Class 1A Working Pony
1st Theodora Hopkin sriding Hunky Dory
2nd Jennifer Wilson riding Little Tinkerman
3rd Alicia Gee riding Eastlands Banker
4th Philippa Dawson-Coates riding Westwick Sam

Class 1B Working Horse
1st Jerry Chadwick riding Danny C
2nd Natasha Wannop riding Eden Fourth Addition
3rd Sarah Oliver riding Two Tone Arturo
4th Charlotte Mooney riding Otis III
5th Shirley Bennett riding Crosstana Rebel
6th michelle Bowley riding Colour Graphix

Class 2 Riding Horse Hack
1st Rachel Holmes riding Piper’s Royal Sonata
2nd Sophie-Anne Cartmell riding Stanley Grange Regal Consort
3rd Annie MCAndrew riding Sky
4th Nikk Wilde riding Soprano
5th Dawn Chadwick riding Hayestown Danny
6th Poppi Shepherd riding Sir Tantallus Hawk

Class 3 Show Hunters
1st John Wilson riding Silver Dream Spirit
2nd Charlotte Mooney riding Otis III
3rd Jerry Chadwick riding Danny C
4th Sarah Oliver riding Two Tone Arturo
5th Chrissie Havis riding Breithla Capali
6th Charlotte McCullock riding Swallow Hyrst Tyra

Class 4 Mountain and Moorland
1st Charlotte Marshall riding Pentrefelin Ladykiller
2nd Alicia Gee riding Eastlands Banker
3rd Kate Sanderson riding Hillgarth Golden Opportunity
4th Abigail Walton riding Corstan Rhianna
5th Caroline Redpatch riding Struan of Inverdarroch
6th Susan Hay riding Waverhead Romance

Class 6 Cobs
1st Louise Whitely-Guest riding Red Robin III
2nd Michelle Bowley riding Colour Grapphix
3rd Julie Bright riding Dylan
4th Nichola Mountain riding Great Expectations
5th Charlotte Mooney riding Fancy That
6th Marion Hutcheson riding Brookdale Las Vegas

Families on top at Alnwick Ford SEIB Search for a Star 

SEIB Search for a Star headed north for the series’ penultimate qualifier of the 2018 season on the 8th July. The lovely Alnwick Ford Equestrian Centre in Northumberland was the venue. This is the first time a qualifier has been held at Alnwick and the Search for a Star team are keen for a return visit next year. It was very much a day for family success with several horses owned by mothers and ridden by their daughters going home with their tickets for HOYS and the new Search for a Star M&M final at Your Horse Live.

Working Pony

Theodora Hopkins riding Claire Robinson’s pony, Hunky Dory were the winners of the working pony class. Theodora said: “It is unbelievable to be off to HOYS, it is the sort of thing that only happens to other people!” Hunky Dory qualified for the SEIB Search for a Star Riding for the Disabled (RDA) championships earlier in the season with another rider. Theodora continued: “Going to the qualifier at Alnwick was a bit of an add on, so it makes it even more exciting to have won. Dory’s owner Claire is like a second mother to me, I have known her since I was 8-years-old and helped out at her yard for years.” Theodora works as a social worker and spends her weekends with the horses. She said: “The social work and the horses go really well together, there are specialist schools in the area that provide equine therapy as it can really support children’s behaviour. The experience that I have with working with the RDA ties in well with my work. It is really lovely when some of my clients at work have been doing riding therapy and then they tell me about it and realise that I have an understanding of horses and don’t just spend my entire life sat in an office.”

Claire runs her yard and riding school, Robinsons Equi Teach in Great Ayton. She has owned Dory since he was just a foal. She said: “I had just been made redundant and used the cheque to buy Dory. Theodora helped break him in and he has always been her pet so this is just so lovely that they are off to HOYS. I’d like to think that we will have a load of people from the yard travelling down to Birmingham to watch them. The judges at Search for a Star are so helpful and we are very much looking forward to going to the Search for a Star training day. Our ponies all have a really varied life. I like them to have great personalities and do a bit of everything including taking part in the RDA lessons.” Dory competes in just about everything from showing to one day events and he is a favourite with members of the Stokesley RDA Group who are based at Claire’s yard.

