British Bred mare Billy Jive claims NAF Five Star Summer Silver League Championship with Somerset’s Gemma Hallett
The 1.20m NAF Five Star Silver League Championship brought with it some great competition from the field of forty starters. It was Gemma Hallett from Wellington in Somerset that claimed the victory with the British bred Billy Jive (Billy Mexico x Billy Congo), an 11 year-old chestnut mare owned by Sue Jarman.
The first round caught a number of riders out towards the latter end of the course and it was fourteen that achieved a clear to qualify for the jump off. Two second round clears had illustrated to the riders following them that time would be of the essence if they wanted to push themselves up the final line-up. Gemma was fifth to go and set off with what appeared to be a clear game plan to make as tight a turn as dared and it paid off when she posted a clear in a time of 34.12 seconds to take an early lead.
Her strategy added pressure to the combinations following her which, in some cases, resulted in them incurring penalties when poles fell.
A delighted Gemma said about her win “I couldn’t be happier for her [Billy Jive] as she was pipped to the post a couple of times at Bolesworth so for her to come here and pick up her winner’s rug is just great. She is kept by her owner Sue, who used to compete her and absolutely adores her, so I only get to ride her at shows. I took the ride last year and we just get on together as she’s such a great little mare who’s so consistent and just wants to win all the time. The more you ask of her the more she does, she absolutely thrives on being at a competition. She’s really quiet at home and also to handle at a show but once you’re on her she gets so excited; she’s such a character!”
Talking about her approach to the jump off she explained “I actually never watch anyone go before me as it makes me nervous and I find that I don’t stick to the plan that I have made in my head. I had made the decision that as she’s such a small horse at around 15.2hh, I would just keep her as tight as I could on the turns and let her keep moving forward as I knew she wouldn’t be able to take a stride out of some of the distances like the bigger horses could. Luckily it paid off. I’m so happy with her and Sue, who isn’t a hugger, even hugged me so it’s been an emotional win for us!”
The British Showjumping Indoor Championships runs between the 6 – 11 October at Aintree Equestrian Centre with a number of the major British Showjumping national titles being run across the event. Further information on the show can be found at www.aintreeequestriancentre.org and livestream from the event is available at www.britishequestriansport.tv powered by Clip My Horse TV.
