SEIB Insurance Brokers- Press Release
14th November 2024
SEIB Search for a Star 2024
For an image click here - Spinway Colm
Agriculture Student Takes SEIB Search for a Star Supreme Title at Your Horse Live
A 17-year-old student from Southam has won the SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star Championship at Your Horse Live. Connemara pony, Spinway Colm was ridden to perfection by Daisy Beards on the 9th November under the bright lights of the main Your Horse Live SEIB arena in Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire to take the Search for a Star title.
Stoneleigh Riding Club member Daisy said: "The atmosphere here today was just great, I went in with the attitude to have fun and at the same time try our absolute hardest. What an experience! He was brilliant from start to finish!" Daisy has owned Colm since he was a four-year-old. She is currently studying Agriculture at Hartpury University. Daisy continued: "I thought he would be calmer here but he's absolutely loved it! We've competed in lots of different Riding Clubs competitions including the Winter and Summer Riding Clubs Championships in dressage and juniors.
My sister saw the new BRC Search for a Star class on Facebook so we decided to give it a go! You don't have to belong to a show society so it makes it nice and straightforward and we thought it would be a bit of fun for both me and Colm! I'm on a work placement year from university - on a farm near Banbury at the moment. Its been brilliant to do Search for a Star and its given us a great opportunity to do something different!"
Daisy and Colm qualified for the Search for a Star Your Horse Live with a win at a qualifying shoe back in June. They went on to win the Search for a Star British Riding Clubs Championship on the Friday at Your Horse Live before taking the Supreme Ridden and Overall Supreme on the Saturday.
The new Search for a Star BRC members class is open to members of BRC Affiliated Riding Clubs and their horses or ponies that meet the Search for a Star amateur criteria. In the class, competitors are expected to give a short show but horses and ponies are not required to be ridden by the judge.
Head of British Riding Clubs, Rachael Hollely-Thompson said: "Congratulations to everyone who took part in SEIB Search for a Star this year. We are delighted to offer this new opportunity to BRC members and are grateful to the Search for a Star team for hosting the BRC classes. I hope members out there are inspired to have a go next year as it's such great fun and you never know - you may end up as the 2025 champion, just like Daisy and Colm!"
Longstanding Search for a Star judges, and top show producers, Katie Jerram Hunnable and Chris Hunnable said: "Our Supreme Champion gave an outstanding performance both yesterday and today in the Supreme - he was the best throughout the championship. His suppleness and the way his rider has trained him shone through. Its great to see this new Riding Clubs showing series and the support it is getting. I spoke to our champion and said she must go and do some Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter Pony classes as he is also a great jumper. We'll look forward to seeing him in the future - no doubt being a champion again, they are a great combination!"
Nearly a thousand competitors have entered SEIB Search for a Star qualifiers this season to chase a total of 60 much-coveted Your Horse Live tickets in the series. SEIB Insurance Brokers set up the Search for a Star series in the mid-1990's. For the first time, in 2024 the Absolutely Genuine Company has leased the running of Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse.
Founder and Organiser of Search for a Star, Nicolina MacKenzie said: "Your Horse Live is simply brilliant and provides an unforgettable experience for everyone lucky enough to qualify. Our Supreme ridden and in-hand champions were exceptional and we look forward to seeing them in the ring in the future. Thank you to everyone involved for making it all happen."
Your Horse Live Event Director, Emma Bedford said: "We were thrilled to welcome the Search for a Star competitors to Your Horse Live in what has become a key part of the show. The standard of horses and ponies was so high and its always a pleasure to have the championships here."
SEIB have been providing expert insurance services for over 60 years. Renowned for their specialist equestrian insurance, SEIB offers tailored cover for horses, horseboxes, trailers, riders, and equestrian businesses, ensuring comprehensive protection and peace of mind. For more information on their range of services and to explore their bespoke insurance solutions, please visit seib.co.uk.
ENDS
Picture credit 1st Class Images - Caption- Spinway Colm, SEIB Search for a Star Your Horse Live Champion. Left to Right; Katie Jerram Hunnable, Nicolina Mackenzie, Daisy Beards, Mathew Lawrence, Chris Hunnable.
For further press information please contact Jenny Viner, jenny@jennyviner.com
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