Owen Leitch from South-East Scotland Junior Academy is May’s NAF Shining Star
Saturday 02 July 2022
Eight year-old Owen Leitch from Midlothian has been awarded May’s NAF Shining Star. He is a member of British Showjumping’s South-East Scotland Junior Academy and was nominated for the award by his coach, Andrew Hamilton.
Owen has four ponies currently competing at various levels; Wishfield Piggy Bank, a 12 year-old gelding owned for five months, Bronheulog Ruby, a 13 year-old gelding owned for one year, Barracurra Jellybaby, 10 year-old mare owned for seven months and Tatty Desire, a 23 year-old mare, owned for three years.
Whilst Owen has picked up various wins in steppingstones and springboard classes, his aims for the rest of the year are to keep progressing with all his ponies and to hopefully jump in his first 128 HOYS qualifier. Owen also hopes to be picked for the 128 Scottish team to represent Scotland at this year’s Home Pony Internationals.
Owen has recently achieved one of his main goals for the year when he competed at the Royal Highland Show last weekend in the NSR Communications Invitational Mini Major competition. Riding Wishfield Piggy Bank, known as Piggy at home, this moment was particularly special as he was partnered with his uncle Sandy Mclean, where they both completed with a clear round and finished 4th overall.
Andrew Hamilton, Academy Coach of the South-East Scotland Junior Academy, says: “Owen not only joins in with all academy sessions and camps, but can also be found in the ring helping the coaches build fences. He also likes to help the course builders at night or can be found showing people to their stables or helping in the café; everyone seems to know him. He counts the days down for the stay away shows and will rewatch his rounds hundreds of times to see how he can improve.”
Speaking about what he enjoys most about being part of the Academy, Owen said “I love attending academy training and learning all about different aspects of looking after and riding my ponies, but I especially love help put the fences up and down for the next lesson. I really hope I can be in the academy team this year.”
One of Owens favourite moments is when he won the gold medal at last year’s English Home Pony International on Tatty Desire, known at home as Tatty, in the 10 and Under Teams and has since watched the video thousands of times.
Lisa Field from NAF added: “Owen has a great attitude and is enthusiastic in getting involved with all aspects of academy training as well as being the first to help other with whatever they need. It is great to see his eagerness to continue developing with his ponies, especially as he did so well at the Royal Highland Show Mini Major competition. The South-east Scotland Academy sounds like a great place to get involved with all aspects of Academy and British Showjumping environment. Well done to Owen on being awarded the NAF Shining Star for May and we wish you all the best for the year ahead”.
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.
Further information on the British Showjumping Academy Show will soon be available on the British Showjumping website.
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