Shearwater announce Owner Rider award at the EHOA dinner

On Thursday 10th November, leading insurance brokers Shearwater Insurance awarded Surrey based amateur rider, Catherine Thompson, a £500 award at the Event Horse Owners Awards Dinner in London.

Having searched for a worthy candidate to receive the Shearwater Owner Rider Award, the judges saw that Catherine showed true devotion to her horse, Fergu’nesake, having fought hard to gain the trust of the previously abused, tricky Thoroughbred. Catherine stuck by her horse through the tough times and has now completed four BE80 classes this year, placed 8th at the last event and aims to be out campaigning BE90 classes in 2012.

Though a tough decision to make, the judges at Shearwater felt that Catherine’s application showed both determination and commitment to the welfare of a horse she really believed in, and Managing Director of the company, Jeremy Lawton believed that Catherine deserved recognition for this dedication. “Catherine showed that she had battled on through adversity and the achievements she had made showed a true partnership between horse and rider,” he says. “We are looking forward to seeing how our support can encourage them and hopefully reach Catherine’s dream of qualifying for the Badminton Grassroots Championships.”

Catherine was over the moon to receive the support from Shearwater “I am amazed and so thrilled that my absolute faith in my lovely horse has been rewarded in this way. Thank you Shearwater.”

Courtesy of www.carolineormephotpgraphy.com

For more information about the services that Shearwater Insurance can offer tel: 01992 718666 or visit: www.shearwater-insurance.co.uk

Shearwater’s search for a scholar is over!

Earlier this year, we launched a nationwide campaign to find a candidate worthy of receiving a £500 training bursary. After receiving hundreds of impressive applications, the difficult decision was reached and a winner can now be announced.

Leicester based Clare Stringer is an amateur event rider who, in her own words, ‘competes for the fun and love of the sport!’ Our judges believed that Clare’s application showed her dedication and passion for the sport, and Managing Director of the company, Jeremy Lawton, recognised that Clare was also committed to working hard for her sponsors and representing the brand in the right light.

“Whilst it was a tough choice to make, Clare’s enthusiasm shone through and she proved that she understood Shearwater as a brand which is important to me when looking for an ambassador for the company,” Jeremy says. “I am very much looking forward to seeing how our support can help her progress.”

The amateur rider was overjoyed to receive the bursary, “I still can’t believe I have been selected,” she said. “This couldn’t have come at a better time and I’m extremely grateful and excited as to what the funding will enable me to achieve next season. I’m looking forward to working with Shearwater over the next 12 months and hope I can represent them well. I will feel very proud to wear their logo when competing.”

You can keep track of Clare’s progress, along with all the other Shearwater horses, through the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ShearwaterInsurance

For more information about the services that Shearwater can offer tel: 01992 718666 or visit: www.shearwater-insurance.co.uk

Image courtesy of MDR Photo.

 

Meet the team of Shearwater show jumpers!

Whilst we often talk about our event horses and dressage sponsorship, many people are unaware that we also have a string of Shearwater Show Jumpers based with the Whitakers. Here we thought we would introduce you to all of them…

SHEARWATER UPANDA (SADIE)

Sadie is a 10 year old  KWPN mare by No Limit.  We bought Sadie in the January when she was 5yrs and for the first two and a half years she was produced locally by Neil Fiddes.  She was a very consistent young horse and qualified for both Newcomers and Foxhunter Regional finals but when she was 6yrs she suffered an accident in the lorry which meant she could not compete for a lot of that summer and so was unable to  compete in them.  When she was  7yrs Neil broke his ankle and she moved to the Whitakers and was competed by Ellen’s younger brother Joe.  She moved up the levels fairly quickly then and was placed second in both the Young Riders B&C and the Blue Riband finals at the Scope Festival in 2008.  As an eight year old she started to compete at  Grand Prix level and qualified for the British Open A&B winter finals.  She then went on to get placed regularly at that level and went on to compete abroad very successfully.  After a purple patch at the beginning of last year she changed riders and was competing with both Steven and Ellen for a while allowing Joe to concentrate more on his younger horses.  She has now gone back to Joe and was recently picked up several placings at an International show in France.  She will be competing at Leszno in Poland from 3rd Nov to 7th Nov and then again from 10th to 13th November.

