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, Mister Roseberry, owned by Helen Saget and ridden by Camille Saget of Abingdon, Oxfordshire
2nd, La Chica De Rosa, owned and ridden by Tracey Sharp of Wolverhampton

Riding Club Show Horse
1st, Jack, owned by Sarah Jayne Lloyd and ridden by Abbie Lloyd of Burgess Hill, East Sussex
2nd, Royal Approval, owned and ridden by Charlotte Kenyon of Wilmslow, Cheshire

Riding Horse Hack
1st , Sporting Dickens, owned and ridden by Molly Tucker of Brenchley, Kent
2nd, Donna Duero, owned and ridden by Melanie Lawless of Beanacre, Wiltshire

Show Hunter
1st, Magic Moments II, owned and ridden by Louise Jones of Speen, Buckinghamshire
2nd, Top O’ The Morning, owned and ridden by James Robertson of Pulborough, West Sussex

Cobs
1st, Cob Dot Com, owned and ridden by Jo Cocker of Canterbury, Kent
2nd, Smarty, owned by Anna Collins and ridden by Hayley Sexton of Uxbridge

Ponies
1st, Jolakes Diamond Cluster, owned by Kim Taylor and ridden by Amy Taylor of Bourne, Lincolnshire
2nd, Styalways Northern Star, owned by Caron Webb and ridden by Carlie Webb of Romford, Essex

Report

The 2013 South Essex Insurance Brokers Search For A Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifiers at Bury Farm saw a quality entry giving the judges, Richard Ramsay (conformation), David Bartram (ride) and David Ingle (ride), plenty to do. Chris Lawson judged the ponies with Richard Ramsay. The Racehorse to Riding Horse class was judged by Joan Lewis (conformation) and Sarah Smith (Ride).

Working Hunter
Eight entries jumped but the second fence caught out the unlucky and 5 clears went through to the final judging. First place went to Helen Sarget’s Mr Roseberry, ridden by her daughter, Camille from Abingdon, Oxfordshire. “We bought him just broken as a 5 year old and have done mainly eventing”, said Camille, 18. Known as Oxo at home, he has earned 40 BE points and has competed up to 2* level. “We have never done working hunter before, this is our first class, but several friends suggested we have a go. He has been eventing, but he is more of a working hunter type, so we came along to see how he went”, said Helen. The gelding is well bred; the renowned thoroughbred stallion, Saddlers Wells is his grandsire and he is out of a Clover Hill mare. Recent success includes 2nd at Pontispool and 3rd at Aston le Walls at Intermediate level eventing and the pair have recently been selected as reserve for the Riding Club 2* squad to compete in Austria. They will do more events this year and will also try some county level working hunter classes in preparation for HOYS. “It was well worth the 4am start this morning!” said Helen.

Second place went to La Chica De Rosa, owned and ridden by Tracy Sharp, 34, of Albrighton, Shropshire. Tracy bred the 7 year old mare, known as Ellie at home, out of her own thoroughbred mare, with the aim of producing a show jumper. They have just started jumping at 1.15m level and have won BSJA Discovery classes and qualified for the Amateur Championships. They have also done some arena eventing and go hunting with the Albrighton Hunt. Tracy recently started doing some more working hunter show classes and qualified for the Ruth Lears Working Hunter Championships at the BSPS Summer Championship Show. “She was a very difficult 5 year old, and several people said I should sell her and I would never get her going. But we persevered and it has paid off. We have had a cracking year this year”, said Tracy. “I had planned to go to Vale View, but decided to come here and have a go so that we could have another go if we missed out. But we did it first time! He is quite an attention seeker and a diva at home”, said Tracy, who works full time as a travel agent. “I also bred a full sister to Ellie, who went on to be successful in workers with her new owners, so that spurred me on to have a go with Ellie. The SFAS classes are so nice to have a go at getting to HOYS”, she added.

Riding Club Show Horse
This popular class saw 21 entries split for the initial judging, where competitors are required to tackle trotting poles and two small fences. First place went to Sara Jane Lloyd’s Jack, ridden by Abbie Lloyd, 22. Abbie has ridden the skewbald gelding since he was 5 years old, and has competed him regularly in eventing. They were Junior Riding Clubs Horse Trials Champion in 2008 and very quickly moved up to pre-novice. In 2010, the pair won 5 Intro classes and Abbie and Sara Jane decided to buy Jack. They continued to event, competing in the Badminton Grass Roots championship in 2011 and 2013 at Intro level. They recently started showing to do something fresh and were 5th in the CHAPS class at Hickstead. “We got to ride in the main arena at Hickstead which was fantastic”, said Abbie. “He is very sweet, a true riding club horse. He always get in his 20’s in his dressage, and rarely has a pole. He has no idea what he has just achieved!” said Sara. “He is fun and safe everywhere, but has a bit of personality as well”. Abbie has just finished her third year at Loughborough University studying Sports Technology and goes home for a couple of days a week to ride. “He turns his hand to everything and we thought that SFAS would be a nice way to find out if it was worth doing more showing – it is fresh and different. This is his perfect class – we came 4th last year. We decided to focus more on showing this year”. The pair will go to Equifest in the coloureds and workers. “We will also do the regional finals in eventing for a bit of fun, and we have lots to learn before HOYS – I will be calling my showing friends for some tips!” she added.

