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, Dream Breaker, owned and ridden by Cindie Bunce of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
2nd, Muskateer, owned and ridden by Jessica Abel Smith of Faringdon, Oxon
Riding Club Show Horse
1st, Sportsfield Sure Thing, owned and ridden by Maureen Aspinall of Tenbury Wells, Worcs
2nd, Wildfire Winds, owned by Mrs Sue Smith and ridden by Emma Buck of Bridgwater, Somerset
Riding Horse Hack
1st , Toncynfig Debutante, owned by Mrs Kimberly Rees and ridden by Holly Davis of Swansea, Wales
2nd, Tara Des, owned and ridden by Chelsey Bartlett of Weston Super Mare, Somerset
Show Hunter
1st, Howbeck Oki Doki, owned and ridden by Sarah Stobart of Wigton, Cumbria
2nd, Spirit Song, owned and ridden by Harriet Franklin of Camelford, Cornwall
Cobs
1st, Smudge, owned and ridden by Rebecca Williams of Helston, Cornwall
2nd, Finnegan III, owned and ridden by Dr Helen Merret of Carmarthenshire, Wales
Ponies
1st, Chester’s Sunny Boy, owned by Mrs Tracy Bayley and ridden by Hannah Bayley of Preston, Lancashire
2nd, Burrswood Kismet, owned by Mrs Yvonne Siddall and ridden by Charlotte Lucy Siddall of Poulton, Lancashire
Report
The 2013 South Essex Insurance Brokers Search For A Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifiers at Badgworth were well supported, with good entries causing several classes to be split for the preliminary judging and giving the judges, Richard Ramsay (conformation) and David Bartram (ride) plenty to do. Chris Lawson judged the ponies with Richard Ramsay. The Racehorse to Riding Horse class was judged by Sarah Chapman (conformation) and David Bartram (Ride).
Working Hunter
Eight entries came forward for the workers, and 6 jumped clear and went back for final judging. First place went to Dream Breaker, owned and ridden by Cindy Bunce, 38. Cindy has owned the 8 year old bay gelding, who’s stable name is Thomas, since he was a yearling, having bought him from his breeder, Dawn Slatter. “I had an older horse and bought the yearling because that’s what I could afford. He was broken in as a 3 year old and then turned away, and brought back into work as a 4 year old and I was able to bring him on while I still had the other horse to compete”, explained Cindy. The pair started show jumping and have won a British Novice and regularly compete at Newcomers level. They are members of Malvern Hills Riding Club and regularly do riding club activities. “He went a bit stale doing show jumping all the time, so I thought we would try some cross country and do things to give him something different to think about. This has really perked him up”, explained Cindy, who works as a builder with her husband, Roger. “We have our own business, and Roger does the building work and I do the finishing, kitchens, tiling, everything really. We are kept really busy and I have to fit in riding with work and looking after our 6 year old daughter, Peyton”, she said. “My friend, Steph Wooley, came second in the SFAS final at HOYS and she said that Thomas would be perfect for it. So I have tried to turn my show jumper into a show horse and I wanted to have a go at SFAS to see what they thought”, explained Cindy, who was helped by her friend, Shirley who had brushed the shark’s teeth patterns onto Thomas’s hind quarters. “I need to do more flat work before HOYS. He lives out in the field all the time, with lots of rugs on in the winter, as I think it is good for them to be outside.”
Second place went to Jessica Abel-Smith with her own Muskateer. Jessica has owned the 16 year old bay gelding for 3 ½ years. Jessica, who works for a charity college in Oxford, mainly hunts Muskateer, known as ‘Bonso’ at home, with the Heythrop, around the Cotswolds and Gloucester. “He is a true hunter, and his jump is his best asset” she added. They have competed in eventing both unaffiliated and affiliated BE 90. This is their first year showing together, and the SEIB SFAS is only their 4th show and their best result to date. “After competing in a few showing classes my instructor suggested we should try SEIB SFAS classes as it is really for the amateur, the jumps were big but we thought we’d give it a go” said Jessica. Jessica will now plan their preparation for HOYS with her instructor, she plans to give Bonso a little break as he has been hunting and competing all season, and then to bring him back in to do some more amateur showing classes and a BS course up to 1.10m to get them back into competition mode. “SFAS is fantastic as we got given constructive pointers to help us improve and I am really looking forward to the workshop. I have been buzzing around the office for the last week!”
Riding Club Show Horse
Ten horses came forward for the Riding Club Show Horse class, first tackling the trotting poles and two jumps before the second judging phase. First place went to Sportsfield Suir Thing, owned and ridden by Maureen Aspinall. Known as Joey at home, Maureen bought the 7 year old Irish Sport Horse for eventing. They started eventing last year and won their first BE90 competition and have qualified for the regional finals of the Badminton Grass Roots championship. “I am hoping that we will qualify for the finals at Badminton next year”, said Maureen, 60, who took Joey on holiday to Cornwall recently so that they could go in the sea and jump the waves. Maureen, a mum of 8 from Ware, Tenbury Wells, qualified in SFAS 2 years ago but her horse had problems and had to be withdrawn before HOYS. “To have a second chance is more than I could dream for. I really wanted to finish what I had started, but we do it for fun. We still have lots to learn and I would really like to have a go at doing working hunters”.
