The combination were early to go in the 19-strong jump-off and were the first double clear, setting the time to beat at 29.2 seconds. They were the first to take the inside line between the first and second fences, jumping the blue upright on the angle and wasting no time across the rest of the course, galloping to the last with Olivia and Conella’s pony tails both flying.
“She will never say no to a fence,” said Olivia, 14, who started riding the six-year-old mare over lockdown.
“The height doesn’t matter to her. She’s got a big jump, but she can be quite hot sometimes.”
Paul Kelly gave the combination a hand in the warm-up, while owner and trainer Kerry Grimster helped Olivia with her jump-off plan.
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“We saw were we needed to go and knew that everyone would be taking a similar route, so I knew I had to be quick and tight round the fences,” she explained.
“She’s got a big stride but she’s able to adjust and she’s careful too.
“I think my turn back to the penultimate upright was where we made the time — I made a mistake there and went too tight, so she was good to jump it for me.”
Rachel Proudley and Robe Park Bobby took on the challenge, taking a stride out to the last as they went for the win, stopping the clock just over two seconds behind in a time of 31.53 seconds. Third place went to Samuel Hitchen and Bearwood Barney (32.56), with Olivia and her second ride, Indien Legacy fourth in 32.68 seconds.
Find out more about the full-time lorry driver and his late-starting ‘lovely mare’ named Fluffy, who claimed their first national
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.
