Hollie Gerken continued her Pony Premier success to take the top two places in Saturday’s Winter JC/JD qualifier at Bury Farm's Large Pony Premier
Wednesday 21 February 2024
Hollie Gerken continued her Pony Premier success to take the top two places in Saturday’s Winter JC/JD qualifier at Bury Farm's Large Pony Premier.
Forty-five competitors started Peter Gillespie’s 1.15m 12-fence track, with four producing the clear rounds needed to make the final jump-off, Hollie claiming two of these rides.
First to go Hollie set an unbeatable time of 38.23 seconds with Jonkers Keyano before following this up with another quick round on Cormac Hobday, just 0.73 seconds off her own winning time. Lotti Bullock rode a determined round with Lawnslane Legacy but ultimately opting for a steady clear instead of chasing the time to finish third.
Sunday saw Daria Hinkis head the Winter JC/JD qualifier with Midnight Cruise Deuro. Thirty-five combinations came forward to content the class, six unlocking the skill needed to reach the second jump off.
Daria, who used her final draw to maximum advantage, took tight corners to finish 0.75 seconds ahead of Ruby Birchenough and Roll On Wave, who had set a tough target from the start. Rosie Smith slotted Junior X into third.
Maisie Allsop, with Attyrory Rebel and Vaughann De Vuzit, and Ella Spencer, riding Dilton Des Islots, decided to share the first-place spoils in Saturday’s Winter JA qualifier. As the only riders to jump clear in the first round, the three qualifying places for the final were already secured.
Lucy Capper claimed her third Winter JA qualifier win in Sunday’s class, this time with Oscar Van De Beekerheide having already secured her place in the final with Capability Brown at both Morris and Aintree Large Pony Premier shows.
Going head-to-head in the jump-off with Cate Kerr, Lucy set a quick time, but an unfortunate pole hit the floor at the penultimate fence so would have to wait to see if she had done enough to finish first. Although Cate set the quicker time by eight seconds, a problem at the last two fences meant Cate and Cindy VI would have the settle for second, Lucy taking top spot.
Emily Gulliver once again dominated the Children on Horses 16 years and under 1.20m qualifiers, underscoring her success with victory in both classes, whilst also topping both Children on Horses 16 years and under 1.10m non-qualifying classes.
Saturday saw eight combinations step forward in the single-phase competition and, with six providing double-clears, results would come down to the clock. Emily used her first draw to set a tough target of 38.65 seconds with Billy Earp, which would prove to be uncatchable. Alfie Diaper rode G Star Blue into second whilst Honey Bowes and Javas El Cid claimed third.
Emily continued her success into Sunday, this time steering Glamor Di Vie to top spot from final draw. Honey Bowes went one better than the day before, riding Javas El Cid into second and splitting Emily’s two rides, Emily and Billy Earp finishing third.
The Blue Chip Pro Sparkle JC/JA Handicap also fell the way of Emily Gulliver, this time riding Hungarios Bruce. Six from a field of 36 jumped clear but with only three returning to contend the jump-off, Emily and the 12-year-old gelding outpaced them all to win by over four seconds. Raphaela Dawson rode Maifield Another Sunrise into second, Lucy Capper picking up third with Oscar Van De Beekerheide.
Alfie Diaper took first in the Bliss of London Pony Coral qualifier by more than three seconds riding Francis Whittington’s Machno Grand Edition. Hollie Gerken slotted Ballyerk Starlight into second with the only other double clear whilst Charlotte Pyne rode the fast four faults in round one with Glenayre Mystical Fox to claim third.
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