Showjumping Members widely acknowledged by Horsescotland
Monday 09 March 2020
The equestrian community came together on Friday 21st February to recognise the outstanding achievements of Scottish equestrianism at the Horsescotland National Equestrian Awards dinner.
The Horsescotland Awards provide the opportunity to thank members for their dedication with nominees having been submitted by their fellow members before being considered by the Horsescotland judging panel. Showjumping members excelled in three of the awards announced on the night as follows:
Youth Performer of the Year – Millie Lawson
Millie achieved so much in 2019 from taking her pony who had spent more than seven years unridden in a field to winning the prestigious 128cm Championship at Olympia, The London International Horse Show. Not only had the pony, Priestwood Hardy, been unridden for years but he had also only started jumping at 75cm earlier in the year making her achievement all the more outstanding.
Giving a heartfelt interview after her win at Olympia, Millie proved herself to be a true ambassador for junior showjumping in Scotland. Having worked her way up the ranks she has shown through her determination and commitment that you can achieve outstanding results if you put your mind to it.
Volunteer of the Year - Marjory McNaughton
Marjory has been a British Showjumping member for more than forty years and during that time she has given herself selflessly to the sport in many forms.
Her current voluntary roles include that of Area Representative and Academy Coordinator as well as sitting as a member on the National Sport, Scottish Pony Parent and Scottish Camp committees. Alongside this Marjory is also a Level 1 Course Designer and Gate Steward.
Marjory is an extremely proactive and enthusiastic member who gives her time freely and widely on a daily basis. She is a fountain of knowledge for the sport and she is actively involved in running training for Scottish members.
The many hours that Marjory gives to the sport as a volunteer serves to illustrate how dedicated she is to the sport which has resulted in her exceptional commitment being recognised with this award.
Lifetime Achievement Award – Willie Sheret MBE
The son of a coalman, and from an area called Partick in Glasgow, Willie started riding horses at the age of five and commenced competing at the age of thirteen. Joining the British Army in 1947 he found himself stationed in Berlin, Germany and it was there that he was asked to look after the stables near the Berlin Olympic Stadium and study under the Germany Showjumper Otto Klitzki.
Willie went on to compete for the British Army before returning home to the UK in 1949 to become a professional horseman where he would teach and provide livery alongside competing himself. His most notable success was when he won the Senior Foxhunter championships in 1975 on St Corry at Horse of the Year Show, which at the time was sponsored by the Daily Express newspaper and held at the Wembley Arena in London.
Honoured at Buckingham Palace by Her Majesty the Queen in 2005 for services to showjumping in Scotland with an MBE he is also the Honorary Vice President of British Showjumping’s Scottish branch.
In October 2015, forty years after winning the Foxhunter Championships, Willie was invited by Horse & Hound Magazine and Grandstand Media to be part of the presentation party that presented the 2015 Foxhunter Champion, Robert McGuire, with their trophy. September 2016 saw Willie publish and launch his own book called Keep Going Clear: A Guide to Better Showjumping on Amazon.
Competing himself until he was seventy years of age, Willie has produced a number of horses that have then gone on to compete at Championship and Olympic Games level. Now based in Kintore, Aberdeenshire, and aged 92 years he is still actively involved in the sport where he continues to assist those with their performance as well as being a sponsor of the B & C at the Royal Highland Show.