Working Horse
In the working horse class Sarah Oliver riding her mother, Julia Oliver’s, Two Tone Arturo took third place. Sarah and ‘Midget’ as he is known have done everything together including British Eventing classes, dressage, showjumping and working hunter. Sarah said: “Going to HOYS was a childhood dream, I am so looking forward to it. Midget is part of the family, my mum bought him for me to bring on, but he is here to stay. I always had ponies but got too tall for them so they were sold on. Midget is 16.2hh so he should last a long time!” Sarah works as a receptionist for a software company in Sunderland, she continued: “I was delighted to see that Search for a Star have put on this new qualifier, we have been to the qualifier down in Osbaldeston before, but it is so lovely to now have this one that is only half-an-hour away.”

Riding Horse Hack

Rachael Holmes riding her own, Piper’s Royal Sonata won the riding horse hack class. Rachael bred ‘Darcy’ herself from a mare she had previously rescued with the hope that he might one day qualify for HOYS. She said: “It is literally a dream come true. We came so close at the last Search for a Star qualifier at Bury Farm and then decided to just go for it and make the 190 odd mile journey from Derbyshire up to Northumberland. I am so glad that we did.” Rachael and Darcy benefit from a lesson each week with Dinah Rose. Rachael added: “Darcy’s way of going has improved so much and he is still only six. We have only been to a few shows so far this year and I plan to do some novice classes for the rest of the season and maybe take him to Equifest so he gets a chance to experience a show with a big atmosphere.” Rachael and Darcy also compete in endurance riding and have done plenty of pleasure rides. Rachael fits in looking after and riding Darcy around her job as a textiles design manager.

Taking runner up spot in the riding horse hack class was Sophie-Anne Cartmell riding her mother, Karen Cartmell’s Stanley Grange Regal Consort. Fifteen-year-old Sophie has had ‘Quest’ for two-years and he was bought to show. Sophie said: “We are having an amazing year, we went to the Search for a Star qualifier at Osbaldeston and were pulled in top but ended up in 4th place. We have gone away and done our homework and now we have our HOYS ticket to join the Royal International ones.” Sophie and Quest have also qualified for the Royal International Horse Show in the Part-Bred and Home Produced Intermediate classes. She continued: “I want to work with horses and hope to learn a lot from going to these shows. My mum is just great and is so enthusiastic about helping us.” Sophie attends Parkside School in Wilsden.

Class 1A Working Pony
1st Theodora Hopkin sriding Hunky Dory
2nd Jennifer Wilson riding Little Tinkerman
3rd Alicia Gee riding Eastlands Banker
4th Philippa Dawson-Coates riding Westwick Sam

Class 1B Working Horse
1st Jerry Chadwick riding Danny C
2nd Natasha Wannop riding Eden Fourth Addition
3rd Sarah Oliver riding Two Tone Arturo
4th Charlotte Mooney riding Otis III
5th Shirley Bennett riding Crosstana Rebel
6th michelle Bowley riding Colour Graphix

Class 2 Riding Horse Hack
1st Rachel Holmes riding Piper’s Royal Sonata
2nd Sophie-Anne Cartmell riding Stanley Grange Regal Consort
3rd Annie MCAndrew riding Sky
4th Nikk Wilde riding Soprano
5th Dawn Chadwick riding Hayestown Danny
6th Poppi Shepherd riding Sir Tantallus Hawk

Class 3 Show Hunters
1st John Wilson riding Silver Dream Spirit
2nd Charlotte Mooney riding Otis III
3rd Jerry Chadwick riding Danny C
4th Sarah Oliver riding Two Tone Arturo
5th Chrissie Havis riding Breithla Capali
6th Charlotte McCullock riding Swallow Hyrst Tyra

Class 4 Mountain and Moorland
1st Charlotte Marshall riding Pentrefelin Ladykiller
2nd Alicia Gee riding Eastlands Banker
3rd Kate Sanderson riding Hillgarth Golden Opportunity
4th Abigail Walton riding Corstan Rhianna
5th Caroline Redpatch riding Struan of Inverdarroch
6th Susan Hay riding Waverhead Romance

Class 6 Cobs
1st Louise Whitely-Guest riding Red Robin III
2nd Michelle Bowley riding Colour Grapphix
3rd Julie Bright riding Dylan
4th Nichola Mountain riding Great Expectations
5th Charlotte Mooney riding Fancy That
6th Marion Hutcheson riding Brookdale Las Vegas

Families on top at Alnwick Ford SEIB Search for a Star 

SEIB Search for a Star headed north for the series’ penultimate qualifier of the 2018 season on the 8th July. The lovely Alnwick Ford Equestrian Centre in Northumberland was the venue. This is the first time a qualifier has been held at Alnwick and the Search for a Star team are keen for a return visit next year. It was very much a day for family success with several horses owned by mothers and ridden by their daughters going home with their tickets for HOYS and the new Search for a Star M&M final at Your Horse Live.

