DRESSAGE
Claire Knowles
Claire is a popular and highly respected trainer who works with all levels of riders, from young Pony Clubbers up to those competing successfully in affiliated dressage and is regularly seen out competing on her distinctive Knabstrupper horses. The Knabstrupper is a rare breed and Claire's hard work and success with these horses has done much to raise the profile of the breed in the UK.
Claire's first breakthrough in dressage came with her young Knabstrupper gelding, Rughavens Sheik, who she backed and brought on herself. Since his successful debut in 2005, Sheik and Claire have achieved many successes, qualifying for national championships every year from novice through to medium level. At just 7 years old this young horse has already made a winning debut at advanced medium and is showing that there is a great deal more to come.
Claire also competes on two Knabstrupper stallions - her own 6yo Rughavens Jackpot and her mother's 11yo Stavsdals Jackpot. Claire has produced and trained these horses herself and both horses are showing a great talent for advanced dressage work.
In 2007 Claire set up her own training yard and has two very talented Dutch youngsters in training for whom the owners and Claire have high hopes. In 2008 one of these young horses, Z - Vivaldo, successfully competed at the British Dressage National Championships in the National 4yo Class.
EVENTING
Giles Blanchard
At just 18 years old Giles combines studying for his A levels at St Edward's School, Oxford with eventing his two horses. His strong competitive drive and determination for eventing runs paralell to his first team membership of rugby, cricket and hockey sides at school.
Giles starting riding as soon as he could walk, often falling asleep astride his Shetland pony, Lucy. Encouraged by his mother and, with two elder brothers to compete against, representation in all Pony Club teams then followed. This was Giles' introduction to eventing. Giles then increased his valuable eventing experience through the Pony Trials programme representing GB twice before the age of 16 at two Pony Championships. At 15 he was also competing on his brother's schoolmaster horse culminating in two JRN championships at Weston Park.
Progression into Juniors last year on Arnies Game saw him again wearing the Union Jack in France at Jardy and as a squad member at the Junior European's at Thirlestane where Giles and Arnie were placed 6th individual in Europe. With another year in juniors and a new horse, Chequers on Ice to run alongside Arnie, Giles has high hopes for 2009!
2009 will hopefully see Giles competing at 2* level with Young Riders in mind for 2010. Giles has his mind firmly on continuing to progress up the eventing ladder and would love to do work experience with his two horses for a professional rider in the near future.
Sophie Llewellyn
Sophie started her eventing career in the Pony Club competing from mini up to area horse trials on many occasions. Sophie competed in the National Pony Trials for two years on Killusty Prince and Ballyduff Rusty and won team Gold in Necarne in 2005.
2008 was Sophie's first year in Juniors and she was short listed, with her horse Captain Darling, for the Junior European Championships. 2008 has also seen success for Sophie at Intermediate level, winning Borde Hill JRN and coming 14th in the Intermediate at Aldon International horse trials to finish the season. She came 16th at Chepstow Junior National Championships and since then has competed at Jardy CCI* in France, and Weston Park JRN Championships.
This year Sophie hopes to gain a place on the Junior European Championship Squad, and compete at CCI**, gaining more experience at the higher levels and keep moving up the grades. Sophie is aiming to compete in Young Rider trials in two years time and longer term plans to compete among the best at CCI*** and CCI**** level, and is very ambitious about doing so.
Ella McEwen
Like her older brother Tom, Ella started her riding career at an early age, both on the hunting field and competing with the VWH Pony Club. At just 15 Ella is currently studying for her GCSE's whilst successfully competing her two ponies.
Having won the school championships three times Ella went on to be the youngest, at just 12, to compete with her team at the 2006 Pony Club Championships. In 2007 she went on to win with her team.
With Catherston Nutsafe she has gone, in just one season, through the pony trials to team silver at the European Championships in Switzerland narrowly missing gold by just 1 point.
With a new pony to ride as well as Catherstone Nutsafe 2009 looks likely to be an exciting year for Ella. Her immediate goal is to retain her place on the British pony team in Belgium this year where she hopes to go one better and win the gold!
Long term Ella would love to move up through the juniors and young rider teams to senior level and to ultimately compete at Olympic level.
Tom McEwen
Coming from a strong equine background it was inevitable that Tom began riding and hunting at an early age as well as competing for the VWH Pony Club. Tom is currently combining studying for his A levels with producing two young horses while also competing on the experienced advanced horse Major Sweep having come fifth at the British Junior Championships 2008.
Tom has produced all his ponies from youngsters and in 2007, at the age of just 16 Tom won Team Gold with Great Britain at the European Championships in Freudenburg, Germany. Prior to that Tom became the first rider to win the Pony Club championships for both dressage and eventing for two consecutive years. At only 14 Tom won the school championships.
In 2008 Tom was long listed and invited to train with the GB Junior Squad, his talent and dedication have been recognised with a scholarship through the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS).
Tom's goal is to represent his country at senior level and ultimately to compete at the 2012 Olympic Games.
SHOWING
Lucy Larkman
Lucy became involved with showing ponies at the age of 14 having previously been a keen member of the Pony Club. It all started after a chance ride on a Highland pony that was on holiday at the yard, and since then you could say Lucy hasn't looked back!
Lucy was lucky to be given a young Exmoor pony, 'Elsinore Simon Sparrow' who over the last 6 years has totally exceeded all expectations and got her totally hooked on showing at the highest level, with consistent placings at county shows and qualifying and standing in the final line up at the Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, in both '07 and '08. Simon, as he is known, has been Ridden Champion at every area breed show accessible to Lucy, he was the Exmoor winner in the 'NFU Mutual Ridden Final' under the lights at the NPS Summer Championship show in' 07 and topped the lot by standing Exmoor Pony Society Ridden Champion in 2006.
Lucy has a novice Highland, 'Brittleton Cardhu', who is looking to be a very bright prospect with 3 championships and a silver medal under his belt in only his first season under saddle. In addition to this she also has a 5yr old stallion, 'Dunkery Royal Tern' who has won nearly every time out in-hand and will be broken in the summer, an exciting prospect for 2010.
Lucy has been lucky enough to be asked ride several ponies for professional producers and private owners, and has travelled as far afield as Blair Horse Trials in Scotland to do so. She is also one of the youngest candidates to pass the selection process to stand on the Exmoor Pony Societies Probation Judges Panel, something she is very proud of and much looking forward to commencing this year.