Dunfermline’s Amber McCullough becomes the NAF Shining Star for July

Thursday 12 July 2018

Dunfermline’s Amber McCullough becomes the NAF Shining Star for July

Fifteen-year-old Amber McCullough from Dunfermline, Fife, has been awarded July’s NAF Shining Star through sheer hard work, dedication and ambition.

Amber was nominated for the award by Aileen Craig, Lead Coach for the Central Scotland Academy. “Amber joined the Central Scotland Academy in March 2015 having jumped up to 70cm with her field-kept pony Quantro III without the benefit of formal lessons. She has worked extremely hard to step up to Foxhunter/1.10m level with him and this year decided to focus this year on her ultimate ambition which was to qualify for the JC Championship Final at the Royal Highland Show.

“Attending every qualifier – frustratingly without success – made her all the more determined and at the very last chance at the Ian Stark Equestrian Centre, she secured her place in the coveted final and will have everlasting memories of a great round at the prestigious Royal Highland Show. Now too tall for Quantro, Amber is making the difficult but necessary decision to find a fabulous home for her ‘pony of a million’ and will move on to horses next year.”

“She has shown commitment, dedication, she always attends lessons with a smile on her face and is a role model for our younger riders, we wish her well in her future in senior British Showjumping”, added Aileen, who submitted the nomination alongside Training Co-Ordinator Lorraine Kennedy and Level 2 Coach Kelly Connor.

After finding out that she had won this month’s NAF Shining Star, Amber commented: “I am over the moon to have been given this award! Quantro is my first pony and as he is 14hh, I have had to work hard with him so that we can compete in the 148cm classes. My main aim this year was to qualify for the Royal Highland Show and I was thrilled to have done it. I love going to all of the training and academy shows and I really enjoy the Showjumping circuit.”

Branwen Griffin from NAF added: “Amber has come so far is such a short space of time. Her hard work, perseverance and dedication to both her pony Quantro and the Central Scotland Academy are true qualities of a deserving Shining Star. We are delighted Amber has been chosen as this month’s Shining Star, what a fitting end to a wonderful partnership and great successes with Quantro. We are really looking forward to following Amber’s Senior career. Congratulations Amber!”

Amber will receive some NAF equine products to use alongside the NAF Superflex that she is already using.

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.

NAF:
NAF is the most respected and trusted brand for supplements and applications for your horses in the UK today. Using proven ingredients and creating unique effective formulations NAF has an extensive portfolio of products designed to offer something for your horse’s every need. 

NAF are proud to be Official Suppliers to the British Equestrian Teams and Business Partners to British Showjumping supporting the NAF Five Star Training programme and the Shining Star Awards. Jessica Mendoza says “NAF have a great team of veterinary scientists and nutritionists, they are a big help to me and are there at the end of the phone with free advice if and when you need it, 0800 373106 or info@naf-uk.com.”

 
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