Second place went to Royal Approval, owned and ridden by Charlotte Kenyon, 36, from Wilmslow, Cheshire. Known as “Vinnie” at home, the 5 year old has been owned by Charlotte for just a year and the pair were competing at their 4th show. “I had 2 back operations in January and so we have not been able to do much”, said Charlotte, who works as a primary school supply teacher and has 2 children and so fits horses around work and family. “We have been riding around the farm and have done some working hunter classes at local shows. He will have a holiday now and then we will do more dressage and get some more weight on him before HOYS. I have always wanted to qualify – I tried a long time ago but it worked this time. I am shocked”, said an emotional Charlotte after the class. “He is such a big softy, he just takes to everything. He jumped really big over the fence – he was determined not to touch it! We will go to HOYS to enjoy it”, she added. Charlotte was assisted at the show by her friends, Anna Main and Kate Dewhurst.

Riding Horse and Hack
15 horses came forward for the Riding Horse/Hack class, and the first place went to Sporting Dickens, owned and ridden by Molly Tucker, 19, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Molly has owned “Sport” for 2 years, and bought him with the intention of doing show classes. “He is a joy to have”, said Molly. “We have had a quiet season and have not yet qualified for anything, so we decided to have a go at SFAS”. Molly and Sport usually take part in Intermediate Riding Type classes for riders under 25 and this was the first time Sport had been ridden by a ride judge. This is their first season showing together, but Molly has another horse that she has competed in show hunter classes and now does side saddle. “I have been concentrating on Sport this season, and will keep him ticking over and prepare for HOYS”, said Molly, who has had a year out to play with horses and will start a floristry course at Hadlow College in September. “Sport is a fantastic, easy and lovable person. HOYS has been my dream for years, and he has done it for me”.

Second place went to Donna Duero, owned and ridden by Melanie Lawless, 56, from Chippenham, Wiltshire. Known as Milly at home, Melanie has owned the 9 year old mare since she was 6 months old. She bought the Hannovarian x thoroughbred mare from the stud where she was bred, and has backed and brought her on herself. She started eventing as a 6 year old and quickly went up to Novice level, but then she sustained a stress fracture and had to have a year off. “Then last year she got kicked and had to have an operation and another year off. So she is really low mileage and I feel like just getting here is fantastic”, said Melanie. “I don’t event her any more – I took the injury as a sign to stop, but she loves to jump and has qualified for the Working Show Horse final at the National Championships with another rider”, explained Melanie, who does not jump now as she broke her back a few years ago. “I have always wanted to go to HOYS. My daughter did lead rein showing but when she moved on to other things, I kept going. I have a very supportive husband, Andy, who is happy to drive, groom and shovel, so long as he does not have to ride!” she added. Melanie works full time as an NHS Manager and fits in doing her “motley crew” of 6 horses. “We need to try to get used to the atmosphere and get lots of practice before HOYS”.

Hunters
Nineteen entries were split for the initial judging, but in the shakeup first place went to the lovely chestnut, Magic Moments II, owned and ridden by Louise Jones, 28. “Eddie” as he is known at home, was homebred, out of Louise’s 15hh eventing mare, Magic. “Magic had a stillborn foal and so we notified the National Foaling Bank and the Rawdings had lost a mare that night. Magic became a foster mum for their foal and they gave us a covering with Cameos Reflection as a thankyou and Eddie is the result”. Louise backed and brought on Eddie with the intention of doing a bit of everything. “He is my riding club horse”, she said. “He has done show jumping qualifiers, eventing, and rallies as part of the South Oxfordshire Riding Club, goes on hacks and does some unaffiliated showing. We came here to see what the judges thought and what direction we should go in, and our plan was to try some affiliated showing next year. He is due to go to camp in 2 weeks’ time!”, said Louise, who may have to rethink her plans as the judges clearly liked what they saw. Eddie has not been without adversity as he was nearly lost as a foal. “He caught a chill in the field when he was only 6 weeks old, and we had to nurse him constantly for 24 hours, feeding him with a syringe every few hours. It was touch and go for a while but he pulled through”, said Louise, who works as a primary school teacher. The pair plan to do more shows in preparation for HOYS, including competing at the Chiltern & Thames Championship Show, which would have been the highlight of their year until the HOYS qualification became a reality. “He is really good and not a problem if I can’t ride every day, although he has a bit more spark when we go jumping. He is my horse of a lifetime and he is not going anywhere”, insisted Louise.

