Sophie Howell from Bristol and North Somerset Junior Academy is the August NAF Shining Star
Tuesday 13 September 2022
Sophie Howell from South Gloucestershire has been awarded with the August’s NAF Shining Star accolade; a member of the British Showjumping Bristol and North Somerset Junior Academy, she was nominated for the award by her coach, Jayne Smart.
Sophie currently has one horse, Pommery Van De Koyenborre, know as Beauty at home and one pony, Reflex Gortgarron Sandman, known as Jacob, that she competes. Sophie has owned Beauty for 9 months and says she is so lucky that she has given her such a great start to her career on horses.
Commenting on her horse she said: “Beauty is a big softie who loves cuddles and attention but also loves sleeping. At stay away shows is usually found in her stable fast asleep snoring!”
Sophie has owned Jacob for 3.5 years and describes him as: “A fun pony who loves life at home on the farm where he often is used to help round up the sheep; he loves the excuse for a nice canter around the fields!”
Following the news that she was the recipient of August’s NAF Shining Star award, Sophie said: “I was very surprised to hear that I am the August NAF Shining Star and feel very lucky to have been nominated and given this award.”
This year, Sophie has enjoyed competing for the Bristol and Somerset Academy on Jacob at the Devon County Show and being part of the British Showjumping National Academy Team Final at Stoneleigh with Beauty. Her proudest moment was qualifying Jacob for the Pony British Novice Final at the British Showjumping National Championships as she has been trying to do this for a few years. She also achieved 4 double clears in the Senior Discovery on Beauty where they reached the third round of second round qualifiers which was the biggest courses she has ever jumped.
Jayne Smart, Coach of the Bristol and North Somerset Junior Academy, said of Sophie: “She has been a very regular attendee of Academy training and has improved enormously over the last couple of years. She has been part of our team for Devon County Show 2022, qualified her pony for the Pony British Novice Final at Nationals and also rode for the Academy team at the British Showjumping Academy Championships at Stoneleigh recently. She also has started her career on horses, getting better all the time on her lovely mare, Beauty. She is a happy, positive member of the Academy and a pleasure to coach”.
Explaining what she enjoys most about being part of the Bristol and North Somerset Junior Academy, Sophie said: “I love being a part of the Bristol and North Somerset Academy. I have made some great friends and we have a lot of fun at team competitions. It is great to be part of such a fun and supportive Academy”.
Lisa Field from NAF added: “Sophie is a wonderful young rider who has developed with her pony through the Bristol and North Somerset Academy is now starting to progress with her horse. It is great to see how involved she is with Academy training and that all her hard work is rewarded with qualifying for finals at the British Showjumping National Championships. Well done Sophie on being awarded the NAF Shining Star for August. Keep working hard and dream big, we can’t wait to see what you achieve next”.
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.
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Further information on the British Showjumping Academies can be found here: www.britishshowjumping.co.uk/training/Academies-1
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