Alana Hood books her place at the Royal International with victory in the SEIB Winter Novice at Aintree Equestrian Centre
Monday 16 October 2023
Alana Hood put her trust in Malibu Sunset B with tight lines to take victory in the first of the winter season’s SEIB Winter Novice to guarantee qualification in the Hickstead Final.
Sixteen of the original 80 starters posted clear rounds over course-designer Raf Suarez’s 12-fence track, which started at a height of 1.10m, to qualify for a hotly contended jump-off. Times became progressively quicker as riders dared, especially on the inside turn to an oxer at three and the tight inside option to the penultimate double.
Alana pulled off both with panache, making her journey from Fife, Scotland, worthwhile by guiding the seven-year-old Celtic Hero B Z daughter Malibu Sunset B into a narrow 0.12 second win. The round pushed William Walker’s short-lived lead on the six-year-old Millfield Cascade x Salvator mare Titanium IV into second place, sufficient for the other qualifying place on offer.
“I got a good forward pace, especially to the midway Andrews Bowen oxer. She’s very quick but I’ve never put pressure on her in a jump-off before and she coped very well,” said Alana on the mare who joined her last October. “She’s sassy and only did a little bit of eventing previously; I don’t think she liked cross-country but has developed a love for showjumping.”
Alana has high hopes for the Royal International Horse Show Final.
“We competed at the Hickstead September tour and she qualified to jump in the main arena, taking it all in her stride,” added Alana.
Aintree EC - Sunday, 15 October 2023
SEIB Winter Novice Championship Qualifier
1st Alana Hood & Malibu Sunset B - 0/0 31.26 seconds
2nd William Walker & titanium IV - 0/0 31.38 seconds
3rd Graham Babes & Nanieta P - 0/0 32.31 seconds
Image: Majestic Photogrpahy
SEIB Insurance Brokers provides specialist equestrian insurance throughout the UK and internationally. With over 50 years of experience, SEIB offers a range of equestrian insurance from horses to horseboxes, trailers, stables, cars, home, farriers and other specialist equestrian trades plus riding schools and livery yards. The SEIB Winter Novice Championship is a popular series made up of ten national qualifying rounds which are held ahead of the Championship Final, which will once again be run during the prestigious Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead (24 - 18 July 2024). For more details, visit hickstead.co.uk
