Cambridgeshire’s Jessica Howard Wins the June NAF Shining Star Award

The NAF Shining Star Award for June has been given to talented young showjumper, 10-year-old Jessica Howard from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire for the determination and enthusiasm that she has shown whilst being an active member of her local British Showjumping Junior Academy. 

 

Jessica was nominated for the NAF Shining Star Award by lead coach for the Northamptonshire/Cambridge Junior Academy, Mia Korenika. Mia was thrilled to hear that Jessica won this month’s award “Jessica is a very capable and talented showjumper who is incredibly determined to do well on all of her ponies. She trains hard and is a very enthusiastic, friendly and bright member of the Junior Academy. Jessica is an ambassador for showjumping at a junior level and she thoroughly deserves this NAF Shining Star Award.” 

 

Jessica joined British Showjumping back in 2009 and being the motivated individual that she is, she works hard at all aspects of her riding, partaking in flatwork lessons to compliment her showjumping. Jessica has always been a keen member of her Junior Academy and she has been involved with the Academy from a training perspective through to helping out at awards ceremonies.  

 

In 2011, Jessica had a successful season on her mother’s (Audrey Grahame) pony, Just Joey Too. Jessica and ‘Joey’ qualified for the 2011 Pony of the Year Show (POYS) and the combination finished ninth in the Style and Performance Final. This season (2012) has seen Jessica consistently placed in Pony British Novice and Pony Discovery classes and she has also qualified for the Victory Shavings British Showjumping Scope Festival and the England Home Pony International. Both Jessica and Audrey attribute Jessica’s success not only to the support provided through the Junior Academy, but also to her trainer, Daniel Delsart. 

 

Tracey Lloyd, Marketing Manager for NAF commented “We proudly present the Shining Star Award to Jessica this month not only for her dedication to improve every aspect of her riding, but also for her great commitment towards her Academy.”

 

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.