The equestrian neighborhood has paid tribute to Allister Hood, “one of many biggest horsemen, showmen and gents”, who was admired by all who knew him.
The Norfolk-based producer and head of the prolific Hood Present Group, died peacefully at dwelling surrounded by his household, on 14 October aged 69, following an extended sickness.
Allister grew up in Yorkshire, and his early days have been spent as a member of the Middleton Hunt department of the Pony Membership Prince Philip Cup group. When he was 15 he joined the nice Ruth McMullen, earlier than working for producer Paul Rackham. It was by way of Paul that Allister met his spouse Anne, and the couple went on to welcome their youngsters Louenna, Ollie, Harry, and Ben.
Allister gained his first Horse of the 12 months Present (HOYS) championship in 1975 with Langton Orchid, and the Hoods went on to provide greater than 75 HOYS winners. Allister’s first Royal Worldwide Horse Present (RIHS) supreme was in 1981 with the hack Brown Buzzard, an accolade Allister would go on to win an outstanding eight extra occasions. In 2017 Allister achieved a uncommon double at Hickstead, securing a supreme one-two with driving horse Diamonds Are Endlessly and cob Our Cashel Blue respectively.
He rode many nice horses over time, however Our Cashel Blue, owned by Woman Caroline Tyrrell till her loss of life, was one Allister described as a “spotlight”. Allister and Blue took the HOYS cob champion and supreme titles in 2016, and cob champion in 2017. In 2018 Blue was recognized with most cancers, and Allister suffered a coronary heart assault, however the pair made a outstanding return to the ring in 2019 to assert the HOYS cob title once more.
In 2021 Allister and Blue gained their second Winston Churchill trophy collectively at RIHS, and it was introduced that the outing was to be the pair’s swansong. In an emotional retirement ceremony Blue’s saddle was eliminated, and a wreath was positioned round his neck – whereas Allister eliminated his purple showman’s jacket. That 12 months Allister obtained the H&H lifetime achievement award, and was named HOYS equestrian of the 12 months.
Realising his desires
“From a small boy Dad dreamed of competing at HOYS, he would inform us how he would use his bedside lamp because the highlight together with his toy horses. He realised his dream numerous occasions, and we all know that the final one was as particular as his first,” the Hood household instructed H&H.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the quantity of messages of help now we have had and want to thank everybody for his or her type phrases. Dad must be happy with the influence he has had on the horse neighborhood, and together with his fellow opponents.”
Lengthy-term buddy and former showman Man Landau has many joyful reminiscences of Allister.
“I may discuss Allister for a really very long time. Most months we’d chat and reminisce concerning the outdated horses and other people,” Man instructed H&H.
“He was the last word showman, and a top-class horseman, in each sense of the phrase. Horses all went how he wished them to go, whether or not they have been hacks, cobs, driving horses and even the odd Arab.
“He had an excellent sense of doing the correct factor and behaving in the correct method. He gained like a gentleman and he misplaced with large grace, whether or not he felt it was proper or not, he behaved in precisely the identical method.”
Man added that Allister “was not solely a top-class horseman, he lived his life with the identical qualities”.
“He was a really respectable man, and he had an exquisite household that he thought the world of. He was tremendously happy with his youngsters,” he stated.
“I shall miss him, he was a correct gentleman, of the very best calibre. I’d like to suppose Allister would name me a buddy, that might be one thing I’d be tremendously happy with.”
A real gentleman
Eventer Pippa Funnell remained pals with Allister, whom she met by way of Ruth McMullen.
“I used to be so very saddened to listen to concerning the tragic information of Allister. I’ve by no means actually been concerned within the exhibiting world however I at all times adopted Allister’s profession, as like me, he learnt his commerce from one of many biggest, Ruth McMullen,” Pippa instructed H&H.
“His achievements within the ring over many, a few years have been fairly outstanding. I’ll bear in mind him so fondly as he at all times discovered time for a catch-up and it was typically when he was at his busiest at a serious present like Windsor, HOYS or Hickstead. The widespread issue between us was Ruth, we each shared the identical affection for her and recognised that she was completely instrumental in each of our careers.
