Shropshire-based Samantha Lea and her seven-year-old Irish Sports Horse Redshaw Valentino were crowned overall SEIB Search for a Star champions after they triumphed in the final championship at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
Samantha, who runs an equine rug cleaning business from her family farm, has been riding ‘Henry’ for three years and the pair won the show hunter class earlier in the week.
“Henry and I competed in Search for a Star in 2022 and the judge said he needed a bit of time to mature. We had the 2023 season off and we brought him back into work slow and steady, we qualified first time out and now we’ve won this,” said Samantha who has a one-year-old son called Hugo.
Search for a Star is a showing championship which is open to home-produced amateur riders.
The seven section winners from throughout the week contested the finals where they performed a show of their choice for judges Katie Jerram-Hunnable, Chris Hunnable and JJ Kemp.
Katie Jerram-Hunnable will be judging the Search for a Star classes at Your Horse Live on Friday 8 November alongside her husband Chris Hunnable.
Traditional cob
Recruitment administrator Lauren Woodward and the five-year-old Beacon St James, who triumphed in the traditional cob class, were crowned reserve champions.
“This is our first year in the showring together and this result is beyond my dreams. Jimmy was so good today in the huge atmosphere of the show. We entered Search for a Star just to get some experience and now here we are,” said Lauren.
Working pony
Elsewhere, Lexi Eccles piloted her mother Shelley Harvey’s 13-year-old part-bred Exmoor pony, Little Miss Flintstone, into first place in the working pony final.
“After coming second in the Search for a Star qualifier at Pyecombe last year and just missing out we worked so hard all winter to qualify for HOYS at the start of this season,” said Lexi.
Lexi, who’s 13 and was the youngest rider in the class, has been riding ‘Bam Bam’ for five years and this is their last season together.
Working show horse
First place in the working show horse class was awarded to full-time mum Tennent riding Robin Vestey’s mare, Thurlow, who’s known at home as Harley and was bought to hunt.
“I must be proof that anyone who wants it enough can do it. We do the showing on a shoestring, Harley lives in a cattle shed and we do our training whilst out hacking, we have no sand arena to practise in,” said Karen.
Hack
Pet sitter and dog walker Katy Llewellyn piloted Polydamos, an ex-racehorse who she’s owned for seven years, to top spot in the hack finals.
“He’s such a showman and I couldn’t have done it without the help we’ve had along the way. My trainer Vicky Hesford has been immense with giving us a lesson every week. It’s taken time with him being an ex-racehorse, some days are more challenging for us both than others,” said Katy, who’s from South Glamorgan.
Riding horse
Kirstie Short and Carrhouse Deal Me In (Rio), a part bred Arab x Cleveland Bay who she’s been riding for seven years, won the riding horse class.
The Northamptonshire rider is no stranger to success in the Search for a Star Championships at HOYS as she won the Show Hunter Pony class in 2008 with her mum’s Chinook Paprika.
“I couldn’t ask for more of Rio. It’s taken plenty of time to get here. I work as a restaurant manager and have a nearly two-year-old daughter as well and fit in training and riding Rio around everything else,” said Kirstie.
Show cob
Harrogate-based Carla Hainsworth and the six-year-old Darrowby Ajax finished at the head of the field in the show cob final.
“Darrowby Ajax has been so well-behaved here and wasn’t overwhelmed by the occasion. I’m so proud of him,” said Carla who’s a regional manager for a care company.
“We are thrilled to be providing these opportunities for amateur riders. The HOYS Search for a Star championships are the culmination of months, and in some cases years, of preparation and training for the riders and their horses and ponies,” said series organiser Nicolina MacKenzie.
More SEIB Search for A Star champions will be crowned at Your Horse Live. These following classes take place on the morning of Friday 8 November. On Saturday 9 November, all champions will be invited back for the supreme, where an overall champion will be crowned.
Mountain and Moorland (in-hand and ridden)
Veteran Horse and Pony (in-hand and ridden)
Pony Club Ridden Leading Rein Pony
Pony Club First Ridden
Open Ridden Horse or Pony
In-Hand Plaited Horse including Hogged Show Cob
In-Hand Plaited Pony
In-hand Traditional and Native Type
British Riding Club Show Horse or Pony
Photo credit: 1st Class Images
