LOCAL riders have earned their places at one of the biggest events of the year after winning through to the Horse of the Year finals.

The 2011 South Essex Insurance Brokers Search For A Star qualifiers got under way at Osbaldeston Equestrian Centre where more than 150 competed for the chance to the prestigious finals at the NEC Birmingham in October. And there were several local competitors who were successful in attaining qualification.

Beverley Gowans, of Huncoat, won the very competitive Cob class on a horse that vets were ready to put down a few years ago.

Gowans was riding Riverway Rupert which is owned by Joanne Sharkey.

Sharkey, a hairdresser from Rossendale, has owned the six-year-old for two years.

But 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 her friend, Gowans started riding him. “Just to have taken part today is wonderful but to win and qualify for HOYS is just a dream come true,” said Gowan, a warehouse dispatcher from Accrington. “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.”

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.

Local success also came in the Riding Horse Hack Class, with both qualification slots going to local riders. Zoe Whittle, of Great Harwood was the winner, riding her own horse Mettlewood Mr Fahrenheit. “I have had him since a two-year-old and broke him in myself,” said Whittle. “He is a true gentleman and was fantastic.”

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. In the Working Hunter class, local home delivery driver Joanne Ainsworth from Rossendale took the runner-up spot to qualify for HOYS with Sylvia Wrigley’s horse Laura’s Pride. Leo and Sylvia Wrigley bred the chestnut gelding, a third generation of homebred horses they have.

“We also bred his mother and grandmother, Laura’s Pride is by the stallion Polling and he was bred to compete in showing and jumping” said Sylvia. There was also success at the Osbaldeston SEIB Search For A Star qualifier for local young riders. Georgina Young, 18, of Poulton-le-Fylde, earned her coveted quali-fication ticket to HOYS in the Show Hunter class with her horse Ronaldo. “I never thought we would get to HOYS”, said Georgina, who works for World Horse Welfare Penny Farm, near Blackpool. “He is so good, and takes everything in his stride. I am sure that he will be fine at HOYS”, she said.

The other young rider to qualify was 16-year-old Emily Myatt.

Emily rode Cherrytop Disco Diva, a pony owned by her mother Jeanett, to runner-up spot in the Show and Show Hunter Pony class. 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. 2011 has been successful and the pair are looking forward to the 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 county shows before HOYS.

Results

Workers: 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.

Racehorse to Riding Horse: 1st, Night Prayers, owned by Mr and Mrs Michael Jerram and ridden by Katie Jerram of Great Dunmow, Essex; 2nd, Chivola, owned and ridden by Victoria Smart of Thirsk, N Yorks.