About Me
Here is an insight into who I am and what I do.
Age: 21 Years old
Based: Elwick, Near Hartlepool in North East England
Occupation: Full time Dressage rider
I have been riding for as long as I can remember, it has been said that when i was young I was put on a pony as an alternative to a buggy as it kept me much quieter! My Background is horsey as my mum runs a BHS riding school at home and my family has always been involved with horses across all disciplines.
I have been brought up riding horses and ponies of all types, shapes and sizes and was a member of the South Durham Pony club. Before specialising in Dressage, I competed successfully Showjumping, Eventing and Working Hunter Classes.
In 2001 at 14 years old I qualified my Horse 'Forrest Fire' and pony, 'Maeseyfron Rhett' for the British Dressage National Championships at Stoneliegh Park. I went on to win my Class (Open to senior riders) there on Forrest Fire, and since then have never looked back!
In 2002 I went back to the National Championships on Forrest Fire and won again at the next level up (Medium level). In this year I was then put onto the World Class Start Program for Potential Olympic Athletes. I have been reselected onto this Lottery funded program through UK sport every year since. The programme provides an established development pathway for young, talented riders, with opportunities and access to further training and development as a potential Olympic rider.
In 2003 I was shortlisted as one of 5 riders for the Pony (U16) European Championships, and was also a member of the Pony (U16) and Junior (U18) British Squads.
In 2004 I represented Great Britain successfully on several occasions including competing in Roosendaal and Limburg in Holland, Addington in England and as part of the Junior European team in Denmark. Here i competed with Forrest Fire and was the Best British Rider.
In 2005, again i represented Great Britain on many occasions and again at the European Championships as a junior rider, this time placing individual 11th with World Classic.
2006 was my first year as a Young Rider (U21). Again i competed at the European Championships in the Young Rider section and returned home as Best British Rider.
Aongside competing internationally I have also competed successfully Nationally, in four senior Championships I have been placed in the top 10 and have had various placings at premier league competitions including two horses in th top four placings at every Junior/Young rider selection trial.
2007 was a successful year, I competed in three International competitions with good results - rarely finishing outside the top ten. This leaded to selection again for the European Championships at Under 21 level and I again returned as Best of the British Riders. I placed third at the Winter National Championships at senior level and in the top fifteen at the Summer National Championships, again at senior level. At the premier League competitions throughout the year team 'Perry' swept the bords winning almost every Young Rider (u21) competition I entered! I then went off to Germany for six months to train with British Olympian Emma Hindle to widen and deepen my knowledge.
Back in the UK again for the 2008 season with my new Horse 'Aristo' we cleaned up at Hickstead International CDI winning the entire Young Rider Tour. This year is the year to move on and up into Seniors with my fantastic team of young horses. With my eye set on London 2012 I couldn't be feeling more positive about my string of horses, support and fantastic backing from my family and sponsors. Here's to the next step..!
I am currently offering training and occasional schooling livery (limited availability) with my most prolific protege being Libby Soley with Noble Springbok. They won an individual silver medal at the 2006 Pony European Eventing Championships in Saumur and an individual Gold at the Pony Europeans in Germany last year. In 2008 they also took team Gold and Individual Silver at Junior level!