Biography
I started riding before I could walk. I was always very competitive and used to be determined to win every ‘around the world’ competition I took part in! I was very lucky as a kid because my mum rode to the top level in show jumping, then eventing and then dressage so growing up we always had horses. I got my first pony when I was four and things progressed from there. I was a member of the Pony Club from a very young age. I first began my career in British Eventing when I was 12 when I competed in the National British Pony Trials.
I have been on Championship Teams for the last seven years consecutively competing at European Championships and have won five gold medals (double gold in '08), a silver and two bronze. When I was 13 years old I was fortunate enough to be put on the World Class Start Programme which I remained on for three years. I was then put on the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme for two years and I have now been selected to go back onto the World Class Programme, which is amazing! In 2008 and 2009 I won the Kent and Sussex Courier 'Sports Personality of the Year’ and also in 2008 I won the ‘Sussex Young Sports Personality of the Year.’
2009 was another great year. Highlights included Society Spice completing Badminton and finishing a creditable 22nd for which we won two awards - the Worshipful Company of Saddlers' Saddle for the best British Rider under 25 who is not entitled to wear the senior Union Jack Badge, and the Laurence Rook Trophy for the best British Rider who has not previously competed at Badminton. I was so proud! Pardon Me II (he won double gold in the European Young Rider Championships in 2008) won Bramham CCI***U25 and we went on to win team gold and individual bronze in the 2009 Young Rider Europeans in Waregem, Belgium. The other three horses, Junior II, Lombi and Balloo IV also progressed and it is Junior and Balloo that are being aimed at the Young Rider European Champs '10.
The 2010 season started well with good results for my younger horses and two wins for Society Spice. I was then thrilled to finish 15th and 24th on Society Spice and Pardon Me respectively at Badminton. It was Pardon Me’s first 4* event and both horses were great. The results have also helped me get into the top 10 of the BE Top Twenty Rider table. Later in the season Pardon Me finshed 19th at Burghley and we achieved Team Gold at the Young Rider Europeans.
For 2011 I plan to ride Pardon Me at Badminton, and Pardon Me and Junior at Burghley. I aim to make a strong campaign for the Senior Team and hope for good results allround!
I will not retire until I have won individual medals at World Games and Europeans at senior level. I am also determined to win individual team gold at the Olympics. Not forgetting winning Badminton too!