SEIB Search for a Star
Thursday, July 03, 2008
The second qualifiers for the 2008 South Essex Insurance Brokers Search For A Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse Championships were held on June 21st at Unex Towerlands Equestrian Centre, Essex and attracted an large number of competitors.
With over 100 entries, Richard Ramsay judged conformation and David Bartram, with the assistance of Matthew Maher-Burns, was the ride judge. There were classes for Riding Horse/Hack, Cobs, Ponies, Riding Club Show Horse, Show and Working Hunters as well as the increasingly popular Racehorse to Riding Horse Class. “Each year the standard of turnout gets better and better – a lot have no experience of showing and the numbers that come forward are phenomenal. There was a good competitive attitude”, commented Richard.
South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB) instigated the Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship, supported by the charity, Retraining of Racehorses, to provide an alternative career option for the huge number of horses that come out of training each year. To be eligible for this class, horses need not have raced but must have been in training with a recognised trainer.
The class helps to recognise the abilities of ex-racehorses to be re-educated and prepared for the show ring, and again proved extremely popular, with a large entry causing the class to be split for judging in the indoor arena. The quality of horses presented in this class was excellent, with several potential top class show horses, and all were impeccably behaved. Six were selected to come forward for the final judging and top honours went to Guar Du Luc, who has made it to the HOYS final twice before, owned by Lisa Farquar and ridden by Juliet O’Brien. Reserve went to last year’s HOYS Champion, Lin D’Estruval, owned by Baileys Horse Feeds and ridden by Lynn Russell.
The Riding Horse/Hack class was won by 18 year old Sophie Heatley and her 5 year old KWPN Dutch bred bay gelding, Witz. Sophie, from Nazeing in Essex has just finished a national diploma in horse management at Writtle College and will go on to do a degree in equine sports therapy. Having owned Witz since September last year, Sophie says, “He likes work and enjoys everything – he does everything you ask. Showing is his forte and he seems to like it so we will keep on doing it”. Every year since she was a young child, Sophie has dreamed of competing at HOYS, “We go every year to watch – it will be a dream to compete there!” Second in this class was Fiona Foster Campbell from London with her 12 year old bay gelding, Classic Call. Fiona, a chef manager for stockbrokers in London says, “Classic Call has the best nature in the world. He is a complete star and adored everywhere he goes….Our biggest goal has been to qualify for HOYS – Fantastic!”
In the Ponies class, Logs Master Flashdance, owned by Peter and Jacky Ladums and ridden by their granddaughter Georgia Ladums-Jones from Ashford in Kent took first place. Peter and Jacky bought “Flash” for their granddaughter just 2 weeks before the qualifier at Towerlands. “He is the perfect pony – always asleep! He is very easy to do but does fancy himself! Going to HOYS this year means everything to me!” says 10 year old Georgia. Logs Master Flashdance is the half brother of Logs Master Amigo, who won the Ponies class with Olivia Grant at this year’s first Search For A Star qualifier in May at Osbaldeston Equestrian Centre, Lancs. Millford Grand Marnier also known as “Andy”, owned by Kim Money and ridden by Alix Lawton from Melbourne, Derby won a place at HOYS this year by coming second in the Ponies class. Alix’s mother, Anita leased him for the showing season this year. Showing is a whole new ball game for Alix as she says, “Last year I watched a friend in a show class and thought ‘wow’! I was instantly hooked and wanted to have a go!”
Primary School Deputy Head teacher from West Sussex, Kathleen Botting won the Cob class with her 7 year old coloured gelding, Bristol Blue. He has also qualified for RIHS in the coloured class, “He is placed at every County level outing in working cob classes. He needs 3 minute warm up and that’s it – he really is a superstar!” says his owner, Kathleen. Nina Woollard’s ride, Romero came second it this class. Romero is owned by Essex Horse & Pony Protection Society as he was found abandoned as a foal in a field. He was then fostered as a yearling by Nina for a £75 donation. “He was really easy to back and takes all challenges in his stride….. I was keen to give Search For A Star a go and my riding instructor really encouraged me to enter!”
Five year old Blackmoor Mac Rua owned and ridden by Becky Chapman from Ashen, Suffolk/Essex border won the Show Hunter class. This true heavyweight with an impressive white face and 4 striking white socks was imported from Ireland with the idea of Becky backing him and then selling him on but she liked him so she decided to keep him. “He is a classic hunter type and a really gentle giant. I have clicker trained him and he goes barefoot with a treeless saddle with no grain at all,” says Becky who developed an interest in this type of training, using positive reinforcement. Second place went to the Anglo Arab gelding, Streetwise II owned by Rosalind Wells to secure their place at HOYS. Rosalind bought him 6 months ago and he was competed by Rosalind’s 19 year old daughter, Suzanne at the qualifier. “We plan to do a bit of everything with him – he is so easy to look after and a lovely horse to have. I didn’t expect to qualify for HOYS – it is all very exciting and will be a really good experience for him,” says Plumpton College student, Suzanne.
The Riding Club Show Horse class was headed by Laughtons Silver Flash, also nicknamed “Flash”. Owner/rider Karen Rhodes saw an advertisement for Search For A Star and decided to give it a whirl. Having already competed at the Osbaldeston qualifier in May, Karen decided she wanted to give it another go so they travelled 6 hours to Towerlands from their home in Kendal, Lake District. “It was well worth the trip!” After a successful season competing at Riding Club and County level last year, Flash then had an allergic reaction to bute, given for a minor injury, and suffered from a severe colic. “He had 16 weeks off and nearly died. I think his first outing at Osbaldeston last month was too soon for him,” commented a very pleased Karen after the result at Towerlands. Ciara McKibben from Cambridge rode her mother, Aislinn’s 10 year old grey gelding, Welton Archer to second place. She wanted to enter last year but was too young so sixteen year old Ciara entered this year. She is currently studying at Rugby School in Warwickshire and says, “Going to HOYS is very exciting!” Her mother also enjoys riding Welton Archer in Le Trec competitions.
In the Working Hunter class, the 12 year old gelding, Diamond Playboy, owned and ridden by Rachal Fairburn took first place. Rachal just missed out qualifying at this year’s Osbaldeston Search For A Star competition in May and travelled 7 hours from her home in Hull to “give it another go”. Nursery nurse, Rachal says, “He is such a character and will love HOYS with all of the lights and the people!” Second in this class was Lesley Scorgie’s Daydreamer. Lesley, from Haywards Heath in West Sussex bought this 7 year old mare four years ago and enjoys eventing. In the winter she also hunts with the Southdown & Eridge Hunt, ridden by the whipper-in. “She is a really laid back mare, easy to do, super on her own and rarely puts a foot wrong”, says Lesley, who has been trying to qualify for HOYS in various ways over the years and has not done any showing since she was 12 years old – “Everyone said I should give it a go!”
The South Essex Insurance Brokers Search For A Star Championship finals will be held at the Horse Of The Year Show, 8th -12th October 2008, at NEC, Birmingham.
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