Impressive turnout at Bury Farm for SEIB Search for a Star Qualifier, 6th July 2014

Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2014 by Heather Dodd

Photos by smrphotos.co.uk

The fourth SEIB Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier of 2014 took place at Bury Farm in Slapton, Buckinghamshire on the 6th July.

The judges were rewarded with some very polished and consistent performances across the six Search for a Star classes. Regular Search for a Star judges, Richard Ramsay (conformation) and David Bartram (ride) were ably assisted on the day by ride judge and former Search for a Star Champion, Jordan Cook. Just the day before Bury Farm, Jordan won the Moulin Rouge £1,000 Championship final at the North of England Show at Arena UK with his former Search for a Star winning horse, Fleetwater Xecutive. Since he won SEIB Search for a Star in 2007, Fleetwater Xecutive has gone on to qualify for both HOYS and the RIHS in open classes every year. Search for a Star has been instrumental in the careers of both Jordan and Fleetwater Xecutive and the Search for a Star team are delighted at Jordan’s enthusiasm for putting something back into the series.

Five riders from the Central Horse News area were successful in attaining qualification for HOYS at Bury Farm.

Four clear rounds in the Working Hunter class went through to the final judging. First place went to Carlo, owned by Davina Brown and ridden by Kristina Brown from Wallingford in Oxfordshire. Davina has owned the 14 year old Carlo since he was 6 and Kristina has competed him to medium level dressage and newcomers level in showjumping. The pair also regularly hunt with the Kimblewick Hunt. Kristina said, “The only showing we have done before this is a couple of visits to the Henley show where our best placing was 2nd in the Working Hunter class. It will be brilliant to go to HOYS”. Kristina is planning to go to some County shows to get as many outings in as possible before making the trip to Birmingham in early October. She and Carlo will also keep up their dressage and showjumping training. Kristina added, “I have saved up as much annual leave over the summer as possible for my horse activities. This will definitely come in very handy now as it will give us plenty of time to practise for HOYS”. Kristina works in Lab Services for Alere Toxicology in Abingdon.

All the horses entered in the Riding Club Show Horse Class negotiated the rustic and coloured fences, and just a couple had faults. The runner up spot went to Michael Leachman from Sutton Coldfield riding his own, A Touch of Diamonds. Michael bought Irish Sports Horse, A Touch of Diamonds as a two year old, he said, “He came over from Ireland and was a bit of an ugly duckling when he arrived. I bought him as a project and we have broken him in and got him going. I have always wanted to do HOYS and am thrilled that we have qualified”. A Touch of Diamonds has a home with Michael for life, the pair will go out to as many shows as possible ahead of HOYS and they are planning to gain further experience by competing in the Search for a Star qualifier at Houghton Hall as well. Michael works as a veterinary nurse in a small animal practice and has lessons with Jo Bates.

Anne Knight and Tarragon took the runner up spot in the Show Hunter Class. Anne, from Buckingham has owned 6 year old Irish Draught x Trakehner, Tarragon since the horse was three. Anne said, “He was unbacked when I bought him, I have broken him in and brought him on myself. We have done a bit of everything, with a focus on dressage up until now. He has been great today and we are very excited to be going to HOYS”. Anne is planning to go to as many shows as possible between now and HOYS and they will also go out and compete at Prelim and Novice dressage.

Sharon Moss and her own, Mister Tumble headed the Cob class at Bury Farm. Sharon from Dursley in Gloucestershire has owned the heavyweight cob, Mister Tumble for a year. Sharon said, “He was for sale as his previous owner was very ill. She said when we bought him that she thought he had the potential to go to HOYS, and now we are going! I am delighted, particularly as we haven’t done much preparation in the run up to today. It has definitely paid off!” Mister Tumble and Sharon have also qualified for the Royal International Horse Show in the heavyweight cobs class. Sharon added, “To qualify for HOYS is what I really had my heart set on, I have been trying to qualify for the Search for a Star HOYS finals for the past three years”.

Seven ponies took part in the final class of the day, the Show Hunter and Show Pony class. The very worthy winners were Marnie Atkins and her mother, Donna Atkins’ Show Hunter Pony, Stambrook Carnival. Thirteen year old Marnie, from Rushden in Northamptonshire was absolutely thrilled to win, she said, “Riding at HOYS has been my dream for forever”. Stambrook Carnival, known as Joey has been owned by the Atkins family for two years. This is their first season showing at County level and the pair have already qualified for the Royal International Horse Show in the Show Hunter Pony class.

Marnie’s mother, Donna said, “Marnie has worked so hard for this, she does everything to do with Joey, from looking after and riding him to bathing him and cleaning the tack before a show. She has really achieved her dream through her hard work”. Marnie attends Higham Ferrers Specialist Arts School in Northampton.

Show Judge, Richard Ramsay said: “This competition gives amateurs the chance to compete at HOYS, a dream which many riders would love to realise and the standard in Search for a Star gets better every year.”

FULL 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, Carlo, owned by Davina Brown and ridden by Kristina Brown of Wallingford, Oxfordshire

2nd, Fly, owned and ridden by Sharni Bailey of Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire

3rd, Calato II Z, owned and ridden by Liz Pellett of Hookwood, Surrey

Riding Club Show Horse

1st, V-Max, owned by Rachel White and ridden by Rhian Jones, of Swansea

2nd, A Touch Of Diamonds, owned and ridden by Michael Leachman of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham

Riding Horse/Hack

1st, Royden Sweet William, owned and ridden by Kim Cox of Ilkeston, Derbyshire

2nd, Risky Business, owned and ridden by Lily Edgington of Selsey, West Sussex

Racehorses

1st, Astrobrava, owned by Rebecca Lowe and ridden by Katie Jerram of Great Dunmow, Essex

2nd, Camissa, owned by Jane Townshend and ridden by Abigail Thorogood of Goldhanger, Essex

Show Hunter

1st, Casino Royale VI, owned and ridden by Jenny Hackworth of Penshaw, Lancashire

2nd, Tarragon, owned by Caroline Knight and ridden by Anne Knight of Buckingham, Buckinghamshire

Cobs

1st, Mister Tumble, owned and ridden by Sharon Moss of Dursley, Gloucestershire

2nd, Kells Lad, owned and ridden by Gemma Dunn of Orpington, Kent

Ponies

1st, Stambrook Carnival, owned by Donna Atkins and ridden by Marnie Atkins of Rushden, Northamptonshire

2nd, Carnsdale Showman, owned by Sarah Harper and ridden by Ellie Just of Great Amwell, Hertfordshire

 

Further Qualifiers for the 2014 SEIB Search For A Star Finals will be held at:

10th August 2014

Houghton Hall Equestrian & Alpaca Centre, Houghton, Cambs, PE28 2DY

Tel: 01480 700236 (during office hours only)

7^th September 2014 (Racehorse to Riding Horse Qualifier Only)

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Stamford, Lincs, PE9 2LH

Finals, Horse Of The Year Show 8^th – 12^th October 2014

Birmingham NEC

 

For more information, visit www.search4astar.org.uk or www.racehorse2ridinghorse.co.uk