Georgia Cooper-Hall Wins the SEIB Winter Novice Qualifier for a Birthday to Remember
Wednesday 18 February 2026
The final SEIB Winter Novice Championship Qualifier of the 2025/26 season proved a fitting finale at the South View Equestrian Centre Winter Classic Show, with a competitive field battling it out for the last coveted tickets to the Royal International Horse Show Final.
A total of 47 combinations came forward to tackle Mark McGowan’s carefully designed 1.10m first-round track, with 26 progressing to round two. The competition intensified as 17 advanced to a thrilling jump-off, where seven combinations managed to produce triple clears to keep their qualifying hopes alive.
It was Georgia Cooper-Hall who capped her 18th birthday weekend in perfect style, delivering a superb performance to take the win. Third to go in the jump-off, Georgia set a strong target aboard the talented six-year-old bay mare Ukira Van De Helle, owned by Liam Hall, stopping the clock in an unbeatable 35.81 seconds.
Last to go, Thomas Pritchard gave it everything in a determined bid for the top spot with Double M Calista’s Girl, chasing hard to secure second place in 36.85 seconds and claim the other qualifying ticket to Hickstead. Emma Sargeant also impressed, guiding Coolmannon Star to third place with another stylish triple clear in 37.21 seconds.
After her win, an excited Georgia said: “I thought she jumped really well. We’ve been building the young horses up over the winter, so I was quite confident going into the first round. It did go up in the next two rounds, but she coped with it well and jumped super.
“She’s a very sharp horse; she can be quite buzzy and have lost of energy but loves to jump. I’m really looking forward to taking her to Hickstead. I think she’ll really thrive off the atmosphere of them main arena and tends to concentrate more when there is lots going on so I think it will be a really good opportunity. Although she is currently barefoot as she has really strong feet so I think we will have to out some shoes on her as it will be her first time jumping of grass,” added Georgia.
SEIB Winter Novice Championship Qualifier
South View Equestrian Centre
1st – Georgia Cooper-Hall & Ukira Van De Helle – 0/0/0 35.81
2nd – Thomas Pritchard & Double M Calista’s Girl – 0/0/0 36.85
3rd – Emma Sargeant & Coolmannon Star – 0/0/0 37.21
NB Results pending final grading
Image: Phil Hillier / Landscape and Horses
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