AN amateur young rider from Harecroft, and a full-time police officer from Cullingworth, have qualified for the biggest event in the equestrian calendar.

The latter, Louise Whitely-Guest, rode her horse, Red Robin III, to a win in the cob class while fifteen-year-old Sophie Anne Cartmell took Stanley Grange Regal Consort to second place in the riding horse hack class.

These successes came at the SEIB Search for a Star qualifier at Alnwick, Northumberland on July 8, and it meant the pair qualified for the celebrated Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

SEIB Insurance Brokers set up the Search for a Star series over 20 years ago to give amateur riders and their horses the dream opportunity to compete at the HOYS.

Whitely-Guest said: “It was totally worth the journey up from Bradford. We went to the Osbaldeston Search for a Star qualifier and were pulled in second and then dropped down to fourth overall.

"I am so glad we decided to have another go. I have had bad luck with horses I have had previously and Bobbins has just been brilliant in helping me achieve my goal of HOYS qualification.

"I have never had a cob before – it was always thoroughbreds and warmbloods before him, I have owned him for two years now and he is so much fun.”

Louise works full-time as a police officer providing safeguarding in a special needs school. She said: “The children were ecstatic to hear that me and Bobbins are off to HOYS!”

Teenager Cartmell said: “We are having an amazing year. We went to the Search for a Star qualifier at Osbaldeston and were pulled in top but ended up in fourth place.

"We have gone away and done our homework and now we have our HOYS ticket to join the Royal International ones.”

Sophie and Quest have also qualified for the Royal International Horse Show in the Part-Bred and Home Produced Intermediate classes.

She continued: “I want to work with horses and hope to learn a lot from going to these shows. My mum is just great and is so enthusiastic about helping us.” Sophie attends Parkside School in Cullingworth.

SEIB provide cover for horses, horse boxes, yards and much more and marketing manager Nicolina Mackenzie said: “The standard of competition increases year-on-year and the true amateur spirit of the series is something we are very proud of.

"Holding this new qualifier at Alnwick has given many more riders in the north of the country the chance to be a part of Search for a Star."

For full details, rules and entry forms visit www.search4astar.org.uk or www.racehorse2ridinghorse.co.uk. Find SEIB Search for a Star on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/SEIB.Search4AStar.