Working Pony

Theodora Hopkins riding Claire Robinson’s pony, Hunky Dory were the winners of the working pony class. Theodora said: “It is unbelievable to be off to HOYS, it is the sort of thing that only happens to other people!” Hunky Dory qualified for the SEIB Search for a Star Riding for the Disabled (RDA) championships earlier in the season with another rider. Theodora continued: “Going to the qualifier at Alnwick was a bit of an add on, so it makes it even more exciting to have won. Dory’s owner Claire is like a second mother to me, I have known her since I was 8-years-old and helped out at her yard for years.” Theodora works as a social worker and spends her weekends with the horses. She said: “The social work and the horses go really well together, there are specialist schools in the area that provide equine therapy as it can really support children’s behaviour. The experience that I have with working with the RDA ties in well with my work. It is really lovely when some of my clients at work have been doing riding therapy and then they tell me about it and realise that I have an understanding of horses and don’t just spend my entire life sat in an office.”

Claire runs her yard and riding school, Robinsons Equi Teach in Great Ayton. She has owned Dory since he was just a foal. She said: “I had just been made redundant and used the cheque to buy Dory. Theodora helped break him in and he has always been her pet so this is just so lovely that they are off to HOYS. I’d like to think that we will have a load of people from the yard travelling down to Birmingham to watch them. The judges at Search for a Star are so helpful and we are very much looking forward to going to the Search for a Star training day. Our ponies all have a really varied life. I like them to have great personalities and do a bit of everything including taking part in the RDA lessons.” Dory competes in just about everything from showing to one day events and he is a favourite with members of the Stokesley RDA Group who are based at Claire’s yard.

Working Horse

In the working horse class Sarah Oliver riding her mother, Julia Oliver’s, Two Tone Arturo took third place. Sarah and ‘Midget’ as he is known have done everything together including British Eventing classes, dressage, showjumping and working hunter. Sarah said: “Going to HOYS was a childhood dream, I am so looking forward to it. Midget is part of the family, my mum bought him for me to bring on, but he is here to stay. I always had ponies but got too tall for them so they were sold on. Midget is 16.2hh so he should last a long time!” Sarah works as a receptionist for a software company in Sunderland, she continued: “I was delighted to see that Search for a Star have put on this new qualifier, we have been to the qualifier down in Osbaldeston before, but it is so lovely to now have this one that is only half-an-hour away.”

Riding Horse Hack

Rachael Holmes riding her own, Piper’s Royal Sonata won the riding horse hack class. Rachael bred ‘Darcy’ herself from a mare she had previously rescued with the hope that he might one day qualify for HOYS. She said: “It is literally a dream come true. We came so close at the last Search for a Star qualifier at Bury Farm and then decided to just go for it and make the 190 odd mile journey from Derbyshire up to Northumberland. I am so glad that we did.” Rachael and Darcy benefit from a lesson each week with Dinah Rose. Rachael added: “Darcy’s way of going has improved so much and he is still only six. We have only been to a few shows so far this year and I plan to do some novice classes for the rest of the season and maybe take him to Equifest so he gets a chance to experience a show with a big atmosphere.” Rachael and Darcy also compete in endurance riding and have done plenty of pleasure rides. Rachael fits in looking after and riding Darcy around her job as a textiles design manager.

Taking runner up spot in the riding horse hack class was Sophie-Anne Cartmell riding her mother, Karen Cartmell’s Stanley Grange Regal Consort. Fifteen-year-old Sophie has had ‘Quest’ for two-years and he was bought to show. Sophie said: “We are having an amazing year, we went to the Search for a Star qualifier at Osbaldeston and were pulled in top but ended up in 4th place. We have gone away and done our homework and now we have our HOYS ticket to join the Royal International ones.” Sophie and Quest have also qualified for the Royal International Horse Show in the Part-Bred and Home Produced Intermediate classes. She continued: “I want to work with horses and hope to learn a lot from going to these shows. My mum is just great and is so enthusiastic about helping us.” Sophie attends Parkside School in Wilsden.

