Working Hunter
1st, Madinson, owned and ridden by Rachel Graham of Penrith, Cumbria
2nd, Lauras Pride, owned by Sylvia Wrigley and ridden by Joann Ainsworth of Rossendale, Lancs,
Riding Club Show Horse
1st, Kyleen Elegance, owned and ridden by Nicola Corsley of Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancs
2nd, Kilcara Diamond, owned and ridden by Caroline Hawkins of Henton, Oxon
Show Hunter
1st, Sheer Ambition, owned and ridden by Julie Everett of Barnsley
2nd, Ronaldo, owned and ridden by Georgina Young of Poulton le Fylde, Lancs
Ponies
1st, Stanhopes Faith Hope & Glory, owned by Faith Crerand and ridden by Eina Crerand, 16, of Manchester
2nd, Cherrytop Disco Diva, owned by Jeanette Wakerley and ridden by Emily Myatt, 16, of Bolton, Lancs
Riding Horse Hack
1st, Mettlewood Mr Fahrenheit, owned and ridden by Zoe Whittle of Bolton
2nd, Mortomley Twighlight, owned and ridden by Lindsay Needham of Thornton, Lancs
Cobs
1st, Riverway Rupert, owned by Joanne Sharkey of Rossendale and ridden by Beverley Gowans of Accrington, Lancs
2nd, Troy Boy, owned by Susan Barker and ridden by Emma-Louise Maher of Langho, Blackburn
These are the winners of the classes but not all will qualify for Horse of the Year Show due to passport irregularities.
2011 SEIB Search For A Star gets underway
The 2011 South Essex Insurance Brokers Search For A Star Championship qualifiers got underway at Osbaldeston Equestrian Centre, Lancashire on 22nd May, where an entry of over 150 competed for the chance to attend The Horse Of The Year Show finals, held at the NEC Birmingham in October.
With this level of entries some of the classes were split into two sections before the final judging could take place. Well known and highly respected show judge, Richard Ramsay judged the Riding Horse/Hack, Cob, Ponies, Riding Club Show Horse, Show and Working Hunters and was assisted by ride judges Sara Leatherbarrow and Matthew Maher Burns. “At this venue, a good number of entries came forward and we are pleased that Search For A Star is so well supported by riders. This competition gives amateurs the chance to compete at HOYS, a dream which many riders would love to realise. There was a positive yet competitive atmosphere in all of the classes and the standard of horses and turnout at Osbaldeston improves each year”, commented Richard.
Working Hunter
The straightforward course was tackled by 11 entries, producing 7 clears for the final judging. The 6 year old Madinson, owned and ridden by Rachel Graham, headed the line-up, rewarding Rachel who broke her back in a fall last year, curtailing her showing ambitions until this season. Madinson, by the stallion Maximillian Maali, was bred by Denise Richardson and bought as an unbroken 3 year old by Rachel. She has brought him on herself and competes mainly in eventing. They decided to have a go at showing and stood supreme champion hunter at Dumfries Agricultural Show. Rachel, from Penrith, is currently studying for A levels.
Second place went to Joanne Ainsworth riding the 4 year old chestnut gelding, Laura’s Pride. Owned and bred by Leo and Sylvia Wrigley, who also bred the dam and grand dam, Laura’s pride is by the stallion, Polling and was bred for showing and jumping. He was backed just after Christmas and Joanne has brought him on, doing some cross country and riding on the beach to vary his routine. Joanne, a Home Delivery van driver from Rossendale, Lancashire, mainly does show jumping with her other horses.
Riding Club Show Horse
Twenty entries were required to negotiate trotting poles and two fences including a wall away from the line-up that caused some problems, putting 12 horses out and leaving just 8 for the final judging. Top spot went to the 5 year old Kyleen Elegance, known as “Woody”, owned and ridden by 25 year old Nicola Corsby from Blackpool. Nicola bought Woody as an unbroken 3 year old from Kavan sales in Ireland, having already got his half-brother by the same sire. He was bought with show jumping in mind and they won the 5 year old Sport Horse class at Myerscough Spring Show this year, but have done just one show class. “Mum loves showing and so the compromise was that this class included jumping and mum would do the plaiting”, said Nicola, a trainee Science Teacher. The pair plan to do more show jumping this season.
Second place went to Caroline Hawkins with her own 11 year old, Kincara Diamond. “I bought her as an unbroken 3 year old at Goresbridge sales in Ireland and she has been home produced for ever. We have done a bit of everything, dressage, showjumping and eventing, but this is only the second time we have done any showing”. The pair trained with the 2008 Riding Club Rural Riders 2* European event team but sadly Kincara Diamond went lame and could not be part of the team. They competed in BSJA Newcomers and won Elementary dressage. Last year the mare had a foal and she has only been back in work for 12 weeks. Caroline, from Oxfordshire, is a mother of two and teaches at Pony Club. “We left at Midnight to get to Osbaldeston for the qualifier, but it was worth it”, she said.
Hunters
With 27 entries this class was split into two sections for the initial judging. When the top 4 horses in each section came together for the final assessment, Sheer Ambition, owned and ridden by 33 year old Julie Everett of Barnsley, took the top spot. Julie has owned the 5yo bay gelding for 18 months having bought him as an unbroken 3 year old at Cavan sales in Ireland, to bring on with showing in mind. Nicola relates the seller’s story, “the seller told us that he was bought as a foal and swam, next to the boat, to an island on the River Shannon, where he stayed until he was 3, when he swam back to go to the sales”. Last year the pair contested 4 year old classes, and this was his first outing in 2011. “A friend suggested we gave SFAS a go and so we just came along”, said a delighted Julie, who plans to do novice and lightweight amateur classes this season. Julie works near Barnsley, looking after hunters for Joan Williams.
