Top Treble Clear for Kerry Harris in final SEIB Big Star Championship Qualifier at Arena UK
Tuesday 14 July 2026
Arena UK saw 20 combinations contest the SEIB Big Star Championship Qualifier held at their second-round show on Friday, all taking the final opportunity to pick up a ticket for one of the most esteemed young horse finals of the summer season and follow in the footsteps of the illustrious Big Star himself.
A technical but fair track was set by Course Designer Nigel Jess, who is well practised in designing courses to test both the riders and the talented six-year-old horses coming forward. With final qualification places on the line, riders needed to accurately guide their horses through the three rounds and be consistently clear, with ten combinations clear in round one, numbers were cut in half to five in time for the final round.
With the pressure building to achieve those vital treble clears, it seemed to be a step too far for the rest with only Kerry Harris and Lianne Smiths’ impressive Paradiso, holding their nerve to secure the coveted treble clear and qualifying place for the SEIB Six-Year-Old Championship Final at the Young Horse Show taking place at Hickstead this August.
Kerry Harris & Paradiso
Riders contesting the SEIB Six-Year-Old Championship will also compete for the prestigious Big Star Trophy, awarded in honour of Nick Skelton’s legendary 2016 Olympic gold medal-winning partner Big Star.
Adding further excitement to the series, any horse jumping a treble clear in one of the four Big Star qualifiers held between May and July will automatically become eligible for the £1,000 Big Star Bonus, which will be awarded at the Final.
With another successful qualifier completed, anticipation is already building ahead of the championship finale at Hickstead, where Britain’s most promising young horses will go head-to-head for top honours.
NB: Results pending official grading
Image: ATG Photography
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