A one-two for Allsop
MAISIE ALLSOP banked a pair of Hickstead tickets with a slick one-two in the opening day’s 138cm winter qualifier, where she delivered the only two clears of the third round.
The Derbyshire rider headed the class with the 19-year-old gelding Lissduff Royal, who crossed the beam 4.33sec ahead of his stablemate, 19-year-old mare Misty Bay II.
Ella Spencer collected the third ticket with the fastest four-fault round on the 13-year-old stallion Top Silvio Hastak.
“It was quite a nice track – it did get big in the third round but it was built well,” Maisie said. “There weren’t too many turns in the jump-off and it’s a nice big arena, so you could cover the ground and get a bit of speed up, which suits Royal as he can open up and extend.”
Maisie has partnered Royal, who was formerly ridden by Tabitha Kyle, for the past year, while she has ridden Misty for the past six months. Both ponies are based at the Kyles’ yard in Leicestershire, where Maisie trains, commuting to ride two or three times a week.
She qualified for Hickstead with the grey gelding last year, but the partnership was still new.
“I’d only had Royal four or five months and I didn’t know him that well; this time I know to ride him with more confidence,” Maisie said. “Misty has qualified for Hickstead before and her old owner told us she comes into her own there, so I am looking forward to taking them both.”
SEVEN-HOUR JOURNEY PAYS OFF
THERE were another two 138cm tickets on offer the second day, with Connie Mensley securing the win on 21-year-old Dycott Masterman, also collecting fourth place with Neverlast II. The runner-up spot went to Hollie Gerken and the 10-year-old mare Princess Boom Boom.
Twelve-year-old Connie has been riding Dycott Masterman for the past two years and was on her second attempt at qualifying this season.
“They jumped well at Onley, doing all three rounds both days, so we were hoping we’d be in with a chance of qualifying in Scotland,” said Connie, who made the seven-hour trip to the show from her base in Leicestershire.
“The track on the second day was flowing and was jumping really nicely. It was a bit bigger than some of the others but that suited my pony as he jumps better when they are bigger.”
Nya Harriman secured her Hickstead pass when she collected first and fourth in the second day’s 128cm winter qualifier, riding the 17-year-old mare April Star V and the 18-year-old gelding Ashwey El Britaniko.
“I knew I had to ride April really forward and go for it to get the qualification,” Nya said. “The course was more technical than the day before and the jumps came on very quickly.
“I was really pleased to win as I loved jumping at Hickstead last year. It’s taken the pressure off my other 128cm and my 138cm to know I have one qualified already.”
Sunday’s remaining ticket went to runners up Emily Gulliver and Carrowvilla Izzy. Emily was collecting her second qualification of the weekend, having finished third in Saturday’s class with Sparkel III.
That line-up was headed by Christina Cotton and Moyralla Bob, who delivered the quickest of two treble clears, beating Ella Kay and Red Alert III to the win by 0.36sec.