Historic Day for Hollie Gerken
Thursday 10 October 2024
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Hollie Gerken completed a remarkable and historic double on day two of the Horse of the Year Show at Birmingham NEC.
She became the first rider to win Leading Pony Showjumper and Pony Newcomers classes in the same year, completing a spectacular title double in the space of just four hours.
The Demolition Services Ltd Leading Pony Showjumper of the Year competition first took centre-stage at HOYS in its inaugural year of 1949, and Hollie became just the fourth rider since then to win it two years in succession.
Only five combinations made the jump-off, but Hollie held her nerve on Galaxy V to clock 33.09 seconds and edge Darcy Breen - daughter of Irish international showjumper Shane Breen - into second place aboard One Saharah, with Maisie Alsop and Vaughann De Vuzit in third.
"There were some amazing ponies in the class," 14-year-old Hollie said.
"Winning the Newcomers class in the morning was unbelievable, and I didn't think it was achievable to win another one."
"I surprised myself. I only started riding the pony at the start of this year, but there is so much effort that goes into it."
The day began with the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Championship, a class that includes Olympic eventing team gold medallist Oliver Townend among its lengthy list of former winners.
And topping the podium proved a familiar feeling for Hollie, who in addition to winning Leading Pony Showjumper in 2023 also landed the 138cm Championship.
Last to go in a nine-combination jump-off, Essex-based Hollie and Jonkers Keyano clipped almost a second off the time of previous leaders Sienna Palin and Mikado Van Den Dael.
Hollie's winning time of 29.60 seconds owed everything to a confident, highly-skilled rider giving her big-striding pony every chance of victory, with Sienna taking second in 30.54 and Ella Spencer completing the podium places aboard Rouet Rouge on 32.06.
"He is an amazing pony, and I am so proud of him" Hollie said. "He has got a big enough stride, so I could take the strides out that I needed to take out to get the time I needed.
"The classes I have done over the last couple of years have certainly been a big advantage for me for this year.
"It has been an amazing year. I have been abroad competing for Great Britain, and I would love to do juniors next year then end up doing young riders. Maybe the Olympics one day."
Full results can be found here
Tickets are still available for the 75th Anniversary Horse of the Year Show. Simply visit the ticket purchase page at hoys.co.uk/tickets/book-tickets/ and use the code HOYSBSMEM24 in the promo code box for 20% off Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday Evening tickets.
Image: 1st Class Images
