Holly Johnstone wins her way into HOYS in the NAF Five Star Silver League Semi-Final at Northcote Stud
Monday 31 July 2023
Holly Johnstone and her seasoned campaigner of five years Carquois De Ceve claimed victory in the NAF Five Star Silver League Semi-Final at Northcote Stud in Lancashire.
The pair finished seventh last year in the NAF Five Star Bronze League Final and have stepped up this year to tackle the Silver League.
“He has the mind of a 12.2hh in a 16.2hh body, he loves fast and loves to be dared; he tries so hard and is so clever he gets me out of trouble – he runs on pure adrenalin,” said Holly, on her ‘Turbo Cob’ French-bred 11-year-old who becomes a pet at home.
A total of 48 competitors came forward to bid on the seven HOYS qualifying places on offer over course-designer Andrew Millin’s 12-fence 1.20m track with 25 answering all the questions to make their way into round two. Seventeen posted double clears to access the jump-off.
Holly had already won Friday’s 1.20m and finished second in Saturday’s 1.25m accumulator – “It was a good start and the accumulator an ideal warm-up for our main class but I had no expectations. There were a lot of good combinations you’d have put your money on to win and I just wanted to go better than last year when I had a fence down in the first round,” said Holly.
She did more than that, easily reaching the third round, going onto to claim the top spot by 1.83 seconds.
“I got into the jump-off and thought I could have a real chance. I was mid-draw and the dilemma was to play it safe of go for it but ‘Doug’ has such an open stride, I went at his pace, didn’t take the inside turn from one to the big oxer at two as I thought it was too tight and rolled round, kept it smooth and I think it won the class,” explained Holly. “I was delighted with the treble clear, to win is unbelievable.”
Lucinda Stewart and her 2018 HOYS champion Cancun II will bid to regain the title after taking second with Kristina Yeoman in third aboard the Urano De Cartigny 7-year-old Grimm De La Butte. Charley Hamilton claimed fourth on the 7-year-old Loretta Blue MFS and seventh with the Gold Fever Van’t Heike 13-year-old Kung Fu Van’t Heike but can only take one horse to the final. Emily Morris – 2016 HOYS Bronze League winner on Ultimatum – picked up fifth on the 7-year-old Fruselli daughter Westpoint Foreign Affair and Stevie Jenkins claimed sixth riding the 9-year-old Kilmanahan Cobra (Cobra x Olympic Lux). As Charley is only allowed one ride in the HOYS final, Dee Kennedy jumped the Don VHP Z x Numero Uno 9-year-old Don Luxury into eighth place.
Northcote Stud – Sunday, 30 July 2023
NAF Five Star Silver League Semi Final
1st Holly Johnstone & Carquois Du Ceve – 0/0/0 41.14 seconds
2nd Lucinda Stewart & Cancun II – 0/0/0 42.97 seconds
3rd Kristina Yeoman & Grimm De La Butte – 0/0/0 43.75 seconds
4th Charley Hamilton & Loretta Blue MFS – 0/0/0 49.63 seconds
5th Emily Morris & Westpoint Foreign Affair – 0/0/0 50.19 seconds
6th Stevie Jenkins & Kilmanahan Cobra – 0/0/0 56.33 seconds
7th Charley Hamilton & Kung Fu Van’t Heike – 0/0/4 44.12 seconds
8th Dee Kennedy & Don Luxury – 0/0/4 46.56 seconds
NB: Qualifications pending official grading of results.
Image: Majestic Photography
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