Arena UK in Lincolnshire held the fourth of the SEIB Winter Novice Qualifiers on Sunday 2nd December which saw sixty-five competitors come forward to jump Jason Abbs’ thirteen fence-track and it was Lucy Carver from Malton, North Yorkshire who sealed the win.

With just two qualifying places on offer for the Championship Final at the Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, West Sussex next summer a strong class ensued. One third of the initial combinations claimed a place in the jump off with eight combinations going on to produce a double clear.

Riding her own 9 year-old liver chestnut mare Evita SH, 19 year-old Lucy produced a spotless first round to claim a place in the jump off. The pair managed to cross the finish line in 32.81 seconds beating Georgia Lovett from Solihull, West Midlands with Christopher Evan’s, Cassilieneke H Z by over 2 seconds, pushing them into second place.

Arena UK Equestrian Centre – Sunday 2nd December 2018

SEIB Winter Novice Qualifier Results

1st Lucy Carver & Evita SH – 0/0 – 32.81 seconds
2nd Georgia Lovett & Cassilieneke H Z – 0/0 – 34.83 seconds

NB: Qualifications will be updated on the website pending official grading of results.

Image: Lucy Carver & Evita SH in action in The SEIB Winter Novice Qualifier at Arena UK (CREDIT: Equipics Event Photography)