Results 

These are the class results, but they may not all qualify for HOYS due to passport irregularities or at the judge’s discretion or where the same rider has qualified twice or where the horse or rider do not meet all eligibility requirements.

Working Hunter
1st Broomfield Brazil, owned by Mrs Clare Crocker and ridden by Alice Crocker of Newton Abbott, Devon
2nd Jackson Diamond, owned by Mrs Liz Webster and ridden by Vicky Heal of Glastonbury, Somerset

Riding Club Show Horse
1st Izzy Bizzy, owned and ridden by Paul Taylor of Gwent, South Wales
2nd Newferry Maverick, owned by Mrs Pat Faulkner and ridder by Lauren Bullock of Abergavenny, Mons

Show Hunter
1st Rustic Midnight Moonshine, owned by Mr Anthony Wilkes and ridden by Nicola Wilkes of Caerphilly, Mid Glamorgan
2nd Buckingham Boys, owned and ridden by Mrs Clare Poole of Westbury-upon-Severn, Glos

Ponies
1st Sycamore Showgirl, owned by Mrs Jacqui Dawe and ridden by Annie Dawe of Bridgewater, Somerset
2nd Ridmour Petit Fleur, owned by Mrs Jill Ridley and ridden by Alice Spink of Egham, Surrey

Riding Horse Hack
1st With a Twist, owned and ridden by Miss Hannah Rummey of Crawley Down, West Sussex
2nd Rubens Star Attraction, owned and ridden by Miss Jazmin Hosgood of Tauton, Somerset

Cobs
1st Arthers Pride, owned by Mr and Mrs Freemantle and ridden by Catherine Lockyer of Fordingbridge, Hants


Report

The 2012 South Essex Insurance Brokers Search For A Star Championship qualifiers continued at Badgworth Arena, Somerset, where strong entries competed for the chance to attend The Horse Of The Year Show finals, held at the NEC Birmingham in October. Yet again there was proof that persistence pays off as competitors from earlier qualifiers came back to claim a winning spot.

Working Hunter
The day started with the Working Hunters, judged by Richard Ramsey and David Ingle. First place went to Broomford Brazil, owned by Clare Crocker and ridden by her daughter Alice Crocker, 15. Alice has had the 14 year old chestnut mare for 5 months, having lost her previous pony to colic.

“I was not sure if I wanted a horse, but she was not far away and when I went to try her I just loved her”, said Alice. “I wanted to do a bit of everything and we do some show jumping, cross-country, and Pony Club teams with the South Devon Pony Club”.

This was only the combinations second time competing in working hunter classes, having previously won the Novice class at Devon County Show. They have been placed in BSJA competitions and were part of the team that came second at Devon County Show and have also qualified for Scope Festival. “She is a real all rounder and loves what she does. She did eventing with her previous owner but the boy who rode her grew out of her”, explained Alice.

“When we got here and saw the others, they looked so nice I thought we would just have a bit of fun, I never thought we would win! I was quite intimidated while warming up before the class, but she jumped really well. I have been to HOYS to watch, it is going to be crazy!” said Alice who is studying for GCSEs at South Dartmoor Community College and looks after Brazil and her Dartmoor pony before and after school.

Second place went to Vicky Heal, 26, riding Liz Webster’s Jackson Diamond. Liz has owned the 9 year old grey gelding for 4 years, having bought him to hunt with the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale. “We decided to do a bit of showing with him in the summer to try to keep the weight off. He has also done a bit of BSJA”, said Vicky. Last year he won the working hunter class at a local show at Somerton but this is his first show this year.

