Evie Hall from Yorkshire is the latest NAF Shining Star
Monday 24 March 2025
Evie Hall, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, has been awarded the latest NAF Shining Star accolade. Evie, a member of the British Showjumping Yorkshire Academy, was nominated for the award by her coaches, Karen Farnsworth and Alice Clennan.
Delighted to have found out that she had been nominated for the NAF Shining Star Award, Evie commented: “When my mum showed me the email saying I had won, I was really shocked, surprised but also proud of myself and my pony Florence. I have never won anything like this before, and I am so thankful to Karen and Alice from my Academy for their amazing coaching and support.”
Eleven-year-old Evie has one pony that she competes with – a 13.2 mare called Florence. “Florence is my second pony, and together we have stepped up to jump and compete at a new level. She has been with me for a year this Easter and in that time we’ve been to lots of Pony Club events and British Showjumping training days, camps, and competitions as well as doing lots of hacking.
“Florence is a super pony. She is a skewbald and has some really cute markings. One of my favourites is on her bum so when you look back while riding it looks like a heart. She has a tiny snip on her nose which I like to call her ‘boop mark’ and after she’s done well or is pleased with herself, she asks for a boop on her nose.”
Evie is looking forward to an exciting 2025: “So far this year I’ve enjoyed hacking out and going to a few jumping competitions. My main goals for 2025 are to compete at the British Showjumping Academy Shows and the Pony Club Regional Championships as well as having fun with Florence and my friends.”
Karen Farnsworth and Alice Clennan, Yorkshire Academy Coaches said: “Evie has been an integral part of our Academy for a few years now; first attending on her 11.2 and now attending on her pony Florence. Evie’s jumping skills have progressed tremendously, and she always gives 100% every time she trains. She continues to put the skills she has learned into good practice and is able to discuss the positives and areas for improvement.
“Evie has also been a keen participant in progressing with the NAF skills book and has just recently completed her level 2 award. An important requirement at the academy is to be a good team player and Evie is most certainly a great example of this. She is polite and engaging and encourages others as well as praising other people’s successes.”
Talking about why she enjoys being a member of the Yorkshire Academy so much, Evie commented:” I am always so excited to go to the Academy days because they have such a wide variety of training at some great equestrian centres. I always go home feeling like I’ve accomplished goals and set myself new ones. My favourite thing about my Academy is there are so many supportive people, it is impossible to feel down. Our instructors always give me super guidance and ideas on ways to improve.”
Lisa Field from NAF added: “Evie, I can tell that you have a great eager-to-learn attitude and enthusiasm to improve and this wonderful attitude towards your training will help achieve your goals. The Yorkshire Academy sounds like a fun and supportive team which is the perfect environment for success. Well done on being awarded the NAF Shining Star and we wish you all the best for the year ahead!”
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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