A Prize Saddle for Rider on Way to the Top
Friday 14 November 2014
A new award, sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Saddlers (WCS), means that one rider will soon have a brand new bespoke saddle in their tack room.
The WCS Saddle will be awarded to a rider aged 25 years or under who is judged to have made a successful transition from Young Rider level to senior competition, during which time they have conducted themselves with maturity and dignity and presented their sport well to the media.
The winning rider will be decided from a short list of three – one from each Olympic discipline – voted for by members of the British Equestrian Writers’ Association (BEWA). The WCS Saddle will be presented to the successful rider at the annual BEWA lunch at the London Olympia Hilton on the 18th December.
Mr Patrick Burns from the Worshipful Company of Saddlers commented “The Company has historically supported younger riders on the way up, which is why we are particularly pleased to present this new award. Making the transition from the relatively protected Young Rider ranks to the big world of senior competition is not easy and we are only too pleased to help recognise the achievement of one rider who is making a success of their career.”
BEWA chairman Andrew Baldock said "This is an exciting new award to be presented at our annual lunch, and we are delighted to welcome such a prestigious organisation as The Worshipful Company of Saddlers, with their proud heritage and tradition, to honour one of Britain's most promising riders."
The three short-listed riders are:
Eventing: Becky Woolven, 25.
Becky was best British rider aged 25 and under at Blenheim, her first CCI3*, where she was 11th on LB The Phantom, and in the British Open at Gatcombe. She achieved 10 international results on three horses this season.
Dressage: Alice Oppenheimer, 25.
Alice is successfully competing at grand prix and competes several homebred horses that she has produced herself. This year with the homebred Headmore Delegate she won the grand prix at Wellington Premier League competed in British international competitions and was fifth in the National Championship grand prix with over 68%.
Showjumping: Spencer Roe, 21.
Spencer jumped the double clear on Wonder Why at the Dublin Nations Cup that clinched Britain’s place in the Furusiyya Nations Cup final in Barcelona where he contributed a clear round. Spencer also acquitted himself well on his senior championship debut at the WEG.
11dtw0hmsttk0.jpg "NAF Five Star Bronze and Silver League Qualifiers get underway at Speetley Equestrian Centre")
