Wymeswold showjumper toasts success at Hickstead Derby meeting

The Wymeswold-based rider notched up her first win in the Grade C Championship preliminary round, riding Michael Elvin’s PLS Halo Diamond.

She followed up with another win in the final of the class the following day to take the overall honours.

Gillott, who has ridden internationally for Great Britain, was the fastest of four combinations to jump double clear round the 1.30m track.

She then rode Jane Heerbeck’s Carolus K to victory in the Astore and Sons 1.35m Open Championship, to book her place in Hickstead’s iconic international arena.

The ??-year-old jumped clear and almost two seconds faster than her closest rival.

She then piloted Carolus to a solid seventh place in the British Speed Derby in a high quality 28-strong field.

Gillott had two further rides around the famous international arena in the Tom Hudson derby Trophy.

Among 83 entries in this international competition, the Leicestershire rider finished 14th aboard Lammy Beach and mid-field in 42nd on Quality Old Joker.

She narrowly missed out on a second national win in the 7 and 8-Year-Old Championship with PLS Halo Diamond.

They were one of just seven combinations to go clear and one of only three to go clear once more in the jump-off.

But she had to settle for the runners-up spot on time, finishing just half-a-second behind Irish winner Shane Breen and Silbermond.