BRITISH SHOW PONY SOCIETY 2008 AWARDS

HERITAGE WHP SCHOLARSHIP
Roberta Martin

This young girl was born with a blood disorder and did not develop at the normal rate. The youngest of five children and very much cosseted.  We tried to put her on a pony at three years old but she was too small to sit up. Riding was then put on hold until she was five.  When she started to ride at five other people borrowed her to ride their lead rein ponies as she did her “up downs very well”.

She did pony club, hunting and showing and made many friends young and older!  She always had the advantage of “hand me down ponies” but the disadvantage of bringing on ponies as the others had.

As the family fragmented with brother emigrating, sisters getting married, moving away and going to uni:  She is now on her own, not normally difficult but it is if you have always had your siblings there to help.  She caught up in size but not experience.

2007 her pony was injured so she did not do any showing until the Heritage Show in the October. She continued to help friends out at shows and her commitments at home. 

2008, she was so looking forward to the shows and started so well and disaster struck, she dislocated her hip followed shortly afterwards by broking her arm so badly that she had to have titanium plates and pins and consequently did not show at all this year.

She helped out by organising activities, junior member outings and other non riding events in the winter months.

She is now riding but less positively and is aware of this herself and how this is impacting on her pony.  She is fully committed to riding but does not want horses as a job. She wants to work with children/media so that she can ride and compete and fully enjoy her hobby.

Winning the BSPS Scholarship is going to be the 1-2-1 support that she needs.

We hope that she helps Roberta or Bertie as she is more affectionately known, to re gain her confidence and enjoy the success she so rightly deserves.  Please step forward Bertie and receive your scholarship.

SHOW PONY SCHOLARSHIP
Francesca Tudor Whelan

She was a late starter at riding due to her allergy to horses but at eight years old we managed to find a brilliant medicine that helped to weaken her allergy and commence her passion.
 
This little girl took her first riding lessons at Casterton School. Then we purchased Colin (Colbeach Sentinel) a 133cm show pony when she was 10. She wanted to take up showing probably because her mum used to show when she was young.
 
Although Colin was a schoolmaster he had his little quirks and often gave her some challenges, which was hard for her as she was trying to catch for all those early years of riding that she had missed. Eventually, with determination and experience they entered the show ring, starting off at local shows gaining many prizes then onto bigger shows and in 2008 joined the BSPS. She was over the moon when she qualified for her first BSPS Summer Champs.
 
With just a little help from a local girl, we headed off to Grantham. She came home overjoyed with two seconds and six more placings. But her biggest achievement was completing in the evening performance for the 133cm show pony. She learnt so much in that week.
 
We are hoping to purchase a novice 13.2hh shortly as well as Colin, but her biggest ambition this year is to try to qualify for RIHS and HOYS and thanks to the BSPS scholarship and training she just might just be able to achive this. Step forward Francesca Tudor Whelam to receive your well deserved scholarship.

WORKING HUNTER PONY SCHOLARSHIP
Joshua Jones

This boy’s involvement with ponies started at a very early age- he was in his carry cot in the yard as the ponies were being ridden.  He enjoyed sitting on the family Shetland and then progressed to doing the fancy dress at local shows with his older brother. When  it came to showing properly he began on a lead rein show pony with whom he had great success winning at the BSPS champs and being placed at the RIHS. After lead rein he announced that he was hanging up his boots because " it was hard work and he didn't want to ride by himself ! " He briefly tried riding again aged 8 when he competed in first ridden for the latter end of the summer season. Our biggest fears the night before his first "solo" ride were how he would manage to turn the pony being that he held the saddle, never mind remembering the dreaded show ! The day arrived and he duly performed very well gaining a creditable 2nd. Throughout that season he did well even managing places at BSPS champs. We were very surprised when he said at the end of the season, " I'm sorry but I want to give up riding" At that point we thought that he would never ride again- how wrong we were !
 
A few years passed by and as he was helping to collect scores to be collated in the office at the BSPS Championships in the summer of 2006 he was observed watching the worker classes. The next afternoon he came back to the horse box and said "I want to do the Nursery Stakes" We were shocked firstly because he wanted to ride again but secondly he wanted to jump ! Coincidentally, at home we had a 13 hander which we had shown as a show hunter who had gone to be sold and thus his jumping career began. That winter, he began to compete in the novice Nursery Stakes, unaffiliated show jumping and visited most of the cross country courses in the area. As a  result, in Summer 2007 he competed at the Champs in the Nursery Stakes gaining lots of experience and a tenth place too.
 
