Launching new search to find amateur star

Sponsored by South Essex Insurance Brokers, the event is in its 12th year.

It was created to encourage amateur riders to produce their horses to a high standard in the show ring and it has helped many horses to go on to a very successful show-ring career, with some competitors winning open classes at HOYS.

There are classes for working hunters, riding club show horses, show hunters, show ponies and show hunter ponies, riding horse/hacks and cobs.

Riders have the chance after each class to talk to the judges about how to improve their horses for the show ring.

Those selected for the Horse of the Year Show are invited to take part in a training day before they make their debut appearance at the show.

"It is lovely to see the reaction of both rider and owner when they realise that they have made it and will be attending HOYS," says Nicolina McKenzie, SEIB's marketing manager.

The SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship is held in conjunction with 'Search for a Star'. It was created to support and encourage the re-education of thoroughbreds taken out of racing and is supported by the charity Retraining of Racehorses (ROR).

This year, the winner will receive an elite performance award and a prize of 2,500. To be eligible for this class, the ex-racehorse must have been in training with a recognised trainer, must have raced in the UK either in point-to-point, National Hunt or on the Flat and be registered with ROR.

Taking on an ex-racehorse can be a challenge but also very rewarding and the series of competitions gives these horses the chance to embark on a new career.

The 'Search for a Star' and 'Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championships' qualifiers will be held on May 23 at Osbaldeston; June 13 at Vale View; July 4 at Badgworth; July 11 at Wellington; and July 18 at Vale View.

A further racehorse to riding horse qualifier will be held on September 5 at Burghley Horse Trials.

For more information go to www.search4astar.org.uk and www.racehorse2ridinghorse.co.uk.

THE Hurworth point-to-point is being held at Skutterskelfe Park, Hutton Rudby on Saturday.

There are 161 entries for the seven-race card and the Open Maiden race has already been divided.

The Hunt Members' race has attracted 13 entries and, with four of these coming from the Tutty yard, the family should have a good chance of taking the cup home.

A very competitive Ladies Open has a large number of entries and should prove interesting. Blandings Castle won this race last year but could be challenged by Wilfie Wild, who finished second at the Holderness on Sunday to Poppy Day on his first run of the season.

The Confined race has 34 entries and looks to be an open race, though Brize Norton and Knoxhill Archie look in with a chance. Racing begins at 1.0pm.

Also running on Sunday is the Grove and Rufford Hunt point-to-point at Welbeck near Worksop. Ground conditions are good and there has been an entry of 98 for the six races, with the first being run at noon.