SHEARWATER MIKADO (MICKEY)

Mickey is a 9yr old gelding that we bred ourselves.  He is by the Belgian Warmblood Parco (competed at Nations cup level by Ludo Philappaerts)  out of a Hannoverian mare called Super G who used to belong to the Company (who is a half sister to Shutterfly).  He started his competitive career with a friend of Jeremy’s but was quickly moved to the Whitakers as we wanted a high profile rider.  He competed very lightly as a four year old but was well placed at the Scope Festival in the four year old style and performance classes where he won the qualifier and came fourth in the final with Ellen having gone a bit green jumping indoors for the first time.  He has gone from strength to strength and is now regularly competed by Ellen’s father Steven both nationally and internationally.  He has had wins and placings at the highest levels and has even been placed in international puissance classes despite never having grown to the height we expected and currently standing at well under 16 hands.  Mickey is a very exuberant character and will often be seen bucking between fences and this has often been the cause of him losing big classes when without the bucks he would have been quick enough to win.  He will be competing at Leszno in Poland from 3rd Nov to 7th Nov and then again from 10th to 13th November.

SHEARWATER ROME ROSE (ROSE)

Rose is a 6yr old mare who we bought as an unbroken 3yr old.  She has proved to be quite a challenge but is now competing successfully at Newcomers and Foxhunter level.

Keep up to date with all of our horses by ‘liking’ us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ShearwaterInsurance. For all of your insurance needs visit: www.shearwater-insurance.co.uk

Shearwater Billy’s first seasons ends on a high

Kylie Roddy and Shearwater Billy have proved to be a fantastic team fantastic over their first event season. In her latest blog, Kylie fills us in on the last two events of the season and what her homework for the winter is!

“Osberton was great,” she states. “I had another horse in the 1* so Billy stayed up there for a few days, which was the first time he has stayed away from home. He took to it like a duck to water and stayed really relaxed. It has a real championship feel to the event so the atmosphere was buzzing. We had an early dressage and I was really pleased with him – he scored 37 which in comparison to some of the other riders – seemed a fair mark. We still haven’t cracked the medium trot – he is just too weak to put the engine from the backend in to the bridle but that will come in time. On the way to Osberton we stopped at Patchetts to have a show jumping lesson with Stuart Reeve Young which tuned us up round a course of show jumps, this really paid off and he did a lovely clear round in the ring – there was a lot to look at, flowers, children around the ring, but he took it all in his stride. The cross country was very good, the time was easy but there were a lot of questions. It was BE100 height but with the technicality of a Novice and we were early on the course so it was still dark and dingy – but it didn’t phase him and he felt so bold!”

“Then it was on to Broadway to do our first Novice,” Kylie says. “I felt that he was ready to go to Novice, he jumps a lot better over bigger heights, and he felt very comfortable at BE100 height so it was the right time to do a Novice. His dressage was OK, he scored 40 which I was a bit disappointed with but having looked at the marks it was probably about right. He then went in to show jumping and jumped his best round yet and then did a super clear cross country round. I took all the direct routes apart from the water which was quite a tricky log on a bounce distance to a step in to the water then a step to a skinny log out , he jumped in a bit too big and too much to the right so I couldn’t turn him in time so just went up the side and took the alternative. I didn’t go fast so we had 12 time penalties but we still came 10th which I was really pleased with.”

“This winter we will be doing lots of dressage and will work on getting him out to see as many places and people as possible. I will continue to train with Ian Woodhead and maybe take him to Kenneth and Tracy to see what they think. I think the more critical eyes the better so we can see what needs to be developed. His jumping this season has been better than I expected, his flatwork needs work but that is going to come with strength and he will be ready when he is ready! It can’t be rushed, I doubt we will really know what we have got until he is 7 years old, but the main thing is that he has a great brain and attitude.”

“Next year the hope is that he will become established at Novice and hopefully qualify for the 6 year old championships at the end of the year. I also have some 4 year olds that will be hunting this winter ready to event next year and am looking forward to doing some show jumping with my horse Whoppity – we are going to tackle some 1m30 classes and see how he feels.”