Liz has always wanted a horse in the main arena at Bath & West and thought it could be Jack”, said Vicky, who works with horses. As well as helping out at a breaking and training yard, Vicky rides and trains her own two point to point racehorses and an eventer. She has had one point to point winner last season and recently completed her first 2* event. “We will try to do Wincanton show with Jack and then he will start cubbing in August, so he should be slimmer and fit for hunting before HOYS”, she said. “He really loves his hunting and is quite happy jumping hedges, he loves the big jumping days with the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale. We went to watch at HOYS last year to see what it was all about, I don’t think he will be fazed by it and I am getting excited already!” added Vicky. “Vicky has formed a good partnership with Jack, we will do more shows and concentrate on slimming him down before HOYS. I am thrilled!” said Liz.

Riding Club Show Horse
First place went to Izzy Bizzy, owned and ridden by Paul Taylor. This 8 year old chestnut gelding by It’s the Business, was bred by Lucia Thomas. Paul broke him in and liked him so much he bought him to show jump. “He has not done a lot for the past 2 years. He has done mainly jumping and a little dressage with another rider” said Paul. “He won a lot in hand, including reserve champion as a 2 year old at Monmouth County Show. He has a big character, he loves people and hates rugs which he tries to take off. He is just a lovely person and a pleasure to have. I did the working hunter here 2 years ago and got a taste for showing. I brought 3 horses today, and just thought we would have a day showing. No-one is more surprised than me to win!” said Paul, 54, who runs a livery yard based at David Broom’s Event Centre in Chepstow where he has worked since he was 13 years old. Sadly, Izzy Bizzy’s passport had not been updated in time for the show so they miss out on HOYS qualification, but Paul plans to sort this out before heading to the next qualifier.

Second place went to Newferry Maverick, owned by Pat Faulkner and ridden by Lauren Bullock, 23. “Lauren lives at our house and has ridden our ponies ever since she was little”, said Pat. Maverick, as he is known, is irish bred by the stallion Limerick, and Pat has owned him for 5 months. Lauren has been showing a Connemara for the past 6 years but he was sold on so that they could buy Maverick. “We wanted something to jump and it is a bonus that he is also nice looking and even more important is his fabulous temperament” said Pat. “We wanted a fun horse to do riding club events and hunting and we wanted to do working hunter classes” she added. The pair had an unlucky two poles down in the Working Hunter class earlier in the day. “This is only our third show, we came because we thought we had a horse that fitted the class. We know he can jump, and it seemed worth having a try”, said Lauren, who works as a waitress in her uncle’s café. “Qualifiying for HOYS is a great achievement, I can’t believe it – it has not sunk in yet. Its lovely!” said Pat.

Show Hunter
First place went to Rustic Midnight Moonshine, owned by Anthony Wilkes and ridden by Nicola Wilkes. The 6 year old bay mare also known as “Monster” at home, is by Ski Dancer out of Rustic Dancer. Anthony has had the mare since she was 2 ½ years old, and bought her from the breeders, Mr and Mrs Evans, in Carmarthen, West Wales, and they still keep in touch with her progress. Monster won in hand at the Royal Welsh and Royal Cornwall as a 3 year old and they have started to do some working hunter classes, winning at local level.. “I bought her to show and hunt with the Glamorgan and the Pentyrch”, said Anthony. “We were third here last year, and the judge told us to go home and build her up. She needed to mature, so we did our home work and it seems to have made a difference” said Nicola. The pair plan to do more shows before HOYS, and will hunt next season with the aim to do working hunters. “I have group lessons with Jan, a dressage instructor, and it has really helped. I didn’t expect this I thought it might be the same as last year. I can’t believe it, I am just so pleased. She will be having extra carrots tonight!” said Nicola, who started a new job as a sales rep in engineering, the day after Badgworth. “We do the horses in the morning and evenings to fit them in around work”.