Throughout the winter of 2007-2008, he continued competing in show jumping, novice 13 hands workers and pony club events. As he was now out of the Nursery Stakes the jumps were somewhat higher and the pace quickened too. He began to compete in open 13 hands WHP classes where he felt happier because the jumps were more challenging. However, unfortunately at the beginning of the summer holidays disaster struck ! Whilst trimming branches on the drive, he cut the tendon in his left middle finger. Following this, there was an hour and a half of surgery and then the dreaded news which was that he was unable to ride or be involved  in any sport for at least three months. At this time  the decision was made to sell his pony rather than have it standing on the yard doing nothing. The pony was sold and he followed the new jockey and his old  pony  around Grantham 2008 (very enviously !)
 
The next chapter in his riding career is about to begin- having persuaded us to ring after every 14 hand worker in the coveted  "Horse and  Hound " and on the internet we have purchased an experienced pony for the coming season. During the Christmas holidays, he completed the BSPS scholarship form independently asking for it to be sent to the office. He will greatly benefit from this opportunity and it will help him to build the relationship with his new pony, Tilly . He will be delighted to know that he is the winner of the scholarship and excited about the wonderful opportunity of spending a week with a professional which will set him on the track to fulfilling his short term aim which is to win the champion worker at HOYS !  

Come forward Joshua Jones and receive your hard earned scholarship.

SPECIAL AWARDS
Ailsa Vines

This award goes to Ailsa Vines who has done a tremendous job as junior editor of the News Review for the past five years.  She has worked so hard devising great competitions for both the Summer and Winter championships as well as producing the Children’s pages every month. 
We wish Ailsa all the best for her A levels and University next year,  This will be the end of an era as Anneka was Junior Editor before her sister so they have been involved as a family for over 10 years. Our very grateful thanks for your hard work and dedication.

Please collect your special award Ailsa.

PONY PERSONALITY
Waitwith Cuddles

Henry is my special pony.  He is chestnut, a Welsh Section A gelding and 5 years old like me.  My Mum bought him when he was a foal and I was a baby so we have grown up together.

We have won lots fo first and Champions and some lovely sashes.  We won the tiny tots Mountain and Moorland Lead Rein at the Winter Championships and had 4 seconds, a 5th and an 8th out of 6 classes that we competed in at the Summer Championships.

Henry is always a good boy and goes well for me at shows.  At home he loves cuddles and Likits.  If it is raining he lets me carry an umbrella on him to keep dry. We go for long rides with my Mummy leading him off her bike.  At home I ride by myself and love cantering and jumping. He is also my stunt pony and I can ride him facing his bottom and get off sliding down him bum.

I like doing games at shows as Henry is quite fast and we also do Lead Rein Jumping and Hunting but my Mum gets tired and can’t run all day.

Henry is the best pony in the world as well as being a good show pony he always looks after me.  We have just started in First Ridden classes and were 3rd at a little show.

We have lots of fun together doing all sorts and I am very lucky to have Henry.  I wouldn’t swap him for any other pony in the country and I love him loads.

The pony personality for 2009 is Waitwith Cuddles and here to collect his prize is his rider Jessica Dowson.

SPORTSWRITER AWARD
Charlotte Dujardin

This 23 year old professional dressage rider and trainer very successfully competed in our BSPS Classes as a child winning at the Horse of the Year Show and the Royal International Show many times.

She began to compete seriously in dressage when I she was 17, training and working with Judy Harvey for 4 years. She rode in her first international competition twelve months later after I started work with Judy. In 2006 I was awarded a place on the British Younger Rider Team.

This year she was selected for the Performance and Pathway World Class Programmes with her horse Fernanadez who she bought as a youngster at the Elite Sales. It was at the selection trials that Carl Hester rode Dez for the first time. She then asked for a lesson with Carl following which she worked as a temp for him for ten days. She is still there!!  My ambition is become a World and Olympic Champion. Her first opportunity will be at the 2012 Olympics in London with her own horse Fernanadez.

We wish her the best of luck, please come forward Mrs Dujardin to receive the Sportswriter award on behalf of your daughter Charlotte.

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Sophie Scholfield

This 18 year old young lady has always loved anything to do with animals especially horses.  She first sat on a pony when she was three years old at the local riding school. From that day on the seed was sown and her parents bought her first pony when she was four.  Her first ‘proper’ show pony was a lead rein called Rhoden Perdita this gave her the introduction to the BSPS and Hoys. After this pony followed a first ridden and various show ponies. She achieved a great many championships and 2nd at Hoys with the 12.2 Charn King Fisher. This pony still holds a special place in her heart.

At the age of 16, her mother leased a large intermediate called ‘Gentle Breeze’ and during the course of 2007 also managed to secure the deal to buy ‘Royal Angel’ who was Helen Baker’s large hack.

What then followed in 2008 can only be described as unbelievable.  Royal Angel and his jockey started off at the Winter Championships – taking the RI ticket, the Hoys ticket, the overall winter supreme and then the ultimate supreme of show.  This however was only the start. The partnership went from strength to strength securing championship after championship including East of England, The Royal and the RIHS.  At the 2008 summer championships the pair were Blue Riband intermediate champions, open intermediate champions, overall summer supreme and then unbelievably supreme of show. To be supreme champion at both winter and summer championships in the same year is something that has never been done before.

