Ben Fairbrother from Stirlingshire Wins the NAF Shining Star Award for February
Thursday 27 February 2014
Young Showjumper Ben Fairbrother from Stirlingshire has won the NAF Shining Star Award for February 2014. Aged just ten, Ben has already proved to be an active and dedicated member of the British Showjumping Central Scotland Junior Academy.
Aileen Craig, Lead Coach for the Academy, nominated Ben for the NAF Shining Star Award. Aileen had the following to say about her nominee “Ben is an asset to our Academy, he is always pleasant and supportive amongst his peers and always arrives happy and smiling, leaving the same way however well his session may have gone. He has made much progress in the size of the tracks he is jumping, the classes he is being placed in and in all aspects of his riding since he became a member of the Academy.
“He is a very earnest boy, who takes his jumping seriously; being the first rider into the ring to walk the course and is often the last to leave as he tries to consider all that he has learnt from his Academy Training. He is known for always saluting the judges before his round starts and again when he leaves the arena. He is also known as the little boy who leaves the arena patting and hugging his pony no matter how his round went”.
Ben has been riding since he was a 3 years-old and has been a member of British Showjumping since May 2013. Successfully completing his 1* Award earlier this month he is now actively working towards attaining his 2*. Since joining the Association he has had the ride on three ponies and in December he progressed onto his 138cm pony Balcarres Colonel Mustard (Musto) with whom he has qualified for the Springboard Final.
On hearing the news that he had been awarded this month’s NAF Shining Star Award he said “I was really thrilled to hear that I had won the NAF Shining Star Award and I would like to thank my Mum and Dad for letting me have my ponies, my Mum for training me and my grandparents who always cheer me on. I really appreciate Aileen Craig’s teaching during the Junior Academy sessions and would also like to thank Lorraine Kennedy who does lots of work organising our huge Academy and Liz Logan for all of her support
“For 2014, I am looking forward to competing in the Springboard Final and hope to qualify for the Stepping Stones and Graham Heath Finals. I also think it will be fun travelling to shows around the country to get experience this year as I have four years on my 138 ponies. I am also working hard to compete my 2* award”.
Tracey Lloyd, Marketing Manager for NAF commented “Congratulations Ben, your hard work and commitment to your sport has shone through, a very well deserved Shining star Award adds to your continual accomplishments.’
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.
