Nicole Lockhead Anderson finishes Hickstead on a high
Tuesday 27 June 2023
She’s no stranger to big wins at Hickstead and today was no different for Nicole Lockhead Anderson, who took the Senior Foxhunter Championship second round today with the seven-year-old Conthargo PS.
The pair produced three beautiful clears to supply the winning round and take the top finalist place for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show, finishing less than 0.3 seconds ahead of Grace Shudall Hughes (Firefly XII) in the final jump-off – in fact, there was less than one second between the top four finishers.
Forty-eight competitors initially bid for the two coveted HOYS tickets on offer and 19 produced first round clears with an eventual 10 contending the jump-off in this three-round competition. With eight providing treble clears, it was all about the clock, Nicole – who is originally from Banchory in Kincardineshire, Scotland and now in Folkestone, Kent, riding for Tom Williams – edging ahead with 0.26 seconds to spare.
Grace picked up the second qualifying spot on the Zambesi x Calvados 8-year-old stallion Firefly.
“I've had a brilliant show,” said Nicole, who competed in several of the main ring classes through the week, too. “I've had a couple of wins, and the horses all jumped amazing, so it's been great.”
Nicole got the ride on the talented Conthargo PS just before her annual start-of-the-year trip to Spain to jump and wasted no time in getting to know him on the tour. This week, his first-ever trip to Hickstead, proved an educational and successful next step in his production.
“He jumped amazing today, and he's jumped well all week,” said Nicole. “I think a lot of the horse; he's definitely one for the future. He’s a real winner, and a little fighter, and having that atmosphere around him just makes him really good. It’s been an amazing week – we love being at Hickstead, and I have such a great team around me that makes it all so easy when we’re this busy.”
The next event to take place at Hickstead is the five-star Longines Royal International Horse Show, which runs from 25-30 July.
Image: Boots and Hooves Photography
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