Hollie Gerken Completes a Historic Hat Trick
Saturday 12 October 2024
Hollie Gerken completed a remarkable and historic hat-trick at the Horse of the Year Show by winning the STX-UK Pony Foxhunter Championship.
A day after landing the Leading Pony Showjumper and Pony Newcomers classes, 14-year-old Hollie once again came up trumps.
Not only did she top the podium aboard Ballycarrow Mirahs Sparrow, Hollie also finished fifth on Velini's Silver Star and sixth with Livewire VI after all three of her contenders featured among a nine-combination jump-off.
Across the two days of dazzling success, it added up to arguably the greatest exhibition of pony riding that HOYS has seen in its illustrious 75-year history.
Even Hollie struggled to take in the magnitude of her achievement, with the Essex-based rider admitting: "I honestly can't believe it.
"Coming here this week I was just hoping for the best, but all the hard work has paid off.
"She (Ballycarrow Mirahs Sparrow) hasn't got the biggest stride, but to make the turns on her is so easy, and going in on my last pony knowing that I had won just helped me so much.
"I don't know how I have done it, to be honest. I would like to say a huge thank you to Paul Kelly and Kerry Grimster for everything they've done, and obviously my mum and dad.
"I can't actually believe it. It can't really get better than this - I can't do a better HOYS."
Hollie was pushed all the way by runner-up Ella Spencer, riding Rouet Rouge, whose time of 32.37 seconds was just 41 hundredths of a second behind the winner, while third place went to Leva Eldridge and Clonbollogne Lad on 32.93.
But she was not to be denied as she accomplished a treble that is likely to stand alone on HOYS' roll of honour for many years to come.
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 Sunday Evening tickets.
Image: 1st Class Images
.jpg "Florence Newstead from Cambridgeshire is the latest NAF Shining Star")