Second place went to Sue Smith’s Wildfire Winds, known as Breeze at home, ridden by Emma Buck, 28. Sue bred the 5 year old bay mare, who is by the ID stallion, On A High, out of a thoroughbred mare, Boux, who was by Cruise Missile. “I bred her for showing and as an all-rounder to do a bit of everything. Emma has known her since she was 6 months old and has backed her and brought her on”, said Sue, who works for the NHS as a Senior Manager for the Mental Health Trust. “This is their first proper season, so Breeze is really still a baby”, she added. “We did SFAS last year and came 5th, when she had only been backed for 2 months”, said Emma, a Veterinary Technician. The pair competed in their first 1-Day Event two weeks ago and finished on their dressage score with a double clear. They will go to Dunster and Honiton shows and do more local shows this year before heading to HOYS.
Riding Horse/Hack
Twenty five entries were split into two groups for the initial judging, and the top 6 came back for the final judging. First place went to Toncynffig Debutant, known as “Tan”, ridden by Holly Davies and owned by Kimberly Rees. Kimberly has owned Tan since she was a 3 year old and backed her with the aim of showing and breeding. Now 11 years old, Tan has had 1 foal and has been lightly shown. “We have kept her quiet, as she needed time and was slow to mature”, explained Kimberly. They have done some local shows and some at county level and the regional South West Ponies Association show at the David Broom Centre. “Tan and Holly really work well together, so we came to SFAS to have a go, and Holly really wanted to win a sash!” said Kimberly. “It is a huge team effort – Mat McGivern who owns the yard, Holly has her own horse at livery there, and friends from the yard all came along to help. We are all in shock, we are struck dumb”, she added. “Tan and Holly will do more local shows, pony club and riding club level, but we don’t overdo it. We didn’t really have a plan – Holly did her first ever show at the end of last year, so they are really just gaining experience. But they just clicked and are a great partnership” said Kimberly. Next year she plans to put Tan in foal again. “Tan is by the Hannovarian Stallion, Maat, out of Lady Ivor, who was by the Premium Thoroughbred Stallion, Big Ivor, who was owned by my father’s cousin, Derek Gethin. Mum and dad are really over the moon that we have qualified for HOYS with this horse whose bloodlines go back to a horse that was owned by the family”, said Kimberly.
Second place went to Tara Des, owned and ridden by Chelsey Bartlett, 22. Known as Des at home, Chelsey has owned the 6 year old bay gelding for 18 months. She was brought over from Ireland 2 years ago by yard owner, Helen Buffin, who backed and brought him on to sell. Chelsey bought her and kept her on the same yard. Her old thoroughbred horse had arthritis and is no longer able to be ridden, so Des was just what she wanted. The pair have qualified for the Royal International this year and will head to Hickstead for the small riding horse championship. “This is our first season and he is the most laid back 6 year old I have ever known, he should by lying down”, said Chelsey. “We had a late start to the season because of the weather, but we went to the Bath & West and the 3 counties shows and he took it all in his stride. He has a wicked personality – he just knows he is so good looking”, she added. The pair plan to do more county shows and the Royal international which will be a good preparation for HOYS. “He will cope with the atmosphere at HOYS, he is very responsive so should settle really well”, said Chelsey who works for Weston College as a Specialist Support Worker.
Show Hunter
The show hunter class was split for the preliminary judging, but when they came together for the final judging, first went to the 7 year old Howbeck Oki Doki, owned and ridden by Sarah Stobart, 20. Sarah has owned the bay gelding for 18 months having bought him to hunt and show. They have achieved both, hunting regularly with the Cumberland Foxhounds throughout the winter, and have qualified for the Royal International Horse Show in the Middle Weight Hunter class. They also won and stood champion at the Westmoreland County in 2012. “I will get more lessons and the judge suggested that I get Oki Doki fitter before HOYS, so I will be working on that”, said Sarah. “I had heard about SFAS and decided I would give it a go. I have always wanted to get to HOYS”, she added. Sarah works as an agricultural lecturer at Newton Rigg College, near Penrith, Cumbria and had a 5 hour drive to get to the qualifier at Badgworth. “It was definitely worth it, and the drive back will not seem so long”, she added. Sarah was accompanied by Oki Doki’s breeders, Claire Scott and her husband, who had travelled with her to see him compete. Oki Doki is by a Friesian stallion called Luiwe, out of a home bred thoroughbred mare. “Sarah has done a fantastic job with him. He has learned a lot of manners, I am really proud”, said Claire, also from Carlisle.