Keep up to date with Kylie and Billy’s progress by liking Shearwater on Facebook. For more information about Shearwater Insurance visit: www.shearwater-insurance.co.uk

Kyle Roddy and Shearwater Billy are steaming ahead this season

Kylie Roddy and Shearwater Billy have been steaming on this season especially after a successful outing at Burnham Beeches where they qualified for the 5 Year Old Lycetts British Eventing Young Horse Championships. “We have just come back from Purston where we did a Pre Novice Plus and we had an ‘educational’ day,” Kylie tells us. “The ground was quite undulating in the show jumping and where Billy is a little bit weak anyway and on his shoulder he had a couple of fences down going down hill but apart from that he was very good. On to cross country and despite a little moment at the start where he decided he wanted to stay with his friends in the warm up, he absolutely flew round for another brilliant clear! He feels so bold cross country and even through the water at Purston, which is quite a test for a young, inexperienced horse, he just took it on! He is certainly showing a little spark which I think will make him fantastic!”

“Our plans now are to go to Osberton to do the British Eventing Young Horse Championships where we have to do Novice level dressage and show jumping and Pre Novice level cross country. Then we will hopefully do his first Novice at Broadway before the season is out. If, for no other reason than to find out what I need to work on over the winter. I am very excited about him for next season!”

To keep up to date with all of the Shearwater news, visit www.shearwater-insurance.co.uk or www.facebook.com/ShearwaterInsurance

Shear H20 shines at Blenheim!

Claire Llewellyn took Solo to Blenheim and as usual the famous grey rose to the challenge! “We did our first demonstration in the attractions arena at 2pm so arrived about 11am to give him time to settle in his stable and chill out after the journey,” Claire says. “We had to warm up with the eventers warming up for their dressage but he relaxed after a while and did our first demo really well although the 20×60 that they had set up for us in the area was rather uneven and downhill!”

“Everyone watching seemed to really enjoy it and several people came to meet him afterwards with some lovely compliments. After an hours breather we were on board again and off to do it all again in the main arena, once the event dressage had finished. We had a huge audience which Solo loved, he knows they are there to see HIM and the demo went perfectly, I have never felt him go so well. He rose to the occasion and his party piece was foot perfect and received a lovely round of applause which he lapped up!”

“A long day found us back in Lincolnshire by 9.30pm tucking a tired boy into bed. He came out yesterday fit and well, full of self importance and very proud of himself, as he should be. A couple of quiet days in the field now beckon and a short break then off to do his demo all over again on 1st october at a local riding centre who are launching a riding club.”

For all the latest updates on Solo like our Facebook page. For all your insurance needs visit: www.shearwater-insurance.co.uk

A quick update from Solo…

Claire Llewellyn updates on Shear H20′s recent competition results. “We went out on Monday to a nearby 20×60 arena to time his floor plan for Blenheim and that is now with my daughter Lottie who is now fitting the music to it,” she tells us. “Tuesday we went to Sissons Farm and did AM94, I thought the boy went really quite well and we only had one mistake, he’s never going to be the smartest dressage pony in the world but his test was accurate and obedient, but although he won his section the judge marked him very hard which was disappointing. Hey ho these things happen and I have had this before so we just shrug shoulders and live for another day. I was pleased with him, he was pleased with himself so that is what matters! He can’t read his sheet! Next stop is one more practice at the end of August and then on  to Blenheim!”

To follow Solo’s progress visit https://www.facebook.com/ShearwaterInsurance. For all your insurance needs visit: www.shearwater-insurance.co.uk

Shearwater Billy Red completes his first event with flying colours!

We caught up with Kylie Roddy after taking Billy out to his debut event last week at Upton House near Stratford Upon Avon. “We had a really promising start,” Kylie tells us. “The day before we took him to jump his first course of show jumps at a competition and did the British Novice and Discovery, despite a few cheeky moments he did really well and just had a rail down in the Discovery.”

“We went straight in to the Five Year Old Class which is BE100 level,” Kylie says. “He did a very good 34 dressage despite me forgetting to halt – shoot the rider – and I was really pleased with his attitude considering he had never been in a dressage arena before! On to the show jumping and despite him being a little distracted, and him pulling off a shoe in the ring, we had one rail down but he jumped very well.”

“Having only been cross-country schooling twice before he was a little green at first on the course but by the time we got to fence 6 he was totally unfazed and although I didn’t hurry him he went clear inside the time. I was so pleased with him, we need to sort out his focus but that is just exposure and his temperament and willingless to please is second to none. He is now entered in to Smithslawn at the beginning of August so watch this space!”

