Anya Dewey Clarke from Nottinghamshire Junior Academy is June’s NAF Shining Star
Thursday 14 July 2022
.jpg "Anya Dewey Clarke from Nottinghamshire Junior Academy is June’s NAF Shining Star")
Seven year-old Anya Dewey Clarke from Lincoln has been awarded June’s NAF Shining Star. She is a member of British Showjumping’s Nottinghamshire Junior Academy and was nominated for the award by her coach, Joanne Burns-Firth.
Anya has three ponies that she is currently competing; Mini Mouse II, a 19 year-old mare owned for 6 months, Brookhall Pavarotti, a 15 year-old gelding, and MHS Rebel Pride, 11 year-old gelding, owned since January.
Anya is extremely proud to not only have won the Springboard 128cm Final at South View Winter Pony Finals at just 7 years old with Mini Mouse II, known as Mini at home, but to also come second on Brookhall Pavarotti, known as Pav at home. MHS Rebel Pride, known as Rebel at home, also placed in the Springboard 128cm Final, finishing seventh. Talking about the weekend, Anya said: “What an amazing weekend. We were blown away with the result as it was not expected. We just wanted to get round! The jumps were huge, and I even got my picture in Horse and Hound”.
Following the 2022 British Showjumping National Championships, which Anya has qualified all three ponies for, she would love to step up to jump National 128cm Championship qualifying classes. She has also qualified for the Great Yorkshire Show Mini Major on both Mini and Pav but has chosen to ride Mini.
Joanne Burns Firth, Coach of the Nottinghamshire Junior Academy, says: “Anya has so much talent and enthusiasm for the sport. She works hard to complete her NAF Five Star booklet and is always supportive and friendly with her fellow riders. At the last Academy Anya asked if they could all jump the open water that was set up, so I adjusted it a little and off they went, asking for it bigger and wider! I wish I could bottle her confidence and courage”.
Speaking about what she enjoys most about being part of the Nottinghamshire Academy, Anya said “I love going to academy training it is all amazing and I take all 3 ponies. We do a wide variety of exercises, pole work and jumping. It is good to ride at different venues and ride with friends. Jo is really encouraging and explains things in a positive way.”
As well as showjumping, Anya also loves showing which she says is great for keeping her flatwork and position correct. Her greatest achievement in showing was winning Horse of the Year Show last year in the Lead Rein Show Pony Class. This year she is excited to take Pav to HOYS in the 133cm Open Working Hunter section, having won their first every qualifier class earlier last month.
Lisa Field from NAF added: “Anya is an enthusiastic and determined young rider and it is wonderful to see the love and dedication she has for her ponies and for showjumping reflected in such great results. It is impressive to see such young riders gaining courage from their academy training and asking to try exercises to challenge themselves. The Nottinghamshire Academy sounds like an incredibly supportive environment for these young riders to develop and challenge themselves as showjumpers. Well done to Anya on being awarded the NAF Shining Star for June 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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