Second place went to Spirit Song, owned and ridden by Harriet Franklin, 25. Known as “Noodles” at home, Harriet has owned the 10 year old chestnut gelding for 5 years. Harriet has evented up to 1* level and Noodles’ main job is eventing. “Last weekend he won at Southcott doing BE80, and next weekend we will be off to do the Riding Club Horse Trials qualifier”, said Harriet. The pair returned to showing in 2012 after being advised to show him by her trainer, Katie Deitrich, and stood second in the light weight hunters at the Royal Cornwall Show. He also enjoys dressage and fun rides and the combination have represented Holsworthy & District Riding Club at dressage, combined training and eventing. Noodles is bred to event, by the Master Spiritus stallion, Grasslands Spiritus, out of Espiritu. The journey to Badgworth was fraught as Harriet had overslept. She had planned to leave home at 5.30am to give her plenty of time to travel and get Noodles ready for the ring. “I woke up at 7am and Noodles was still in the field. We had to rush to get ready and got to the event just in time to do our class”, said Harriet, who works as an equine dentist and fits in riding around her work. The pair plan to do more eventing this year and hope to move up to BE 90 level by the end of the season. They will also be doing local and Riding Club shows in preparation for HOYS. “I will also be working with my trainer, Katie Diethrick, who has given me lots of showing advice”.
Cobs
In the Cob class, first place went to Smudge, owned and ridden by Rebecca Williams, 22. Rebecca bought Smudge 10 years ago as a foal and backed and brought him on herself. They have competed in dressage, showing and riding club events and he is completely home produced. “This is the third sash he has won this year!”, enthused Rebecca. The pair have qualified for the Royal International Horse Show in the coloured cob classes and as a maxi cob. “He only became a cob in December. Last year I competed him in ridden coloured classes and he was plaited. But several judges suggested I take his mane off and try maxi cob classes and he has not looked back”. They won the Maxi cob class at the South West Equestrian Fair on their first outing in their new guise, and went on to qualify for the RIHS by winning first time out this year at Oakhampton. They also won and stood champion at Pontispool show. “He also loves jumping and we often do show jumping in BSJA Discovery classes”, said Rebecca, who had travelled from The Lizard in Cornwall to compete at Badgworth. The pair have also represented Three Waters Riding Club in showjumping teams and qualified for the Riding Club Championships. “I decided to continue with the showing after last year’s comments, and the judge today said he was a lovely type. He really is part of the family”, said Rebecca, who also has two children and works as a restaurant supervisor and on the family farm and camp site.
Second place went to Finnegan, owned and ridden by Helen Merritt, 59. “I am so made up to be going to HOYS”, she said. “I am just a very keen amateur; it is what everyone wants to do”. Helen has owned the 16 year old piebald gelding for 8 years, having bought him as an all-rounder to do a bit of everything. The pair have competed in coloured and cob classes at local and riding club shows, and have recently started competing at county level. They also do riding club activities with Towy Valley Riding Club, including dressage up to novice level, hacking and occasionally they go out hunting with the Banwen Miners hunt. “We like to do some small jumping just for fun. He moves beautifully, and is good at dressage. All the toddlers love him at the stables, where they call him Big Bob”, said Helen, who works part time for an engineering consultancy.
Ponies
Judged by Richard Ramsay and Chris Lawson, First place went to Chester’s Sunny Bay, ridden by Hannah Bayley, 14, and owned by her mother, Tracy Bayley. They have owned the 15yo bay gelding for 2 years and bought him to do showing, pony club activities and as a general all-rounder. “We got into showing and quite liked it so we decided to give SFAS a go”, said Tracy. “Hannah has always had ponies and done riding club shows, but we have never done anything as exciting as this!” The pair won the Show Hunter Pony and Equitation classes at the local riding club show and a friend suggested that they should have a go at SFAS. They have focussed on it this year, and this was their third attempt at a qualifier. “The feedback that we got from the judges really encouraged us to continue the dream and it has been amazing. Hannah is so determined and goes out every day and has practiced everything she has been told really hard. The judge had told her that she needed to work on his trot, and so she had been concentrating on that. Now they will be getting ready for Pony Club camp and will do some cross country jumping”, said Tracy. The pair will then do some BSPS area shows and concentrate on getting ready for HOYS. “We decided that if we were going to do it, then we needed to do it properly and it has really paid off”, added Tracy, who undertook the 5 hour drive from Preston, Lancashire, to Somerset for the qualifier. Hannah, a student at Longridge High School, was due to take a maths exam the following day and had spent the journey revising in the car. “It is very exciting” she said.
Second place went to Burrswood Kismet, known as Darcy at home, ridden by Charlotte Siddall, 21, and owned by her mother, Yvonne Siddall. The 7 year old Darcy has also qualified for the Cheriff championships in September and plan to compete at Ponies UK and the Northern Counties Ponies Association show later this season. Charlotte had been on a work placement teaching young children at an orphanage in Marakesh for 3 weeks and so they have had to travel to shows to compete so that it fits in with her work. The pair mainly compete in showing and hacking out locally. “He is a real Houdini and often escapes from his stable and starts letting the other horses out. He has a padded stable as he is always up to no good”, said Charlotte, who has to fit in riding around work and also has a Connemara pony. “This year we focussed on Darcy and getting to HOYS was our aim – it is everyone’s dream to compete there”, said Charlotte, who is training at the University of Cumbria in Lancaster, which means she can stay at home and still ride whenever she can. “We started out at 3.30am this morning, and had a tyre blow out on the trailer on the way down, but it was worth the journey”, she said.
