Dear 

Please see below for a press release about a professional showing groom - Zoe Barleycorn - from Orpington who has been nominated as a finalist for a national award.

Please also find attached an image of Zoe. I hope you will be able to use this story and please do let me know if you would like any further information or images.

Kind Regards

Jenny

Jenny Viner

HoldsworthPR

Public Relations and Marketing
The Old Nursery Office, Rock Road, Washington, West Sussex, RH20 3BH
Tel:  01903 892060 or 07917 886851
Fax:  01903 891637
Email:  jenny@holdsworthpr.co.uk

Website: www.rachaelholdsworth.co.uk

Press Release - For immediate release

2017 Absorbine Grooms of the Year Award

22nd June 2017

Show groom nominated for national award

Zoe Barleycorn (31) from Orpington has been nominated as a finalist in the Absorbine Professional Groom of the Year Awards. Voting for the finalists is now open, and the winner will be announced at the end of season Showing World/ Showing Council Personality of the Year Awards Gala dinner on the 21st October at the East of England Showground, Peterborough.

Busy mother and full-time groom, Zoe has worked for Team Burchell showing in East Grinstead for three seasons now. She said: "I love my job and there is a great team environment at Team Burchell. My duties at work involve preparing the horses and ponies at home for the showring, grooming at shows and plenty of schooling and backing and breaking in. I love seeing the horses we have broken in going on to their first shows and watching their careers progress."

Zoe has worked as a rider and groom since leaving school and is delighted to be nominated for this award. She has spent time previously working in a dressage yard in Downe and then working for a showing family in Farningham.

Zoe said: "My job at Team Burchell has given me some great opportunities. My proudest moment was seeing my 4-year-old daughter Jessie in the ring recently riding Mandy Burchell-Small's pony, Rowfantina Royal Occasion. Jessie absolutely loved it and can't wait to go to another show very soon!"

To get into the finals of the Absorbine Groom of the Year Award, grooms have to be nominated and then a selection panel decides on the four professional finalists. To vote for Zoe in the Absorbine Grooms Award visitwww.showingworldawards.co.uk.

Leading horse care products company Absorbine has sponsored the Showing Council / Showing World for several years. European marketing manager Rachael Holdsworth said, "It is great for Absorbine to be associated with providing recognition for all the hard work put in by showing grooms throughout the season. Our finalists this year are of an exceptional standard".

For further information please visitwww.absorbine.co.ukor find us on facebookwww.facebook.com/AbsorbineUK. To follow the Absorbine Groom of the Year award use hashtag, #GroomoftheYear17 or #ShowPersonality17.

ENDS

Zoe's top grooming tip: You can never have enough Brylcreem. It makes quarter marks look great. Absorbine SuperShine Black is also a must have - painted on the horses' feet, it looks brilliant and really lasts.

PICTURE: Zoe Barleycorn.

For more press information, contact Holdsworth PR on 01903 892060 or emailjenny@holdsworthpr.co.uk.