Eva Dent from Durham is the latest NAF Shining Star
Tuesday 29 April 2025
.jpg "Eva Dent from Durham is the latest NAF Shining Star")
Eva Dent, from Seaham, Durham, has been awarded the latest NAF Shining Star accolade. Eva, a member of the British Showjumping Cleveland and Durham Academy, was nominated for the award by her coach, Danielle Cutter.
Delighted to have found out that she had been nominated for the NAF Shining Star Award, Eva commented: “When my Mum showed me the email saying I had won the award, I was shocked but also proud of myself and my pony May. I have only been riding May, whose show name is Charisma E, since October when I moved up from my 13hh ponym Santazah.
“May is only five years old and is a 14.2 sports pony. We have owned May all her life as my grandad, David Marley, bred her. She was born on my birthday as I was able to watch her be born, so I think she is a very special pony.”
Eva has had a busy 2025 already but is looking forward to an exciting summer of riding: “I have enjoyed going to lots of training and taken May to her first competitions. We jumped in the 80cm Just For Schools direct qualifier at Holmside. We didn’t expect much from her as it was only her 3rd competition, but we finished 2nd and qualified for the final! We are hoping to keep going the way we are to gain more experience as a partnership but I’m mostly looking forward to hopefully taking May to her first Academy Championships in August.”
Danielle Cutter, Cleveland and Durham Academy Coach said: “Eva is a regular our Academy training and throughout her time, has shown commitment, passion and continuous improvement. Eva started her British Showjumping journey on Academy teams in 2023 before becoming a full member in 2024 and qualified for 138cm Stepping Stones, Pony British Novice Second Rounds & Scope to name a few. Watching Eva’s skills set, and confidence develop at training events has been a pleasure to observe.
“Competing on Academy teams 2024, Eva demonstrated outstanding team camaraderie as well as competing solo in the Academy NAF 1* competition earning herself a well-deserved 4th place in a huge class,” added Danielle.
Chris Shaw, Development Officer for the North, added: “Eva's progress has been really solid, particularly over the last 12 months and she is always keen to attend and take an active part in Academy activities in the Cleveland and Durham Area.”
Talking about why she enjoys being a member of the Cleveland and Durham Academy so much, Eva commented: “I am so thankful to Danielle for her amazing support and encouragement, whether it’s at an Academy event or if we just bump into her at a show. She is always super helpful and encouraging and everyone in our Academy is super nice & friendly.”
Lisa Field from NAF added: “Eva has been working incredibly hard to correctly develop her young pony and it is wonderful to see you have so much success already. It’s great to hear of your dedication and commitment to training and how much you are enjoying this journey. We look forward to seeing what 2025 holds for you, well done Eva, a worthy winner of this month’s Shining Star!”
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.
For further information on NAF follow them on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates and rider stories or visit the NAF website at naf-equine.eu/uk
Further information on the British Showjumping Academies can be found here: britishshowjumping.co.uk/training/Academies-1
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