There was no shortage of talent, confidence or potential on show at this year’s Young Professional’s Award final on Monday 17 March. Held at the amazing facility of Talland School of Equitation, the final is the culmination of a year of applications, tough evaluations and eager preparation for six of Britain’s brightest dressage lights.
This year’s final judges were Becky Moody and Dan Sherriff who put the finalists through their paces in and out of the saddle. Dan was the winner of the inaugural Talent Spotting final in 1995, the pre-cursor to this great scheme, so it was fitting that he returns as a judge. BYRDS Director Janet Horswill welcomed all the finalists on the day with an encouraging speech and summed up by saying; “Remember Carl Hester didn’t win the Talent Spotting and look where he is today!” Dan piped up with; “It’s the only time I’ve ever managed to beat him!”
With sponsorship from Core Context, support from the Worshipful Company of Saddlers and funding from the UK Sport funded BEF Excel Talent Programme, the Young Professionals award isn’t all about riding prowess. It aims to discover the all-round talent of individuals and that they have the full armoury of skills required to make it as a modern-day equestrian professional – which ever route they follow. With this in mind, riding is one very important element but the candidates also do one to one sessions with our judges while watching combinations at various levels of training ride in the back ground. They also had interviews with BD Chairman and Core Context’s co-owner Penny Pollard and Dr Moira Lafferty, chartered psychologist, associate fellow of the British Psychological Society and HCPC registered sport and exercise psychologist.
The morning kicked off with the finalists being split into two groups. Beth Barnett, Nina Boex and Daisy Coakley were the first in front of Becky and Dan on horses while Rachel Clark, Sadie Smith and Amy Woodhead had their individual interviews with Penny and Moira.
The first riding session involves young or problem horses with each candidate choosing a horse at random. They then ride and assess the horses, stopping to chat things through with the judges. After about 15 minutes, it’s all change and they swap to repeat the process.
Halfway through the morning, the trios swapped round so the four judges could see all the candidates.
As ever, Pammy and the team at Talland produced a great range of horses, all shapes, sizes and abilities (but all immaculately turned out) for the girls to ride – such was the standard of horse power and riding ability, there were no incidents and all the horses behaved impeccably!
At lunch, Pammy and Brian donned their aprons and provided a welcome lunch which gave the finalists a chance to chat to the judges and one another plus last year’s winners Donald Fraser and Katie Knight.
The afternoon session is the section that divides the candidates – some love it, some loathe it! They have 15 minute one to one sessions with each rider judge while two combinations from Talland ride in the arena. Here they discuss the horse and rider’s way of going, general equitation questions and suggestions for improvement of the horse and/or rider.
The four judges and Janet then retired to make their decision. The agonising wait was made less so by a freestyle demonstration with Pammy and Pippa Hutton. Pippa rode her 2013 Young Rider European Championship partner Duela. The duo was Britain’s best placed in , narrowly missing out on a medal in the freestyle test. Pammy said Duela may not be the most extravagant but she and Pippa are a proper partnership and that shows in the arena so the marks come. They’re working towards grand prix but still have a final year at young rider level this year. Pippa showed some great work on the British bred chestnut mare by Dimaggio with her freestyle ending with one handed tempi changes down the centre line to halt.
So it was the moment of truth. Before the final announcement, Janet Horswill thanked everyone; Pammy, Brian and the team at Talland for being such amazing hosts and letting us use their fantastic horses and facilities, Penny for her input and sponsorship through Core Context, Sport England for their funding help through the BEF Excel Talent Programme, the Worshipful Company of Saddlers and of course the finalists for taking part.
Nina Boex, Beth Barnett and Rachel Clark were announced as runners up, in no particular order. They each received a £100 grant to help them with training. Third went to Sadie Smith and Penny presented her with a £1,000 grant. So…it was down to two- Daisy and Amy. Second was announced at Daisy Coakley which gave her £2,000 to spend on training. So, our winner was Amy Woodhead.
A surprised but ecstatic Amy said; “What an amazing day it’s been – I’ve really enjoyed it. I came here with a plan to just be myself and take it all in. Three years ago, I put a plan together with my sister Holly (a successful event rider) of where we wanted to be and this will certainly help me reach my goals. I have to say a huge thank you to my team at home; I couldn’t have done it without their support. Mum and dad have never pushed me, whatever I’ve done has always been my decision but they’re always there to support. For my 21st, I bought a foal which I named Destiny – looks like this was meant to be!”
