Catherine Housman lands the NAF Five Star Silver League qualifier at Speetley Equestrian Centre
Monday 24 April 2023
.jpg "Catherine Housman lands the NAF Five Star Silver League qualifier at Speetley Equestrian Centre")
Catherine Housman outpaced all her rivals to commandingly take the first NAF Five Star Silver League qualifier at Speetley Equestrian Centre in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
Forty-one initially tackled course-designer David Cole’s 12-fence 1.15m track with 23 posting first round clears to access round two. These were further reduced with 14 competitors contending the final jump-off against the clock.
Although the clock played a part, only three riders supplied treble clears to take the three qualifying places to the NAF Five Star Summer Silver League semi-final. Catherine found the shortest route on the 16-year-old Heartbreaker daughter Contrichta to win with almost seven seconds in hand.
Previously based in Kent, Catherine made the move to Ashby-De-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, just before Christmas with her boss Julian Mincher.
“I’ve worked for Julian for the last eight years and this will be my third year owning Contrichta,” said Catherine. “She came to us on sales livery, and she was wild, I honestly thought I couldn’t ride her but after my first initial misgivings, I loved her! She’s taken me from a nervous wreck jumping round 1.10m to jumping 1.30m classes.
“She’s still on the wild side – we only hack at home, but she knows her job, is low maintenance and fits around my work. She’s so competitive and wants to run, jump and win; containing her in the first two rounds is the only difficulty – she loves the jump-off best,” added Catherine, who contended the NAF Five Star Silver League Final at HOYS in 2022 and hopes to make a return this year.
Sarah Lears piloted Daquin De Muze into second and Lucy Carver claimed third on Evita SH.
Speetley Equestrian Centre – Saturday, 22 April, 2023
NAF Five Star Summer Silver League Qualifier
1st Catherine Housman & Contrichta – 0/0/0 - 38.98 seconds
2nd Sarah Lears & Daquin De Muze – 0/0/0 - 45.91 seconds
3rd Lucy Carver & Evita SH – 0/0/0 - 47.35 seconds
For the full results, click here and for the list of qualified riders so far, click here.
NB: Results pending official grading.
Image: MLG Photography - https://www.mlgphotography.co.uk/
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