[dropcap style=”font-size: 70px; color: #052b51; font-family: ‘Droid Serif’, Arial, sans-serif;”] N [/dropcap] icola Sime recently competed in the Galencia South African Derby 2014 on her two top horses, Sunny Park Stables’ Connoisseur & Sunny Park Stables’ El Paso. The Galencia South African Derby 2014 is considered the highlight on the equestrian calendar for the year. Nicola did us proud.

The Derby is a testing track of solid elements like a bank and dyke combined with showjumps. It is a long and tedious track. The Derby is usually won by a clear round. Last year, Nicola had a clear with El Paso but ended up in a jump off and finished third. This year she jumped a textbook clear on Connoisseur. An impressive feat – two clears in two years on two different horses!

Nicole Horwood and Mark White Nissan’s Capital Don Cumarco also went clear and the two had to jump off. Nicole just pipped Nicola at the post which meant Nicola finished in second place on Connoisseur while also finishing 4th on El Paso, who knocked one pole down.

We are so very of Nicola but also of Connoisseur’s groom John, who received a long service award at the derby as well.

Nicola’s pupils also did very well. Lorraine Porter and First Class, a young Thoroughbred she has been producing under Nicola’s watchful eye competed in the final of the Young Horse Performance Series and received the award for Best South African bred potential showjumper and best Thoroughbred. Michelle Wilson’s Chaka, who Nicola has been instrumental in schooling up, was awarded Best Namibian Warmblood.

All in all it was a fantastic weekend. Well done everyone!