Amy wins a £4,000 grant from Core Context plus a double bridle from the Worshipful Company of Saddlers which was presented on the day by Hugh Thomas. Amy has already earmarked her grant to help towards achieving her UKCC qualification and passing her HGV test.
The search for next year’s Young Professional is already underway – if you think you have what it takes to be a future equestrian pro and are aged 18 – 25 then we’d like to hear from you. Don’t miss our workshop on 16 April at the Windmill Hotel, Allesley, Coventry to help you with your application – or even if the YPA isn’t for you, the workshop will help any budding professional. Topics include ; ‘Surviving the sport’, Sponsorship, Marketing and Social Media, Qualifications, planning for the future and personal development, CVs and interview techniques and running your own business (book keeping, tax and the law). The day is great value at just £25 – so don’ t miss it! Read more here. For more information on the YPA, visit the dedicated pages.
Thanks to our sponsors:
The Finalists
Beth Barnet (22) from Hereford. A former BD Apprentice at Sheepcote Stud, Beth combines her riding and coaching with work as Estate Administrator at Tillington Fruit Farms. Qualified at: Oakelbrook Mill.
Nina Boex (24) from Swansea. Nina is a full-time freelance dressage coach with a heavy involvement in BYRDS in her region having decided to follow her passion after gaining a BSc in Physical Geography. Qualified at: Oakelbrook Mill.
Rachael Clarke (25) from Granborough, Buckinghamshire. Rachael has been running her own livery and training yard since 2010 and supports the business through freelance coaching. Qualified at: Combridge Farm
Daisy Coakley (21) from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. Horses have always been part of Daisy’s life and early on knew she wanted to become a top rider. She rides for Judy Frimston-Williams and is quickly making a name in both dressage and eventing for herself. Qualified at: Oakelbrook Mill
Sadie Smith (24) from Southampton, Hampshire. Sadie has always concentrated on dressage and has been fortunate to work for Kay Waterman and then Roland Tong & Ben St John James. She has recently become a self-employed freelance rider. Qualified at Peasbrook Farm
Amy Woodhead (21) from Grimsby, Lincolnshire. From a strong equestrian family, Amy made dressage her discipline aged 13 and represented Britain on the Pony team. She has trained in Germany and Holland and more recently been based with Carl Hester. Qualified at Combridge Farm
Ridden horses
Solstice– 2009 Trakhener Gelding competing at Prelim level, owned by Vivian Chang
Finally Fine– 2008 Hanoverian gelding by Fidertanze, competing at Novice level, working Medium, owned by Jella Tupay
Asterix – 2000 Hanoverian gelding, competed to medium, owned by Louise Wilkins
Amo– 1999 Danish Warmblood mare, homebred by Amanti, owned by Pammy Hutton and Lucile Webb Peploe
Broadstone Dancealot – 1992 Hanoverian gelding by Demonstrator, competed small tour, owned by Rosemary Clarke
Chancellor VII– 2000 British Warmblood gelding by Chairman, competed advanced medium, owned by Charlotte Dunkerton
De Nobilis– 2009 Hanoverian gelding, backed early 2013, working prelim level, owned by Jella Tupay.
Talland Rubin– 2006 Hanoverian gelding, competed to medium, owned by Pippa Hutton
Quenia– 2000 Lusitano gelding, competed to medium, owned by Claire Marsh
Aljano 3– 1996 Oldenberg gelding by Argentinius, competed grand prix, owned by Charlie Hutton
Pjotr– 1997 Hanoverian gelding, competed to advanced medium, owned by Gillian Portus.
Zidane– 2004 KWPN gelding by Elcaro, competed at advanced medium, working psg, owned by Charlotte Dunkerton
Afternoon combinations
Vivian Chang riding her own Savio H and Pippa Hutton riding Pammy Hutton and Stephen Day’s Belmondo
Anne Marie Bork Eppers riding her own Never Loose and Abi Lyle riding Pammy Hutton’s Armagnac
Deborah Wells riding Charlie and Pammy Hutton’s Abira and Vivian Chang riding her own Nora
YPA Role of Honour
2014 – Amy Woodhead
2013 – Joint winners - Donald Fraser & Katie Knight
2012 – Alex Hardwick
2011 – Laura Jarvis
2010 – Teresa Smyth