Samantha Wiseman claims a commanding victory in the SEIB Winter Novice Championship Qualifier at Morris Equestrian Centre
Monday 18 November 2024
Samantha Wiseman secured victory in the SEIB Winter Novice Championship qualifier to claim the top Royal International place on AS His Lordship at Morris Equestrian Centre’s Winter Classic and register her Royal International debut.
Forty-three competitors started over the 12-fence 1.10m track designed by John Bedford with 13 coming up with all the correct answers to bid on the two Hickstead places on offer, Samantha taking two of the rides. However, only three double clears were realised, Samantha finding the shortest route on AS His Lordship to register a commanding 4.33 second win. She also recorded the fastest four faults with second ride I’m Tequila, but four faults dropped this seven-year-old mare down to fourth.
“I was second to go on His Lordship and just did what I could, but he’s naturally quick across the ground and we won by a good margin,” said Samantha, who bought the Phil VD Wezelse Heihoeve x Crown Z five-year-old in February.
“I travelled to Ireland to look at some horses with my trainer Declan Irvine and we bought him. He’s not what I’m used to, he’s smaller but he gave me a nice feel over a jump and he showed lots of potential, although he’s quite cheeky. He gets bored very quickly, if he’s in the stable for an hour, he’s bored, if he’s in the field for an hour, he’s bored; he always wants to be doing something,” said Samantha, who will make her first visit to Hickstead, although His Lordship has experience of the vast international arena.
“He jumped with Declan in the five-year-old classes on the All England September tour. At the time, I was moving house or I’d have ridden him myself but as I couldn’t go, I sent him with Declan,” explained Samantha. “Some horses can shrink in that area but he’s quite a bold horse so in general, he coped with the atmosphere well.”
Charlotte Craw slotted the German-bred 10-year-old Eloisa IX (Cajados x Ciacomini) into second place and Annabel Carthy just missed out on the coveted Royal International qualification in third with Gentle Lion.
SEIB Winter Novice Qualifer
Morris Equestrian Centre – 17 November 2024
1st Samantha Wiseman & AS his Lordship – 0/0 - 38.97
2nd Charlotte Craw & Eloisa IX – 0/0 - 43.30
3rd Annabel Carthy & Gentle Lion – 0/0 - 43.78
NB Results pending final grading
Image: Jamie Agnew Photography
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. For more details, visit hickstead.co.uk
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