciplines at the show, was donated by Mr JN Lowry and has been won nine times by Merran Hain. Last year it was dressage queen Wendi Williamson who won the prestigious award.

 

Diana Dobson

20 March 2025