She beat the woman who had just won the Senior Showjumper of the Year honours, Sarah Sarre, in the Hickstead Masters that formed the 82nd and final class of this year’s equestrian calendar highlight at Chemin Le Roi.
Sunday’s programme brought sunny, if also windy, conditions and culminated in these two eye-catching classes together with a presentation of silverware earned through the season.
The Masters took place on the well-kept grass over an initial course with eight obstacles, during which faults instead become time penalties, followed by a straight of four rapid-fire jumps which define whether a combination goes clear or not.
Gervaise-Brazier and Tyson EB went last and were the only combination to go completely clear, which made them deserving winners.
It had been a highly unpredictable class, with Sarah Sarre and Luimonia going nearly 8sec. faster as the quickest combination overall but knocking the final barrier – which sank them right to last place.
The other combinations all avoided faults on the critical straight, with Sarre and more established mount Follyfoot Arkadia a close second after suffering a 6sec. time penalty and Justin Ogier’s Zandokan Z knocking two fences in the first part of the course but still managing third.
In the Showjumper of the Year class, Jackson and Follyfoot Arkadia had excelled over both rounds, including a rapid time of 32.07sec. in the jump-off.
This allowed her to back up her victory in another highly desirable class, Thursday’s All Inclusive Championship, and justified her receipt of the Fantast 151 Trophy for top-scoring throughout the show.
Sophie Ephgrave and Onyx Blue were on their heels with their own fast double clear as Sian Staples and Billy Mont Blanc took third, picking up four faults in the jump-off.
Sarre had also won the large speed stakes, in which Sam Vaudin, Ellie Saunders and Lesley Martin had achieved victory at the lower heights.
Ella Gidney and TMF Fly High took top honours in the Allcomers’ Handicap, which commemorated the late Gillian Gorvel.
The Junior Showjumper of the Year had come down to a jump-off between two Stars.
Frankie Torode’s Little Star and Liliana Miller-Helyar’s Nelson’s Sunset Star produced the only clears of the first round, which they repeated in the decider, but the former went nearly 8sec. quicker to secure the title.
Emelia Cook and Shragmore Sheeba had been unfortunate to pick up four late faults and so settle for third after being the fastest combination in the opening round.
Lilly Papworth and Cammach Where’s Whalley claimed a double win in the junior speed stakes classes, while Cook, Seren Trott and Emily Beach were also among the winners on the day.
Despite not coming away with any class wins on Sunday, Sian Staples had much to celebrate after being handed the Dianne Stranger Memorial Trophy.
This reflected her high points accumulated throughout the season, even when sitting out the Summer Show to serve as a course designer.
‘I had a pretty rubbish season the season before, and this is my first HOYS in three years, so I’m pretty pleased,’ she said.
Her highlight of the season had come with being crowned leading rider at the Easter Show.
‘He jumped phenomenally well,’ Staples said.
‘We’ve been working hard over the winter and for him to come out at the start of the season and claim the title is incredible.
‘I’m so used to being bridesmaid.’
The previous captain also saw the silver lining to a lack of visiting opposition, adding: ‘To have a HOYS just for me and not save my classes for the team event has been quite nice, really.’