Second place was awarded to Buckingham Boys, known as ‘Lovely’ at home, owned and ridden by Clare Poole, 33. Clare has owned the10 year old thoroughbred ex-racehorse, by Terimon, for 2 years having got him straight out of racing. He had been in training with Paul Webber but won his last race in April 2010, a point to point for Mark and Claudia Wilesmith. “Anything I have asked he has put his hoof to. He is one in a million. He has done BE eventing and dressage, finishing 4th at Cricklands Winter Dressage Championships. I wanted to show, so we have done everything to educate him to do it. He qualified for the Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) Challenge at Windsor. He was second at Three Counties ROR class, and he is fab to hunt, and great with my children”, said Clare. They plan to do the South West Ponies Championships, where they have qualified for in hand and ridden classes. Clare also plans to fit in some more dressage and eventing before HOYS. The pair will go hunting with the Ledbury next season. “It is a really good thing to get advice from the judges. They were very complementary. I want to do showing classes outside of the ROR and I might have a go at side saddle and do ladies hunter classes if he takes to it. You don’t get a chance to get feedback in a normal class. He behaved impeccably and now we are going to HOYS, I can’t believe it, it is unbelievable” said Clare, adding “He is generally good indoors, and I’d like to think that he will cope”. Before owning Lovely, Clare had a small hunter that died following a serious bout of laminitis. “I couldn’t see myself replacing him, so I started to look for something different as I wanted to jump and do workers, he was local so I went to see him and bought him from Mark and Claudia”.

Ponies
Richard Ramsay judged the Show and Show Hunter Ponies class. First place went to Sycamore Show Girl, owned by Jacqui Dawe and ridden by daughter Annie Dawe, 21. The 10 year old bay mare, called ‘Bibi’ at home, is by top pony stallion, Strinesdale Matador, out of Sweet Georgia Brown and the Dawe’s have owned her for 2 years. They previously had a show hunter pony and a section D and bought all three from show producer, Suzanne Cuthbert. Bibi competes as a Show Riding Type and has been placed at local level. “She broke her withers in the field in January last year, so she had to have 6 weeks box rest, then 3 weeks long reigning before we could start riding again”, explained Jacqui. “This is my last year in this class so it is brilliant to qualify” said Annie, who starts at Brighton University in September. The pair plan to go to Malvern and Grantham shows as well as BSPS Chard Show before heading to HOYS. “We run a cream tea business and this is our busiest time of year” says Jacqui. “We have been trying for years to qualify, and this is the first time I have won a sash. It will be nice to go to HOYS and experience it”, said Annie.

Second place went to Ridmour Petit Fleur, ridden by Alice Spink, 11, and owned by Gill Ridley. Gill bred the 8 year old bay mare and this is her first home bred that is going to HOYS. It is also Alice and
Fleur’s first season together as the pony has previously done some first ridden classes with another jockey. Alice also rides a coloured pony and a coloured Shetland and has qualified both of them for the RIHS. This is her first show pony class, “She’s lovely, and tonight I might dream of being at HOYS” said Alice, who is a student at Halstead School, Woking.

Riding Horse Hack
A high quality field gave the judges Richard Ramsay and David Ingle something to think about in the Riding Horse Hack class and after some deliberation, first place went to With A Twist, owned and ridden by Hannah Rummey. Hannah, 25, has owned the 10 year old bay gelding for 2 years, “I wanted an all-rounder with a nice personality and he fitted the bill. We have done dressage in the winter and light showing in novice and intermediate this year, and hacking”, she said. The pair finished 3rd at Windsor and won and stood champion at Ponies UK Winter Championships. “We did the qualifier at Bury Farm but we have been having some bitting issues and he did not go so well, so we thought we would come here and try again. There was a delay on the M4 on the way down but we made it and the 5 hour journey has paid off!” said a delighted Hannah, who works from home as a stock broker and fits in doing the horses around working hours. The pair plan to compete at Equifest and the BSPS Championships and the British Show Horse Association Championships before heading to HOYS. “This was our ambition, I didn’t think he would show to this level but we got some nice comments so I thought we would go for it! We have a bit more work to do before HOYS”, she said.