Second place went to Ronaldo, known at home as Dave, owned and ridden by 18 year old Georgina Young of Poulton-le-Fylde. Georgina has owned the 7 year old bay gelding for years, having bought him to do showing as well as a bit of dressage, jumping and hunting. They tried SFAS last year, coming third and so they decided to have another go this year. They also won the Amateur LS Hunter at Osbaldeston earlier this spring, qualifying for the RIHS, and came second at Myerscough. “We won’t be able to make the trip to the RIHS, so qualifying for HOYS is great”, said Georgina’s mother, Helen Young. “I never thought we would get to HOYS”, said Georgina, who works for World Horse Welfare Penny Farm, near Blackpool. She had previously done local level showing but this is the first horse she has had to do county level. “He is so good, and takes everything in his stride. I am sure that he will be fine at HOYS”, she said.
Ponies
A large entry of 20 ponies came before the judges who placed Faye Crerand’s beautiful show hunter pony, Stanhopes Faith, Hope & Glory, ridden by 16 year old Eina Crerand in top stop. Eina has had the 5 year old “Olly”, as he is known at home, for 2 years. “We got him as a 3 year old and backed him ourselves. He was not really ready for this last year but he is more mature now”, said Eina, who is currently doing GCSE’s”. The pair will do BSPS classes this year. “It is brilliant to go to HOYS. I have never been to HOYS but it will be brilliant to go”, she said.
Second place went to Cherrytop Disco Diva, owned by Jeanette Wakerley and ridden by her 16 year old daughter, Emily Myatt from Kearsley, near Bolton. They have owned the 9 year old bay mare for 4 years and they love showing. The pair were first Novice Show Hunter Pony at Ponies UK, 1st Show Pony at the Festival of Champions and 1st and reserve at North West Championships in 2009, 1st and Champion Show Hunter Pony at British Equine Show and 1st In-Hand and Reserve Supreme at Leigh & District Show. They tried to qualify for Search For a Star last year but just missed out, finishing 5th at Vale View and 4th at Osbaldeston, but 2011 has been successful and the pair are looking forward to the 2011 Horse of the Year Show. This is the last year Emily will be able to ride in this class and the pair will do more HOYS qualifiers and county shows before HOYS.
Riding Horse/Hack
A strong class of 35 entries caused a split into two sections, with the top 6 coming back for the final assessment. The 5 year old bay gelding, Mettlewood Mr Fahrenheit, by Mettlewood Jubilee Tribute and owned and ridden by Zoe Whittle, headed the class. “I have had him since a 2 year old and broke him in myself. He is a true gentleman and was fantastic to break – good in every way”, said Zoe. The pair finished 4th at the finals of the Cherif championship last year and will be competing in Novice Riding Horse and Large Riding Horse classes as well as trying to qualify for the Cherif again this season. They won and stood supreme on their first outing at UK Showing, and Search For A Star was only their second time out. “I am ecstatic with this result. I have been showing since I was 15 years old – that’s about 20 years, and now I am finally going to get to HOYS”, said Zoe, who works at the local shop and is supported at shows by her family.
Second place went to Lindsey Needham, of Poulton Le Fylde, riding her own Mortomley Twighlight Jasper, a 5 year old bay gelding that she has owned for the past 2 years. “I bought him as a 3 year old and he was broken last year and did 2 shows. We came second at Cheshire County in the Novice Riding horse as a 4 year old but we have done nothing much more than that”, said Lindsey. The pair plan to do Cheshire County again this year as well as some Cherif qualifiers. “He just takes everything in his stride and I am sure he will be fine at HOYS. He seems to lap up all the attention”, said Lindsey, a Vascular scientist at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
Cobs
Nine cobs contested the final class of the day, with Joanne Sharkey’s Riverway Rupert standing top, ridden by Beverley Gowans. Joanne, a hairdresser from Rossendale, Lancs, has owned the 6 year old for 2 years and, shortly after she got him, he stood on a nail and the vet was ready to put him down. However after 18 months of TLC he was brought back into work in February and friend, Beverley, a warehouse dispatcher from Accrington, started riding him. The pair have taken part in Pony Club shows and this was his 4th show so far this season, and he has won every time out. “We are so grateful that he is even here”, said an emotional Joanne. “Just to have taken part is wonderful but to win and qualify for HOYS is just a dream come true”. “I didn’t think he was quite ready for this but a friend bullied us to come and have a go and he was brilliant. Joanne does all the work getting him ready and I am really proud to ride him”, said Beverly. They aim to go to Equifest and do more showing before heading to HOYS in October.
Second place went to Susan Barker’s Troy Boy, ridden by Emma Maher who has had the 7 year old since December last year. “I got him on loan to do showing and so far he has not been out of the places. We usually do riding club level, but we might have a go at County level and Chaps now”, said a delighted Emma, 16, from Blackburn.
The South Essex Insurance Brokers Search For A Star Championship and Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship finals will be held at the Horse Of The Year Show, 4th – 9th October 2011, at NEC, Birmingham.
