Meet the First Class Juniors Hopeful of Securing the 1st Class Images Junior of the Year
Penny Richardson
Little Penny Richardson, 6, is a familiar face to showing enthusiasts who follow pony classes. She is a regular at HOYS with ponies Briar Snowman, Briar Snowfox, Thistledown Van Der Vaart, Cosford Glamorize and Gwyrddparc Torres. Led by dad, Mark, Penny and Torres won the lead rein sports pony at Burghley 2022 and she has also started to compete in the tiny tots stakes. As well as showing, Penny enjoys riding her ponies to feed the ducks.
Izzy Walker
Nine-year-old Izzy is a young rider who ‘not only has a lot of fun with her ponies, but is also developing into a talented young show-rider’ according to her nominations. You’re most likely to catch Izzy with her 122cm open show hunter pony, Redlays Theseus, or Theo. The pair have a great partnership, even winning HOYS when Izzy still had two years left on the lead let alone in open 122cm classes. This year Theo and Izzy have won several cracking classes, and Izzy also brought out her novice 133cm pony despite being really quite little on board!
Annabel Drake
‘Annabel is a young BSPS area representative, always helping out at shows, and is also a talented young rider in the saddle’ according to nominations. Having formerly had great success in the junior mountain and moorland ranks winning both HOYS and the RIHS, this year, Annabel has been a delight to watch on 148cm pony Stanley Grange Gilt Edge, or Edward, whom she produces with mum, Sarah under the careful tutorship of Jo Bates. 2022 marked her last year in the class, so Annabel and Edward have really given it their all for his first proper open season. Their results are enviable, with highlights including champion RIHS part-bred Arab at BSPS area 7, champion RIHS show pony at the BSPS Winter championships, reserve part-bred champion at Royal Windsor, champion HOYS show pony at Stoneleigh and Suffolk shows, winner of the HOYS part-bred pony at North of England, supreme at BSPS area 15A and supreme show pony at the BSPS Summer Championships with a beautiful individual performance. They put a cherry on top of a fab season by winning both their last 148cm class together and a strong part-bred class at HOYS.
Reise Shakespeare
17-year-old Reise has competed on the show circuit since he was aged nine years old. It all began with Thistledown Las Vegas, with whom he gained many successes including two HOYS wins, two RIHS wins and many more. Reise continues to ride successfully in the ring on both open and novice ponies. A good bit taller now, Reise has moved into the horse world, and at the BSHA 2021 championships, he found himself competing in the supreme championship against many older professionals aged just 16. He also took part in the Young Judges competition this year and won. According to his nominations, we gather Reise is something of a ‘perfectionist’ so ‘come rain or shine, he is dedicated to his lessons’ and his training. Reise also spends lots time at home riding horses of various ages too he enjoys schooling and bringing then on to further their education.
Morgan Mclaughlan
15-year-old Morgan was told that she may never ride again after breaking her femur in three places. However, fast-forward a few years, and with grit and hard work, Morgan is not only back in the saddle, but she also qualified for the junior mountain and moorland large breeds class at HOYS on her home-produced Highland pony Mozart of Millfield, with the pair finishing a fabulous sixth at the final. We received countless support from Scottish showing enthusiasts throwing themselves behind Morgan praising her dedication to her dream.
Ella Eynon
At just 12 years old, Ella jumped home-produced five-year-old Welsh section C Joyton Sunshine, or Dougie, to win the mountain and moorland working hunter pony championship at HOYS, much to her surprise given he was ‘just a novice at the beginning of the year’. Ella also qualified two more ponies for HOYS, earning herself two Le Mieux Tag La Liga awards for consistency in doing so. She also bagged a fifth in the 133cm show hunter pony class with Isley Walton Quartz, whom she also rode to champion at the Royal Welsh Show. Nominations emphasised Ella’s determination to succeed, reflected in her dedication to riding her ponies every night after school, bringing them on from backing herself. They also noted her polite demeanour in the ring. ‘She’s always smiling,’ said one nomination.
