Bullock and Bowden impress to beat off competition

Seventeen-year-old Bullock, a student at Askham Bryan College, has recently completed her first year of a Level 3 Horse Management Course.

She was picked from 10 hopefuls to win the Grooms Academy Top Student award.

Bullock’s ambition is to develop a career as a competition groom when she completes her course in 2014.

Bullock collected her prize of feed and branded merchandise from Fulmart representative, Kate Betteridge at Askham Bryan College’s Grand Prix Show and Countryside held at the college in June.

The Grooms Academy operates alongside the college’s equestrian courses, and is designed to recognise the college’s top equestrian pupils.

Kay Lamb, the college’s equestrian director, said: “The reason Kate was awarded the prize above the others is down to her enthusiasm and commitment, she is an excellent communicator and has great ability to turn out to the highest standard.

“Her sympathetic rapport with all horses is exceptional. All students in the Grooms Academy have worked very hard all year and it was a difficult decision.”

A first-year Equine Sports Management student at Askham Bryan College has also been awarded a scholarship in recognition of her hard work and determination.

Hattie Bowden, 21, has been awarded the Brenda Whitbourn Scholarship which was donated by Clive Whitbourn to continue the legacy of his late wife in supporting equine students.

Bowden helped out at a riding school from the age of 14 before moving on to a BHS-approved centre at 18 to begin taking her BHS qualifications.

The budding eventing star passed stages 1 to 3 and the Preliminary Teaching Test.

A summer at another yard helped her to gain showing experience before she joined the course at Askham Bryan College.

Bowden now plans to take a BSc degree after completing her current course and has an open mind as to her future. “Being awarded the scholarship means that I can now compete and this is something I really wanted to do to be able to gain more experience for the future,” she said.

“I am fortunate to have horses on loan to the college to work with and I am really looking forward to this summer.

“I always wanted to work on an event yard and I definitely want to go back into the industry but Askham Bryan has opened my eyes to so many other opportunities that it is quite hard to decide now.”

Lamb added: “Hattie is from a non-horsey background and she truly deserves recognition for her dedication and commitment.”