“We have also found out a little bit more about his breeding,” Kylie divulges. “He was bred by Tony Brennan who owns the Coolgrange Stud in Ireland – he bred Coolgrange Merger who has completed Badminton several times with Tony Warr. His Dam was called Loughtons Flight who has bred very good power jumpers and Billy certainly has loads of jump. I am really looking forward to seeing him progress.”

Keep up to date with Billy’s progress by ‘liking’ Shearwater on Facebook. For all your insurance needs visit www.shearwater-insurance.co.uk

Shear H20 prepares for his next party piece!

Despite a couple of non starters Solo (aka Shear H20) has been out and about and having fun!  “We recently went to Arena uk for a BD competition and did Advanced Medium 92,” Claire Llewellyn tells us. “He was extremely pleased to be out at a party again, as he hasn’t been out since Chatsworth and so was rather full of himself! When he is like that I have to ride a little quietly and not ask too much as he is like an unexploded bomb, but we held it together and he came out on a respectable 62.7% and won the class, so I was really chuffed with him and he was incredibly smug!”

“We have also had a training session putting together a new floor plan for a new party piece for our dressage to music demo at Blenheim on 9th Sept,” Claire goes on to say. “He knows his first party piece too well now so a new one is needed, so the music is sorted, the floor plan is now ready and we can now put the two together. I am not going to give it all away, but Solo is going to the movies! On the home front he is not popular as he went out and as we have had more rain his rolling pit is now really wet and so he came in looking like a skewbald – the mud was caked on!! He does love to dig a pit and often has at least 2 or 3 on the go, people who have grey horses will sympathise I’m sure, I think in another life he would have enjoyed being a hippo!”

Keep up to date with Solo’s progress by ‘liking’ Shearwater on Facebook. For all your insurance needs visit www.shearwater-insurance.co.uk

Could you be a Shearwater Scholar?

As dedicated team members of equestrianism in the UK, Shearwater Insurance are conducting a nationwide search for a talented amateur rider and will be awarding them with the Shearwater Scholarship to help them further their riding career.

Having been involved in horses across the disciplines, Shearwater know all too well the financial commitment of owning and competing a horse, which is why they have decided to search for an individual whose passion and enthusiasm for the sport shines through and reward them for this by helping them further their dreams financially.

The Shearwater Scholarship scheme is looking for someone to be an amateur ambassador for the well known insurance broker, which will include wearing branded clothing when out on the circuit and updating the team with progress in the form of blogs and results to be utilised through social media. In return the winner will receive a £500 training bursary along with Shearwater clothing and equipment.

Jeremy Lawton is looking forward to seeing how the company can help a rider achieve their equestrian ambitions. “We are very proud to be associated with riders in all sports and when times are tight the first thing that gets dropped is lessons and training,” he says. “We hope that with the support of Shearwater’s Scholarship we can give someone the opportunity to invest in their passion and we look forward to receiving the applications.”

How to apply
Entries should be made via email and should include a full equestrian CV telling us what the rider’s previous experience is, what equine aims they have and how they aim to achieve them. Shearwater also wishes to know how their training funding would be allocated and what the rider would be able to do to help promote the company. This should be sent, together with up to date images and video footage if available, to: shearwaterinsuranceltd@gmail.com. Applications will close on Friday 30th September.

Keep up to date with the latest news about the Shearwater Scholarship by ‘liking’ us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ShearwaterInsurance. For more information about the services that Shearwater can offer tel: 01992 718666 or visit: www.shearwater-insurance.co.uk

Terms & Conditions

• The bursary is for one winner who will receive £500 as a training bursary which will be split into 4 equal payments during the 12 month period. This is to be spent solely on training.
• The bursary is not open to professional riders.
• If the Shearwater scholar is seen to be acting in any way that could be detrimental to the company the training award will be terminated as of immediate effect.
• Applicants must be over 18 years of age.
• The closing date for applications is 30th September 2011.
• The winner will be notified before 31st October 2011.
• Branded clothing will include a rug, jacket and saddlecloth.
• One entry is permitted per person. The draw is not open to employees of Shearwater Insurance Ltd, or their families.