Show Hunter

A Donkey Sanctuary Manager won the hunter class at Alnwick. John Wilson and his own Silver Dream Spirit took the spoils to much delight. John said: “I am quite surprised and chuffed to bits. I am 55-years-old and only began riding properly when I got Silvester 6 years ago. I am very lucky to have such a good horse and we are having quite a special journey together. We took 3rd place in the hunter class at the Royal Highland show at Edinburgh and my partner Diana said that Silvester deserves a chance at qualifying for HOYS. I think we have been really lucky that we are now – all being well – heading there. The conformation judge at Alnwick said that we need to work on Silvester’s paces so I have already lined up some dressage help over the next few months. I should think HOYS will be a once in a life-time experience!”

Mountain & Moorland

There were some great entries in the new SEIB Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland qualifier at Alnwick which was judged by Jerome Harfoth and Barbara McGrath. This class is brand new this year and the final will be held at Your Horse Live at Stoneleigh in November.

Taking first place were Charlotte Marshall and her own Welsh Section D, Pentrefelin Ladykiller. Charlotte has owned Charlie for five years. She said: “I can’t believe we have gone and won! We have done a bit of showing at local level and a few county shows. We go showing for a nice day out, so to win this is an absolute bonus. Charlie isn’t always the easiest but we go and get on with it. The conformation judge at Alnwick was particularly helpful, I got some really great advice about how to get him to stand up properly”. Charlotte has worked for Royal Mail for the 31 years since she left school, she continued: “I have done a bit of everything in my job. It fits in well around the horses. I’ve had three section D’s over the years and they live on DIY livery. They are really fun ponies”. Charlotte and Charlie will go to some local agricultural shows in the run up to the Search for a Star M&M finals and the pair have also qualified for he British Dressage Native Championships. “The main thing is that Charlie stays fit, sound and safe” Charlotte added.

Alicia Gee and her mother Emma Howard’s Connemara pony, Eastlands Banker took second place in the M&Ms at Alnwick. Sixteen-year-old Alicia said: “I am really excited to be going to Your Horse Live. Bertie is just the best behaved pony, this will be the first time we have done anything like this. We have been to some of the Search for a Star qualifiers before – in the working pony class – and the best we have managed up until now has been third”. Alicia works at Oakfields Equestrian Shop and she and Bertie also compete in WHP classes and cross country in addition to showing. Alicia added: “I was just so overwhelmed when I realised we had qualified, we will definitely do some practising in an arena with some music and I plan to aim at the working pony class in Search for a Star next year”.

Abigail Walton and Welsh Section C, Corstan Rihanna who is owned by Abigail’s mother, Alison Walton, did well. Rihanna is fifteen-year-old Abigail’s pride and joy. Alison said: “It is just fantastic. She is only six and we haven’t done masses of showing. It is all a bit of a shock!” Abigail has just finished her GCSE’s, at Manor Church of England School in York, she said: “I am going to do loads with Rihanna over the holidays and we are going to practise like mad for the finals. I have never been to Your Horse Live and it will be great to be a part of it and to get to see everything. This is the first time we have been to Search for a Star and the venue for the qualifier was just perfect”.

Cob

Louise Whitely-Guest and her own, pure-bred Irish Draught, Red Robin III won the cob class at Alnwick. Louise said: “It was totally worth the journey up from Bradford, we went to the Osbaldeston Search for a Star qualifier and were pulled in second and then dropped down to fourth overall. I am so glad we decided to have another go. I have had bad luck with horses I have had previously and Bobbins has just been brilliant in helping me achieve my goal of HOYS qualification. I have never had a cob before – it was always thoroughbreds and warmbloods before him, I have owned him for two years now and he is so much fun”. Louise works full-time as a police officer providing safeguarding in a special needs school. She said: “The children were ecstatic to hear that me and Bobbins are off to HOYS!”

In second place in the cob class were Michelle Bowley and her smart skewbald, Colour Graphix. Michelle who lives in Cheshire said: “Henry has exceeded all my expectations. I have owned him for eighteen months now and we have done a bit of showing. I was looking for a nice horse and am so glad I own him. We will go and do some more shows and a bit of dressage over the summer in the run up to HOYS. Henry lives like a king on the farm and I wouldn’t have it any other way”. Michelle works as a book-keeper.

