North of England Summer Show SEIB Search for a Star qualifiers
SEIB Insurance Brokers’ Search for a Star headed to Warren Farm near Liverpool on the 27th and 28th June. The venue held several SEIB Search for a Star Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifying classes along with four ridden Your Horse Live (YHL) qualifiers.
HOYS Qualifying Classes
The Show Hunters were the first SEIB Search for a Star class of the day into the ring. The win went to Chestnut gelding, Run for Red and his owner and rider, Deana Bamford from Coppull in Lancashire. Deana has worked hard and getting Finn, as this seven-year-old is known, to win in the ring hasn’t been without it’s challenges. Deana explained: “Finn suffers from stage fright and I came to Search for a Star with no expectations and before the placings were announced, I was just so proud that he’d gone well. Then to find we’d won the class was beyond what I’d hoped!
“I’ve always done some showing both in-hand and ridden and then hit a spot after my horse went lame so my husband Steven and I went looking for a horse and Finn found us! We’d looked at several horses and nothing came up. We saw Finn and asked for some videos more so we could count him out. But there was something about him, he was rising three and was untouched and unhandled. He wasn’t strong enough to do much when he arrived with us, we went to a couple of shows but he didn’t really enjoy it. I decided to take him trail hunting instead and we went out with the Holkham Harriers for two seasons which he absolutely loved!
“We did a couple of shows last summer after the trail hunting and he still wasn’t enjoying it so at the start of this season we said we’d give showing one last go and he’s improved each time out. He won at Otley County Show and had his first ride judge at the Cumberland Show before improving again to then win Search for a Star! I’ve worked as a dental nurse for Horwich Dental Practice for 32 years now – I only applied for the job in the first place as the hours meant I finished at 3pm on a Friday which gave me time to get the horses ready for shows at the weekend! I’m very glad I did apply and get the job as it’s a great place to work.”
Ella Hunter and her stunning mare, Taste of Diamonds (Krystal) won the Riding Horse Hack class at North of England. This was also Ella and Krystal’s first go at Search for a Star. Ella said: “We were pulled in second which I thought was amazing and then she went well for the ride judge. I had no idea that we would win though – qualifying for HOYS is a lifelong dream! I’ve owned Krystal for a year and HOYS was our aim but I didn’t think it would happen in our first season together! I’ve shown at local level for 10 years on my other horse Elvis. I work as a Cardiac Physiologist in Wigan Hospital and often get up at 4.30am to ride before my shift. The horses provide a nice bit of downtime and I go both early and late each day to do them. Krystal and I have also qualified for Royal International this year.”
The Show and Maxi Cob Search for a Star qualifier went Lumcloon Susie ridden and owned by Morgan Yeomans. A delighted Morgan said: “I have no words for this! I’ve had Susie since she was a three-year-old, she’s nine now and it’s not been easy to get here! We’ve just kept going with it and the support I’ve had has meant we’ve never given up – I’m so glad we didn’t give up! This year it feels like it’s finally clicked; it’s unreal, I’ve been trying to qualify since I was doing First Riddens. I can’t wait to go to Birmingham in October and ride in there.
“I work as a groom for World Horse Welfare at Penny Farm, I’ve always had horsey jobs. I don’t have a horsey family but ever since I was five-years-old I decided I wanted horses. My mum Melanie Foster was a single parent since I was four and she has always done what she can to afford the horses and to give me opportunities with them.”
The SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier at North of England went to Scots Gold owned by Diane Wilson and ridden by Jacqueline Williamson. This pair took the reserve title in the HOYS Racehorse to Riding Horse championship last season in their first year showing. Diane said: “We bought Scots Gold last June and he qualified straightaway for HOYS and did so well. We weren’t expecting it as we know there was lots we needed to work on and improve. Scots Gold is maturing all the time and touchwood is unbeaten so far this season. He was champion at Dumfries and Galloway show, overall champion racehorse at the Royal Highland and he’s already qualified for the Royal International 2027!” Scots Gold came from former SEIB Search for a Star finalist back in 2013, Will Morton. Diane added: “We saw Scots Gold advertised and got in touch with Will straightaway. I’ve had ex-racehorses before with Jacqueline including the very successful, Scarlett Dragon.”
In the Traditional Gypsy Cob HOYS Search for a Star qualifier at North of England, the win went to fourteen-year-old Abby Parnell riding Helen Parnell’s, Angel of the North. Known as Maggie at home this mare was bred by Abby’s cousin, Katie Barker. Helen explained: “We went to my auntie’s wedding and while we were there we looked at and admired Katie’s foal, Maggie. At the time we weren’t looking to buy a pony. Maggie was sold to a dealer and then went on to another family. A while later we were looking for a family pony and a friend said they knew of one that would be great and it turned out to be Maggie! We bought her when she was four and she’s now nine, she’s been a proper family pony for us and it’s only recently we’ve been out showing, last year, in-hand and this year, ridden. We went to the Search for a Star qualifier at Rutland County in May and she and Abby came second before winning now! Abby only came off her Dartmoor pony last year and has done brilliantly so far with Maggie!”
