Nicola Gillam had a stellar first outing in the Devoucoux Adult Amateur Hunters at the April Spring Opener, piloting Laura Williams’ Costa de Will Z to championship honors. At just 7 years old, Costa de Will Z is impressing on all fronts and ready for a successful year in the three-foot division.

“I’m lucky enough I lease him from one of Justine’s sponsors in our barn and she does some of the smaller stuff on him,” Gillam, of Richmond, BC, explained. “I showed him a little bit last year in the 2’9” and this is our first show at the 3’.”

“He’s very, very kind,” Gillam said of what makes Costa special. “My favourite thing about him is how kind he is. He’s so forgiving and such a good amateur horse. He jumps really good—he sometimes jumps me out of the tack!”

With only smooth rounds put in this weekend, their overall performance was more than enough to take the top call in the division. Gillam hopes for much more to come as a partnership, but is grateful for any time she gets in the irons aboard Costa.

“It’s nice that Justine lets me have the rides on him,” she continued. “I hope to show him for a while in the Adults. He’s a special one and I think he’s going to be nice.”

Taking the Devoucoux Children’s Hunter championship was Seville with Isabella Ferrara aboard. The pair captured three blue ribbons in the division to lead to their overall win.