Riding Sucess for Emma-Jayne
A rider from Knutsford has won at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) – the premier national championship of equestrian shows. 
Amateur rider, Emma-Jayne Meredith wowed judges in the South Essex Insurance Brokers’ (SEIB) Search For A Star Working Hunter Final with Debbie Charlesworth’s horse, Exclusively Centrestage.
The Search For A Star finals have become one of the most popular attractions at HOYS, representing a dream come true for those who qualified.
Emma-Jayne fought off stiff competition from nine other qualifiers and was awarded first place in the Show Hunter final. The homebred 5 year old, Exclusively Centrestage is by the Thoroughbred eventing sire Bazaars Exclusive, out of a Welsh section D mare, Tallyllyn Iana, this bay mare was unbeaten when shown in hand as a 2 and 3 year old.
Last year they did the Burghley Young Event Horse and they have only done 2 shows since as Emma-Jayne fractured the bottom of her spine and now has a titanium cage holding her together. “She is a pleasure to ride at home, and I trust her. The plan was to go eventing, but with my back injury we decided to try showing instead”, said Emma-Jayne, who works full time in a bank.
Emma-Jayne secured her ticket to HOYS after taking first place in the Show Hunter class at the SEIB SFAS 2011 qualifier, held at Bury Farm in Bedfordshire in June.
Search For A Star was developed by South Essex Insurance Brokers, in order to encourage amateur riders who have never competed at The Horse Of The Year Show, or The Royal International Horse Show.
SEIB Marketing Manager, Nicolina Mackenzie, said: “Our Search For A Star competition continues to grow and a superb number of entries always come forward.
“I am delighted with the excellent standard of horses and riders competing and the general turnout improves each year. The atmosphere at HOYS was magical and the stands were packed. It is wonderful to be able to give genuine amateur owners and riders this opportunity and I hope that many will go on to further success in open classes”
Show Judge, Richard Ramsay added: “This competition gives amateurs the chance to compete at HOYS, a dream which many riders would love to realise.”
SEIB have another success to celebrate on top of a brilliant week at HOYS, they are winners of the ‘Customer Service Provider’ award at the Insurance Age UK Broker awards. This is a National award within the insurance industry and SEIB were voted the best in the UK!
For more information please visit www.search4astar.org.uk
This story was submitted by Jenny Viner photo by Real Time Images.
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