Marcella Johnstone and Will Brown Reach for the Stars in the second NAF Five Star Bronze and Silver League Qualifiers
Wednesday 07 May 2025
.jpg "Marcella Johnstone and Will Brown Reach for the Stars in the second NAF Five Star Bronze and Silver League Qualifiers")
Kicking off the competition on Saturday at Dorset Showground was the NAF Bronze League Qualifier. With nearly 40 starters, each combination needed to shine from the start to stand a chance at the jump-off. The rounds proved demanding, with 10 achieving the coveted clear rounds to advance to the jump-off.
Up against the clock, Marcella Johnstone took her first step to qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in the NAF Five Star Bronze League Qualifier at Dorset Showground with her own Killea Storm. The established partnership left nothing to chance and stormed around in an unbeatable time of 43.44 seconds.
Martin Brake slotted in second place with his own Juduela, 1.85 seconds behind the winning pair whilst Rosie Fowler and her own Shannondale Xander picked up third place, a further 6.24 seconds in arrears.
“I’ve just come back from a broken ankle, so entered with no expectations and didn’t think that we would win,” said Bedfordshire based Marcella. “We entered at Dorset for a lovely weekend away in the sun. It’s such a wonderful show; everyone is so friendly, and it’s so well run. We’re not local but we make sure to go down for a stay-away show at least once a year with friends.”
Commenting on their round, Marella said: “It was a nice first round track, strong enough and Storm was feeling very fresh the day before. Round one rode nicely and she felt brilliant and then round two felt quite big, but Storm felt like she was just having run around the track. I’m normally not great in qualifiers and have the odd pole down. There was the option of a tight turn into a big oxer, and my mum, who was also jumping in the class, said: ‘You know Storm well enough, do what you think is best’ and I just gave it my all and Storm was amazing.
“She did everything I asked and made some great turns and pinged over the fences so easily, we loved it. I went quite early in the jump off, and there was lots of fast riders to follow so I was anxiously waiting. It was the lovely gentleman who came second who told me I had won and was so complimentary of Storm, I was so proud of her.
“I jumped the Silver League Final during covid when it was held at Aintree, but I would love to qualify for HOYS, it would be an absolute dream come true. She is a brilliant mare who deserves to be at these championship shows.”
Talking fondly of the 12-year-old mare, Marcella added: “I’ve had her for such a long time now; she is my absolute heart horse and is truly one in a million. I’m so grateful to our good friend in Ireland, Donal Kenneally, who bred her and Eddie Igoe who said we should go and look at her. A couple of different people came up to me at the show and were so complimentary of her, and I think it is a massive credit those around us. I have produced her myself and it made me so proud to call her mine.”
Dorset Showground – Saturday, 3 May, 2025
NAF Five Star Summer Bronze League Qualifier
1st – Marcella Johnstone & Killea Storm – 0/0/0 43.44 seconds
2nd – Martin Brake & Juduela – 0/0/0 45.29 seconds
3rd – Rosie Fowler & Shannondale Xander– 0/0/0 51.53 seconds
NB: Results pending official grading.
With the Bronze League concluded, Sunday saw NAF Silver League riders taking center stage. Over half the field of 28 cleared the initial round, advancing to the second, where 12 combinations progressed to the jump-off. In a tightly contested battle, it was seventeen-year-old Will Brown who once again outpaced all his rivals with Andrew Brown’s Kabran De Reve Z.
Will, who won the NAF qualifier at Speetley Equestrian Centre with Kirby in 2024 was pleased to be back on the road to HOYS: “He jumped really well the week before at Chard so I was quietly confident we could do well. He found the jumping quite easy through all three rounds so I am looking forward to the Semi-Finals and hope we have better weather and that we can get through to the final at HOYS.”
Commenting on the 14-year-old gelding, Will said: “We’ve had him for three years now and he came over from Ireland. He was a typical showjumper; he tolerated flatwork, but we’ve worked really hard on to chill him out. I’m based at Prestige Equestrian and working with my trainer, Rachel Gallop, has been so helpful.”
“We will hopefully aim for some home International Shows and may go abroad, but I just want to have some fun with him over the summer,” added Will.
Katie Robinson, winner of the HOYS Bronze league Final in 2022 with Andrea Robinson’s Mervs Thanks A Million II, slotted the 16-year-old consistent mare into second place. Lauren Ross rode her long-time partner, Irena G, into third place at their second ever Silver League qualifier, 2.23 seconds in arrears.
Dorset Showground – Sunday, 4 May, 2025
NAF Five Star Summer Silver League Qualifier
1st – Will Brown & Habran De Reve Z – 0/0/0 41.50 seconds
2nd – Katie Robinson & Mervs Thanks A Million II – 0/0/0 42.28 seconds
3rd – Lauren Ross & Irena G – 0/0/0 43.77 seconds
NB: Results pending official grading.
Image credit: Tazmine Brown Photography
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