Second place went to Rubin Star Attraction, ridden by Jazmin Hosgood, 20, and owned by her father, Paul Hosgood. The Hosgoods bought the bay gelding, Rubin, as a rising 4 year old just backed to show. He is by top show pony stallion Diptford Star Attraction and was bred by Sandra Rogers. This was only Rubin’s 5th show and the pair had been thrown in at the deep end. They competed at the British Riding Horse show at Hand and stood second to Jayne Webber in the Open riding horse class, then at Devon County they finished 4th in Open riding horse and 4th in the Novice, at Bath and West they stood 4th in Open riding horse. “Our aim is to turn to workers. He is just very pleasurable. We have a few local agricultural shows and will then keep him for HOYS. We plan to start his jumping over the winter for next year. Jazmin has also started riding point to point, following in father’s footsteps, and has gained some good placings. “I have always wanted to ride at HOYS. I have ridden at the Royal International but dad always sold the ponies before we could get to HOYS” said Jazmin. “This time he is not going anywhere yet!” said Paul.

Cobs
The Cob class rounded off the day, judged by Richard Ramsay and ride judge Matthew Maher-Burns.

First place went to the impressive maxi cob, Arthurs Pride, owned by Martin and Victoria Freemantle and ridden by Catherine Lockyer. “Arthur was bred in Ireland by his namesake who wanted to breed one last hunting cob before he retired. This was the only horse that was given his name and he took him to the last meet of the season in Ireland and then sold him on”, explained Martin, who bought him from a dealer just over a year ago as a 5 year old. “He can be ridden by anyone and has done dressage and some local shows”, said Catherine who was overwhelmed by their victory. “I wanted to do SFAS because it is my dream to get to HOYS. I have done a bit of showing at County level on my welsh pony, but not big style, this is something new” said Catherine, who has lessons with Nicola Buchannan and Julia Dixon. Arthur was bought for Victoria and Martin to ride out hacking and hunting. He lives with them and Victoria looks after him and rides him at home, doing hacking and dressage. He did some autumn hunting with the New Forest last season. Catherine, who works in customer service, saw him and really wanted to have a go at showing. The pair plan to do more local shows to give Arthur a good education. “This means everything, it really has not sunk in yet”, exclaimed Victoria.

Second place went to Olivia Eyers, 32, with her own Parkwater, known as ‘Bumble’ at home. Olivia has owned the 8 year old bay gelding for just over a year, having previously ridden him when he was owned by the local hunt secretary. “She decided he was not for her and he was for sale, so I bought him. Everyone said I should show him, so I got a crash course in what to do and went to a few local shows last year. He always finished first or second”, explained Olivia. Thanks to the recent wet weather, many shows this year have been cancelled and the pair have only managed to get to two shows so far and finished first at both of them. “I have started to do side saddle with him and we came second in a Ladies Hunter class”, said Olivia, who works as a Programme Director for the Department of Health and hunts during the winter months with the Wilton Hunt. “Because of work I am away a lot so keeping him fit is a bit of a struggle. I have to rely on my family and friends – anyone can ride him, he is so easy and my Dad helps to keep him fit”, she said. Qualifying for HOYS came as a bit of a shock to Olivia but friends had already seen the potential. “I was told that he would be good at county level and that we should have a go at SFAS as it would be our best route to HOYS, so we decided to go for it. We now need lots of intensive tutoring before HOYS! I like my amateur status. He is my lovely hobby and keeps me sane”, said Olivia. The pair now plan to go to the New Forest Show for the Open Cob class.

Spillers Weighbridge
The Spillers Weighbridge was kept busy all day with enquiries and Spillers also gave prizes to the first and second in each class.

Absorbine Prizes
Absorbine grooming products have long been associated with impeccable turnout, particularly in the show ring, and they were pleased to give a bottle of ShowSheen 2-in-1 Shampoo or ShowSheen Stain Remover and Whitener to the first and second place in each class. Their ShowSheen hair polish and detangler is renowned and this brand has recently been expanded to include the shampoo and stain remover.