“My coronary heart goes out to his household who I do know he was so very happy with and I’m positive he will probably be trying over them and following the Hood Present Group with that very same delight. Allister you may be significantly missed by many. One of many very biggest showmen, horsemen and a real gentleman.”
RIHS exhibiting director David Ingle described Allister as “essentially the most wonderful man”.
“We’re not going to see the likes of Allister once more, he was a really particular particular person and at all times keen to assist. He was in all probability among the finest showmen there’s ever been. There’s been some nice exhibiting folks, however in a championship Allister was at all times the one to beat,” David instructed H&H.
“He actually knew his stuff, and he was a extremely type human being. He would at all times ring me after the RIHS to say whether or not it was a great present or had any issues. He was superb at supporting you, and he believed in trying ahead, not again.”
David stated Allister had an innate means on a horse.
“He wasn’t a contemporary showman, he was a standard showman, and a horseman at first. He was very into his racing and he had so much to do with getting ready plenty of superb racehorses over time. Displaying is what everyone knows him for, however he was simply the last word horseman,” he stated.
“He may do something with something, and he had so many good horses over time. He had an unlimited pure reward to really feel what was happening beneath him, however he was additionally very intelligent at understanding learn how to current issues in the easiest method. No one actually rode the worldwide enviornment at Hickstead like Allister did. It’s like he knew each single inch of it, and he would by no means make a mistake.
“It was at all times a pleasure to see him. He liked seeing younger folks and serving to them. He was fairly a particular man, and an enormous loss to us as a neighborhood.”
All the time joyful to assist
Allister produced quite a few horses for Sophie Henderson, spouse of racehorse coach Nicky, and she or he and Nicky turned lifelong pals of the Hoods.
“Allister was such a buddy and an individual who I held within the biggest of respect. He was one of many biggest horsemen of all time and the nicest man you possibly can want to meet. He had time for everybody and was at all times joyful to assist and information folks,” Sophie instructed H&H.
“We’ve so many joyful reminiscences of occasions with him as a competitor and a choose. Our remaining partnership was with Jack The Big, a prime class racehorse, initially skilled by Barry Hills and Nicky Henderson. Allister took us with Jack down an excellent journey profitable championships from Burghley, Hickstead to HOYS… what enjoyable it at all times was. He got here and gave an excellent show right here to all our homeowners sooner or later. All our ideas are together with his fantastic household, of whom he was so rightly proud.”
A Grandstand Media spokesperson stated Allister will probably be “significantly missed by all of us at HOYS”, and described him as a “grasp within the ring, famend for his skilled method and his knowledge”.
A Hickstead spokesperson stated Allister “actually was among the finest, not simply as a horseman however as an individual”.
“He loved so many outstanding moments right here at Hickstead, together with an unimaginable 9 Winston Churchill titles – a file that’s positive to face for a while. He produced numerous prime present horses, and it was at all times a pleasure to observe him compete,” he stated.
“We have been honoured that he selected Hickstead for his official retirement ceremony in 2021, shortly after profitable his ninth supreme horse title. A lot of Allister’s fellow present producers gathered that day within the worldwide enviornment to present him a guard of honour – it was a becoming tribute to a person who did a lot for the exhibiting neighborhood.”
You might also be serious about:
Credit score: Lucy Merrell
As we rejoice H&H’s one hundred and thirty fifth birthday with a bumper problem out now (dated 20 June), we requested a few of equestrian
Credit score: Trevor Meeks
‘We felt that if we’re going to retire, we must always do it whereas we’re each on the prime of our
Credit score: Lucy Merrell
Credit score: Future
Keep in contact with all of the information within the run-up to and all through HOYS, Maryland, Pau, London Worldwide and extra with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe at this time for all you might want to know forward of those main occasions, plus on-line reviews on the motion because it occurs from our professional group of reporters and in-depth evaluation in our particular commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Arrange your limitless web site entry now
H&H senior information author
Since becoming a member of H&H in 2018, Becky has coated a broad vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and highway security campaigns. She has additionally interviewed prime riders together with Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to call only a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, in addition to the Royal Highland and Blair Fortress Worldwide Horse Trials nearer to dwelling. She was additionally a key a part of the distant reporting group for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.