Fourteen year-old showjumper, Katie Waldock-Smith from Ware in Hertfordshire has been awarded the NAF Shining Star Award for December 2014 following an impressive display of commitment and talent during her time as a member of the British Showjumping Central Junior Academy.
Mandy McGlynn, Lead Coach for the Junior Academy, nominated Katie for the award following a successful year for the teenager “Katie is a very talented young lady who has worked hard to bring on both of her ponies, Ross Cottage (Summer) and Clailu Saffron (Saffy). Both ponies qualified for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show and with Saffy, Katie jumped a double clear to finish fifth in the Pony Newcomers Championship.
“Katie was recently awarded the most improved rider in her age category at the Junior Academy awards evening and her pony Summer was presented with the Winston Bridgette trophy for the pony after achieving the highest winnings for the year.”
Katie has been a member of British Showjumping since September 2008 and she joined her local Junior Academy shortly afterwards. Since joining she has been working her way through the NAF Pony 5* Performance Awards Programme and has gained her 1* and 2*. She is currently working towards her 3* and is pleased to be have announced as a NAF Shining Star.
Katie said “I was really pleased and shocked to hear that I had won this award as I did not know that I had been nominated. The Junior Academy has opened up so many competition and training opportunities alongside giving me lots of support and encouragement.
“My 2015 plans include trying to qualify for the Horse of the Year Show again and Summer has just been upgraded to a JA pony, so I am looking forward to competing in the bigger classes with her.”
Griselda Handy, Brand Manager for NAF, commented “Katie has achieved some wonderful results and thoroughly deserves the recognition of this award. She clearly has a great future ahead of her and is one to be watched!”
Katie will receive some NAF products as part of her prize to add the supplements that she already uses, which include Hoof Moist for her ponies feet and In the Pink Powder for their digestion.
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.
