Marnie Green is Triumphant in the HOYS 128cms Qualifier at Arena UK
Tuesday 19 July 2016
Twelve year-old Marnie Green was only jumping springboard and intro classes last year, but she has stepped up handsomely to top level 128cm classes this season and posted a great win at Arena UK on board My Little Liesel, recording her Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) debut at the NEC, Birmingham, in October.
A field of thirty-nine initially chased the much-coveted three HOYS places on offer, but the majority fell foul of a technical course and only seven returned first round clears. These were further whittled down to just four for the final jump-off.
Two treble clears were produced, with Marnie from Guide, Blackburn making the final round a winning one, claiming victory by 2.46 seconds on the nine-year-old Irish- bred mare My Little Liesel.
Eleven year-old Rachel Proudley from Whitby, North Yorkshire riding Paul Proudley’s 15-year-old skewbald mare Painted Lady IV took second.
In typically speedy style, eleven year-old Madison Heath from Nantwich, Cheshire posted the fastest time of the class on Graham Heath’s lightning-quick 13-year-old Irish mare Red Alert III, but a lowered rail denied them victory and dropped them into third spot.
Fourth-placed Claudia Moore and Katrina Moore’s 15-year-old gelding Peppino Il Grande had taken their qualifying place at Bicton Arena with second place.
Poppy Deakin in fifth on Felicity Deakin’s Camizion and sixth-placed Rosie Collins aboard Stuart Collins’ Bradmore Mystique had already claimed their qualifying places at Weston Lawns.
It meant the second HOYS ticket was handed down to seventh-placed Alena Hughes and Victoria Hughes’ 19-year-old gelding Muskerry Crusader after jumping a first round clear and posting four faults in the second.
And as the rules dictate qualifiers must jump clear in the first round, the final HOYS ticket was left on the shelf as there were no more clears in round one.
Arena UK – Saturday 16th July 2016
HOYS 128cms Qualifier
1st Marnie Green & My Little Liesel – 0/0/0 - 43.29 seconds
2nd Rachel Proudley & Painted Lady IV – 0/0/0 - 45.75 seconds
3rd Madison Heath & Red Alert III – 0/0/4 - 37.87 seconds
NB: Qualifications will be updated pending official grading of results.
The Horse of the Year Show 2016 will take place from the 5th – 9th October 2016 at Birmingham’s NEC.