Your Horse Live Qualifying Classes
The First Ridden SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live qualifier at North of England went to ten-year-old Tracey Eire and Laura Evans’ Dartmoor pony, Westown Royal Roulette, known as Rupert. Laura said: “Rupert is only a five-year-old and Tracey was over the moon to win this with him! The goody bag they won was phenomenal too! Tracey tries her heart out with Rupert, she has done everything with him. They’ve also qualified for the Royal International in the Pretty Polly.”
The only SEIB Search for a Star class open to any rider, including professionals, the Still a Star Open Veteran class at North of England was won by Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso ridden by Jordan Thexton and owned by Emma Burrow.
Welsh Section C pony, Dowelsbrook Black Jack and his thirteen-year-old rider, Betsie Neale won the Ridden Your Horse Live qualifying Mountain and Moorland class. Owned by Betsie’s mum, Lucy, this pair have had plenty of success over the past couple of seasons. Lucy said: “Jack was as good as gold on the day when they qualified, he can be very stubborn! We got him four years ago for Betsie to learn to ride on. She had never ridden and he was anything but a novice’s ride, but she’s got on and done everything with him. They do local level showing and Riding Club activities for Blackpool and Fylde. Betsie tries everything with Jack including dressage, showjumping and working hunter ponies. Betsie loves Welsh ponies and is looking forward to competing at the Royal Welsh Show. We go out and wing it every week, just the two of us and Jack!”
Search for a Star Organiser, Nicolina MacKenzie of the Absolutely Genuine Company said: “What a pleasure it was to have our Search for a Star qualifiers hosted by the North of England Summer Show. Our thanks go to Nigel Hollings and his team for putting on a superbly run show.”
“We had some fabulous horses and ponies forward for the first Northern Search for a Star qualifier of the season and hope to see those that haven’t yet qualified returning for future qualifying opportunities in the North of the country.”
Leading equine Insurance brokers, SEIB Insurance Brokers set up Search for a Star nearly 30 years ago and the company is renowned for ‘putting something back’ by supporting many equestrian events and activities in addition to Search for a Star.
Please see www.seib.co.uk/competitions or the SEIB Search for a Star facebook page for updates. To enter please use links from the SEIB Search for a Star Facebook page. Each qualifying show has a specific Search for a Star Facebook Event set up to include all information for that event.
SEIB have been providing expert insurance services for over 60 years. Renowned for their specialist equestrian insurance, SEIB offers tailored cover for horses, horseboxes, trailers, riders, and equestrian businesses, ensuring comprehensive protection and peace of mind. For more information on their range of services and to explore their bespoke insurance solutions, please visit seib.co.uk.
Results SEIB Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse North of England Summer Show
HOYS Qualifying classes:
Show Hunter – Run for Red owned and ridden by Deana Bamford from Lancashire
Riding Horse Hack – Taste of Diamonds owned and ridden by Ella Hunter from Wigan
Show and Maxi Cob – Lumcloon Susie owned and ridden by Morgan Yeomans from Lancashire
Racehorse to Riding Horse – Scots Gold owned by Diane Wilson and ridden by Jacqueline Williamson from Dumfries and Galloway
Traditional Gypsy Cob – Angel of the North owned by Helen Parnell and ridden by Abby Pernell from
Your Horse Live Qualifying Classes:
Mountain and Moorland Ridden – Dowelsbrook Black Jack owned by Lucy Neale and ridden by Betsie Neale from Lancashire
Open Ridden Veteran Horse and Pony – Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso owned by Emma Burrow and ridden by Jordan Thexton from Cumbria
First Ridden Type – Westown Royal Roulette owned by Laura Evans and ridden by Tracey Eire
Further SEIB Search for a Star and SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifiers 2026:
National Hunter Supreme Championship, Tuesday 11th to Wednesday 12th August, Addington EC, MK18 2JR. R2R ONLY.
Pony Club Championships, Sunday 22nd August, Offchurch Bury, CV33 9AW. Classes: Pony Club Members Only.
Greenlands Arena, Sunday 30th August, Carlisle, CA4 0RR. Classes: All HOYS and YHL SFAS and R2R classes.
The Showing Register, Saturday 5th September, NAEC Stoneleigh, CV8 2LA. Classes: All HOYS SFAS and R2R classes only. No YHL classes.
Defender Burghley, Sunday 6th September, Stamford, PE9 3JY. Classes: R2R Only.
BSHA National Championship, Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th September, Addington EC, MK18 2JR. Classes: R2R Only.
LIHS BSHA Rising Stars Show, Sunday 13th September, Addington EC, MK18 2JR. Classes: YHL Still a Star and Ridden M and M Only.
HOYS SEIB Search for a Star Championship, Wednesday 7th to Sunday 11th October, Birmingham NEC.
YHL SEIB Search for a Star Championship, Friday 6th to Saturday 7th November, NAEC Stoneleigh.
