Holly Gair flies to victory in the NAF Five Star Summer Silver League Qualifier at Northallerton Equestrian Centre
Tuesday 04 July 2023
Holly Gair celebrated victory in the NAF Five Star Summer Silver League Qualifier on LGS Survivor at Northallerton Equestrian Centre in Yorkshire.
“I had a brand-new saddle fitted a couple of weeks ago and she finally feels back to her old self,” said Holly, who had the misfortune to have her saddles stolen at a stay away show – “I sleep with my saddles now!”
Thirty-six competitors initially tackled course-designer Tracey Strangeways’ 11-fence track with 22 jumping into round two on first round clears. An eventual 17 accessed the jump-off to battle it out for the top three qualifying semi-final places, Holly getting all four of her rides into the final round.
“I’ve moved up from Bronze League and, although two of them are quite high up in the league, I wanted to see if they could cope with the height and three rounds,” she said.
County Durham-based Holly, who is trained by her stepfather Stephen Gair – “I owe everything to him!” – found the shortest route to win by 1.30 seconds on LGS Survivor, a 12-year-old The Echo Factor daughter bought three and a half years ago.
“She was a bit sour at first, but it didn’t take too much to get her going, however, she is temperamental and likes things her way. She rides in a three-ring plastic snaffle but likes it almost hanging out of her mouth – put it any higher and she stops,” said Holly, who clocked up an amazing 81 wins from January to October in 2021 – the year they finished second in the NAF Five Star HOYS Bronze League Final.
Holly built up from jumping 1.10m to 1.25m, then disaster struck: “We won a 1.25m and that night, all our saddles were taken while we were asleep in the lorry; even the dogs weren’t disturbed. She’s funny about her tack and a different saddle wasn’t a 100% to her liking, she started stopping and I began to ride differently and apprehensively. But fingers crossed, since I’ve had this new saddle fitted properly, she’s back enjoying herself, jumping through her shoulder and winning.
“She’s a lunatic, doesn’t go in a nice outline, gallops everywhere, has to change stables constantly as she argues with her stablemates either side, but I’ve taken time to get to know her and we really do have a bond – make friends with a mare and she’ll always try that much more for you.”
Honor Dabbs steered Martini Um Bongo into second place and Jane Burton filled third spot aboard Le Petit Diablotin.
Northallerton EC – Saturday, 1 July 2023
NAF Five Star Summer Silver League Qualifier
1st Holly Gair & LGS Survivor – 0/0/0 - 36.95 seconds
2nd Honor Dabbs & Martini Um Bongo – 0/0/0 - 38.25 seconds
3rd Jane Burton & Le Petit Diablotin – 0/0/0 - 38.84 seconds
NB: Qualifications pending official grading of results.
Image: Northallerton Equestrian Centre
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