Zurie Dempster from Dumfries, Scotland is the latest British Showjumping Shining Star

Zurie Dempster, from Dumfries, Scotland, has been awarded the latest British Showjumping Shining Star accolade. Zurie, a member of the British Showjumping South West Scottish Academy, was nominated for the award by her coach, Aileen Craig.    

Eighteen-year-old Zurie was delighted to discover she had been nominated for the British Showjumping Shining Star Award: “I was shocked and really happy and grateful to be nominated!” 

Zurie currently competes with her two horses, Carraiganard Obie, or Obie at home and Springrove Satisfaction or Marty at home. Talking fondly of her horses, Zurie said: “The name of my main horse is 7 year old  Carraiganard Obie (Obie) who I event and show jump, I’ve owned him for nearly 3 years now. 6 Year old  Springrove Satisfaction (Marty) whom I mainly showjump and produce. I’ve owned Marty for just under a year. A fun fact about Obie is he likes to pick up the wheelbarrow and is very playful and acts like a toddler. A fun fact about Marty is he actually picks up his feed bucket and chucks it outside his door when he’s done.  

“What I’ve most enjoyed this year is stepping Obie up to his first international and coming second place. I’ve also enjoyed getting to know Marty better. 

“I enjoy going to the academy as I feel it’s welcoming and I leave feeling like I've learned something new. 

“After starting the academy last year and training with Aileen, I’ve really felt my riding and confidence have come on lots!” 

Aileen Craig, Lead Coach for the South West Scottish Academy, said: “Zurie has worked so hard on her confidence and on producing her horse through the British Showjumping South West Scottish Academy.  She has had fantastic progression in her showjumping, which has resulted in amazing results this season with her eventing.  

“She has now got another young horse which she is bringing through the same system and is thriving.  Zurie is a pleasure to coach, eager to learn and a great role model her little sister Noi, who is also an active member of the Academy along with all the other younger academy members.” 

Alexandra van Randwyck, Head of Integrity and Development for British Showjumping, said: "Zurie has worked incredibly hard to build her confidence and develop her partnership with her horse, and it has been fantastic to see how much she has progressed. The support she has received through the South West Scottish Academy has played such an important role in helping her believe in herself, develop her skills and produce her horse to the best of her ability. To now see her achieving some amazing results off the back of that hard work is hugely rewarding. Zurie is a real shining star, and it is wonderful to see her confidence growing and her potential beginning to shine through."  

The British Showjumping Shining Star 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 British Showjumping to one member each month.    

Further information on the British Showjumping Academies can be found here: britishshowjumping.co.uk/training/Academies-1