A Donkey Sanctuary Manager won the hunter class at Alnwick. John Wilson and his own Silver Dream Spirit took the spoils to much delight. John said: “I am quite surprised and chuffed to bits. I am 55-years-old and only began riding properly when I got Silvester 6 years ago. I am very lucky to have such a good horse and we are having quite a special journey together. We took 3rd place in the hunter class at the Royal Highland show at Edinburgh and my partner Diana said that Silvester deserves a chance at qualifying for HOYS. I think we have been really lucky that we are now – all being well – heading there. The conformation judge at Alnwick said that we need to work on Silvester’s paces so I have already lined up some dressage help over the next few months. I should think HOYS will be a once in a life-time experience!”

Mountain & Moorland

There were some great entries in the new SEIB Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland qualifier at Alnwick which was judged by Jerome Harfoth and Barbara McGrath. This class is brand new this year and the final will be held at Your Horse Live at Stoneleigh in November.

Taking first place were Charlotte Marshall and her own Welsh Section D, Pentrefelin Ladykiller. Charlotte has owned Charlie for five years. She said: “I can’t believe we have gone and won! We have done a bit of showing at local level and a few county shows. We go showing for a nice day out, so to win this is an absolute bonus. Charlie isn’t always the easiest but we go and get on with it. The conformation judge at Alnwick was particularly helpful, I got some really great advice about how to get him to stand up properly”. Charlotte has worked for Royal Mail for the 31 years since she left school, she continued: “I have done a bit of everything in my job. It fits in well around the horses. I’ve had three section D’s over the years and they live on DIY livery. They are really fun ponies”. Charlotte and Charlie will go to some local agricultural shows in the run up to the Search for a Star M&M finals and the pair have also qualified for he British Dressage Native Championships. “The main thing is that Charlie stays fit, sound and safe” Charlotte added.

Alicia Gee and her mother Emma Howard’s Connemara pony, Eastlands Banker took second place in the M&Ms at Alnwick. Sixteen-year-old Alicia said: “I am really excited to be going to Your Horse Live. Bertie is just the best behaved pony, this will be the first time we have done anything like this. We have been to some of the Search for a Star qualifiers before – in the working pony class – and the best we have managed up until now has been third”. Alicia works at Oakfields Equestrian Shop and she and Bertie also compete in WHP classes and cross country in addition to showing. Alicia added: “I was just so overwhelmed when I realised we had qualified, we will definitely do some practising in an arena with some music and I plan to aim at the working pony class in Search for a Star next year”.

Abigail Walton and Welsh Section C, Corstan Rihanna who is owned by Abigail’s mother, Alison Walton, did well. Rihanna is fifteen-year-old Abigail’s pride and joy. Alison said: “It is just fantastic. She is only six and we haven’t done masses of showing. It is all a bit of a shock!” Abigail has just finished her GCSE’s, at Manor Church of England School in York, she said: “I am going to do loads with Rihanna over the holidays and we are going to practise like mad for the finals. I have never been to Your Horse Live and it will be great to be a part of it and to get to see everything. This is the first time we have been to Search for a Star and the venue for the qualifier was just perfect”.

Cob

Louise Whitely-Guest and her own, pure-bred Irish Draught, Red Robin III won the cob class at Alnwick. Louise said: “It was totally worth the journey up from Bradford, we went to the Osbaldeston Search for a Star qualifier and were pulled in second and then dropped down to fourth overall. I am so glad we decided to have another go. I have had bad luck with horses I have had previously and Bobbins has just been brilliant in helping me achieve my goal of HOYS qualification. I have never had a cob before – it was always thoroughbreds and warmbloods before him, I have owned him for two years now and he is so much fun”. Louise works full-time as a police officer providing safeguarding in a special needs school. She said: “The children were ecstatic to hear that me and Bobbins are off to HOYS!”

In second place in the cob class were Michelle Bowley and her smart skewbald, Colour Graphix. Michelle who lives in Cheshire said: “Henry has exceeded all my expectations. I have owned him for eighteen months now and we have done a bit of showing. I was looking for a nice horse and am so glad I own him. We will go and do some more shows and a bit of dressage over the summer in the run up to HOYS. Henry lives like a king on the farm and I wouldn’t have it any other way”. Michelle works as a book-keeper.