Tom Dovkants commandingly claims the SEIB Winter Novice Championship Qualifier at Northcote Stud to secure his place in the Hickstead Final
Tuesday 07 November 2023
.jpeg "Tom Dovkants commandingly claims the SEIB Winter Novice Championship Qualifier at Northcote Stud to secure his place in the Hickstead Final")
Tom Dovkants outpaced all his rivals to take victory in the SEIB Winter Novice Championship Qualifier at Northcote Stud in Lancashire, with Anita and Dean Miles’ Princess Volo.
Fifty-one competitors came forward to face the course designed by Nigel Jess and starting at a height of 1.10m with 16 supplying all the answers to move forward into the jump-off. Tom used his draw two from the end to win by an amazing three seconds. Their effort looked seemingly unhurried but Tom executed the tightest of lines and trusted this careful mare to run and jump without taking a pull.
“This is her comeback show following a horrific rotational fall in April and she hasn’t been the same since. Now, I can finally say she is fighting fit and back to her old, keen self and loving the job again,” said Tom.
By Fantaland and out of a Burggraaf mare and bred by Carron Nicol, the British-bred Princess Volo started in British novice with Tom’s partner Aaron Jones, but Tom quickly took over the reins and the pair were making a winning return to this venue after they were crowned 5-year-old champions last year.
A freak accident at Chepstow International in April caused the shocking fall.
“She caught her foot in the martingale; we were both rolling on the arena floor for what seemed like a lifetime. She wasn’t lame but she wasn’t herself, it affected her physically and mentally,” said Tom, who returned to Walnut Hill Equine Veterinary Clinic and vet Jack Wallace.
“Jack worked his magic and has reformed her, now she’s raring to go and seems keener the more the show progresses,” said Tom. “I’m so happy for the owners, Anita and Dean have been so patient – they deserved this win.”
Sophie Wicks earned her place in the Royal International Final with second place on the Chacoon Blue x Animo 7-year-old Billy Hepburn – a mare bred at the Billy Stud who joined Cumbria-based Sophie in April.
Northcote Stud Winter Classic – 5 November, 2023
SEIB Winter Novice Championship Qualifier
1st Tom Dovkants & Princess Volo – 0/0 - 32.50 seconds
2nd Sophie Wicks & Billy Hepburn – 0/0 - 35.50 seconds
3rd Declain Irvine & Duplicate II – 0/0 - 35.78 seconds
NB: Results pending official grading.
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