Second place went to Top of the Morning, otherwise known as “Thomas”, owned and ridden by James Robertson of Pulborough, West Sussex. James bought the 5 year old bay gelding last year and he was backed and brought on with a view to showing. This is their first season in the ring and they have been busy at county level, competing in novice and amateur classes at Windsor, South of England and Surrey County where they finished third. They have also qualified for the Equifest showing festival in August. “He should make a good Middle Weight hunter, and I hope to do more with him. We plan to do Edenbridge & Oxtead, and New Forest shows before heading to HOYS, and I will hunt him this autumn with the Chiddingfold Leconfield & Cowdray hunt”, said James. “This is so exciting – I can’t believe it. I don’t usually get nervous but today there was a lot riding on the result and it really mattered. I have always wanted to get to HOYS and I hoped we might have a chance. I am really looking forward to the final”, said James.

Cobs
A quality entry of cobs in this class saw the first place go to Cob Dot Com, owned and ridden by Jo Cocker, 34, from Canterbury, Kent. Jo has done a bit of everything on this 8 year old, Clydesdale cross called Robbie at home, and are active members of Moat View Riding Club. Last year they were members of the Championship winning quadrille team wearing fancy dress at Olympia, and the team also took part in the New Year’s Day Parade in London. In the winter months, the pair go hunting, and Robbie has also been successful in Working Cob classes with Jo’s “super-groom and helper”, Liliane Widdows. “He can turn his hoof to anything and does jumping and dressage. The children can lead him in from the field and he did a Junior Handler class recently”, explained Jo. “I bought him from a photograph of his bottom, and he had to undergo a 32 hour journey from Ireland. When he arrived he came off the lorry looking as though he had just travelled down the road. He is so laid back”, said Jo, who works as a Study Director at the Royal Veterinary College. With a daily commute of 1 hour 40 minutes each way, Jo has to fit in riding with a busy lifestyle. “He is definitely my horse of a lifetime, an all-round pleasure to own – if I can’t ride him for 3 weeks, I get back on and he is just the same”, she added. Liliane helped Jo on the day of the qualifier and was delighted with the result. “I am so happy I could cry! Jo has worked really hard to get here, and has lost a lot of weight this year to help her riding”, said Liliane. Robbie has also qualified for the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) in the Working Cob and Amateur Cob classes, but will be having a short holiday before heading to the RIHS, and then Equifest for the Concours class and on to the Horse of the Year Show in October.

Second place went to Hayley Sexton riding her own Smarty. Hayley, 24, from Rickmansworth, has owned the 12 year old bay roan gelding for 3 years. “He was a surprise present from my Mum”, she explained. “He belonged to someone who need to sell him, but the sale fell through and she was about to have him put down. I went to see him and bought him there and then for £10. Hayley had been grooming for the British Young Rider team in Germany and arrived home to find him there”, said Hayley’s Mum, Anna Collins. The pair have done a lot of work schooling, going on sponsored rides and doing some dressage but showing is where Hayley really wants to focus. “I thought on the way to the show that it would really make my year if we qualified – and we’ve done it! It makes all the hard months of preparation worth it. He is a bit of a silent worrier, but such a loving horse; a real gentle giant and he has given me so much pleasure”, said Hayley. The pair will compete in the Maxi Cob classes at Equifest, the London Amateur championship and the National Championship open show before heading to HOYS.

Ponies
With 15 entries this class was split for the preliminary judging, but finally, first place went to the lovely show hunter pony, Jolaikes Diamond Cluster, known as “Doll” at home, owned by Kim Taylor and ridden by daughter, Amy, 10. Kim bought the 6 year old chestnut gelding 3 years ago and Amy has brought on the pony to do a bit of everything. They have qualified for the RIHS at the BSPS Area 5 show, went champion in the Nursery Stakes at the Newark & Notts show, stood Novice Champion at the BSPS Area 5 Winter Show and Champion show hunter pony at Deeping Agricultural Show. In the winter months they hunt with the Cottesmore and also compete in show jumping and dressage. They were Winter League show jumping champions at Laughton Manor. Amy, who attends Bourne Westfield School, was delighted with the result and could not stop smiling. “Amy helps every day, before and after school. Going to HOYS will be so exciting!”, said Kim. The pair will be competing at the North of England show before heading to HOYS in October.

Second place went to Caron Webb’s Styalways Northern Star, ridden by Carlie Webb from Romford, Essex. Known as Toby at home, Carlie has owned the 6 year old bay gelding for nearly a year. “We found him at Equifest, and Carlie rode him there. We were looking for something to do showing and dressage but she immediately said “he’s the one”, and it has all gone on from there”, said Caron. This is their first year showing together and they qualified for the RIHS at the BSPS Area 15a show. “He likes hacking and I am teaching him to jump, just for fun, and we are also doing some dressage at Norton Heath”, said Carlie, 14, a student at Marshalls Park School, who has another pony to do mountain & moorland working hunter pony classes. “This is amazing. I have always wanted to ride at HOYS. I think it will change my life to ride there!” she added. Carlie looks after Toby herself and does all the bathing and plaiting in preparation for a show. “They have a really good bond and he is much happier to let Carlie get him ready – he walks away from anyone else”, said Caron.

The SEIB Search For A Star Finals and Supreme Championship are held at the Horse Of The Year Show, 9th – 13th October 2013, at the Birmingham NEC.