Nicole Lockhead Anderson wins The Stable Company HOYS 138cm Championship
Saturday 08 October 2016
Nicole Lockhead Anderson made a nine-hour road journey from Aberdeen spectacularly worthwhile as she was crowned The Stable Company HOYS 138cm Champion at the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham.
Nicole, 14, won the same title last year on Sonas Barney - he was fifth on this occasion - and followed Darby Ward as only the second rider to win the class two years in succession.
A bumper Saturday morning crowd at the NEC revelled in a thrilling competition, which Nicole clinched aboard 18-year-old pony Shappen Pilgrim with a jump-off time of 32.50 seconds after going last.
The runners-up spot was filled by Lily Freeman-Attwood, riding the 2014 winner My Bugsy Malone, while Tegan Rowlands and Grey Palace were third.
Reflecting on her victory, Nicole said: "It is amazing to win again here. He's a lovely, lovely pony.
"I was asked to ride him two years ago, and this is the first time he has qualified for HOYS. I am really pleased for both my ponies today.
"He is a very quick pony, but I knew from my first ride that I needed to take a bit more caution back to the double. But he is very careful, so I knew I could just run him down to the last fence.
"It is great coming to the Horse of the Year Show, and I would love to compete here again next year."
For the audio interview with Nicole Lockhead Anderson, The Stable Company HOYS 138cm Champion, please click here: http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Nicole%20Lockhead%20Annderson.mp3.
The full results for The Stable Company HOYS 138cm Championship can be found via this link: http://results.scgvisual.com/2016/birmingham/r8.html.
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