Now at Northumbria University studying business Royal Angel’s jockey still insists on coming home every weekend to check on her beloved horse.  She is 100% dedicated and puts an awful lot of time and effort in to what she loves. This dedication surely paid off in 2008.

The winner of the outstanding achievement award for 2008 is SOPHIE SCHOFIELD and her truly special horse ROYAL ANGEL.

LONG SERVICE AWARD
Mrs Elizabeth Morgan

What can you say about this lady, she has been a fantastic supporter of ponies over many years, founder of the well known and respected Greenacres Stud producing many notable champion show ponies including Greenacres Masquerade, Greenacres Whisper, Greenacres Poppy and Greenacres Bouquet.  In 1968 all three of her children qualified for the 128cm Show Pony Class at the Horse of the Year Show and the following year Greenacres Twilight won with jockey Angela Masserella. She produced the winner of the first ever British In Hand Championship, Cusop Petit at Woburn Abbey (this is now the Cuddy Supreme In Hand Championship). She has produced ponies for the late Mrs Eckley, Cusop Stud and the late Elspeth Ferguson of the Rosevean Stud.

She has produced some wonderful winner including Champion Ridden Arab at the Arab International Horse Show, In 1991 winner of the NPS Mountain and Moorland Final at Olympia Tiercel Mystical was ridden by Barbara Gallimore, Breeder of the Champion Show Pony at the Royal Show - Greenacres Summertime and breeder of Greenacres Morning Cloud - Champion ridden Hack produced by the Ramseys

Both her daughter and granddaughter are successfully riders, Jo has represented Britain twice at Young Rider level, was side saddle rider of the year twice and is now a successful producer of show and dressage horses in her own right and her granddaughter Holly is a successful dressage rider now 18 years old and won the Talented Athlete scholarship last year from UK Sport and won a bursary from the Blaze Academy as well.  She is successfully competing young dressage horses and has her sights firmly set on international success one day. 
 
Barbara her right hand "man" has been with her since she was 15 years old and has also contributed greatly to the success of Greenacres, Elizabeth and the rest of the dynasty.
 
She has judged at every major horse show in the country and also internationally and her son
Nick and daughter Jo and both BSPS judge.  Tim her other son comes home to visit and help on the farm as well.
 
Elizabeth was also the founder of the Nagrom dog stud breeding Italian Greyhounds and was the first person to breed a chocolate coloured Italian greyhound.  She has judged at Crufts.

A true lady in every sense of the word and thoroughly deserves her Long Service Award for 2008, please come forward Elizabeth or Liz to us all, Morgan.

EQUESTRIAN PERSONALITY
Michael Sharpley

This gentlemen was born in Bocking, Braintree in Essex over 70 years ago.  His parents ran a fishmongers and greengrocers shop. He has two sisters, nieces and a great nephew.

His first involvement with the equestrian world was as a member of the East Essex Hunt Pony Club as a child. His enthusiasm for working with ponies/horses lead him to work for Nora Lagdon at Great Leighs in Essex. There he broke hunters and hacks and turned hunter liveries out to perfection for their owners.  He was also a riding instructor and rode and helped to train the 2 point-to-pointers that Nora owned.

After several years he went to work for the Honourable Mrs K S Richardson (Valentine). Together they established the Hungry Hall Stud breeding and producing Connemara ponies for showing both in hand and under saddle. They bought many ponies from Ireland including the famous Easter Kitty one of their foundation mares.

He and Valentine also had a love of whippets and you took your life in your hands if you entered the yard at Hungry Hall unannounced. Erin was used as the Masters ride when the whippets went coursing and apparently he loved this job.

His career has a judge has taken him all over the world including Australia. He is considered to be one of the most knowledgeable, experienced and respected people judging today. Particularly with regard to Mountain and Moorland ponies.  This is reflected in the fact that he has been a BSPS Judge for some 30 years and hold a star for all sections of judging. He has judged at HOYS 5 times and in the millennium year he judged the Cuddy Championship.  He is an A panel judge for the NPS which allowed him to judge Olympia.

He has been BSPS Chairman of Area Chairmen and a member of the NPS Council.  He is one of the few Senior Connemara Stallion Inspectors for the Connemara Society and a member of their committee.

Outside the showing world he has a great love of food and socialising and was also a member of the Witham Amateur Dramatics Society.

Despite being a very busy judge for all Societies, he is still prepared to give up his time and judge at unaffiliated shows. He always gives encouragement to the young riders and in the words of a 9 year old at a recent Show “Mr Sharpley is not only a fantastic judge but he also teaches you how to improve.”

I am sure you all know by now that I am talking about Michael Sharpley, please come forward and collect the Equestrian Personality Award for 2009.