Ayrshire’s Fionnulla Kerr Wins the July NAF Shining Star Award

The NAF Shining Star Award for July has been given to skilled young showjumper, 

14-year-old Fionnulla Kerr from Maybole, Ayrshire for the exceptional enthusiasm and support that she has shown whilst being an active member of her local British Showjumping Junior Academy. 

 

Fionnulla was nominated for the NAF Shining Star Award by the lead coach for the South West Scotland Junior Academy, Nadine Warwick. Nadine felt that Fionnulla was an extremely worthy candidate for the award “Fionnulla is a wonderful role model for all of our South West Scotland Junior Academy members. Not only is Fionnulla a dedicated member herself, she also offers help and encouragement to everybody else. Her turnout, stable management and riding skills are all exceptional and she is a very capable showjumper.”

 

Fionnulla has been a member of British Showjumping since 2008 and she began riding back in 2002 at the tender age of five. Fionnulla has always been a keen and committed member of her Junior Academy and she is well respected by the other members. This became even more apparent when Fionnulla’s fellow Junior Academy members all asked to be allowed to attend the Royal Highland Show in order to support Fionnulla. Being the dedicated showjumper that she is, Fionnulla had achieved qualification on two ponies, Laraghmore Martin and Rio VIII. 

 

Tracey Lloyd, Marketing Manager for NAF commented “The mutual support shared amongst Fionnulla and the other South West Scotland Junior Academy members is a joy to behold. With exceptional turnout, riding and stable management skills as well as sportsmanship, Fionnulla is a well deserving Shining Star Winner. Congratulations.’’

 

The NAF Shining Star Award was introduced when NAF became a British Showjumping Business Partner. The award is for members of a Junior Academy who have shown a great deal of commitment, progression and outstanding behaviour along with their riding ability and much more. Riders are nominated by their lead coach, and then judged and awarded by NAF to one person each month.