New Saddle for British Junior Event Rider

Young British Junior event rider, Isabelle (Bubby) Upton, rounded off a successful 2017 with another win.

Members of the British Equestrian Writers’ Association (BEWA) voted the 18 year old from Bury St Edmunds, the recipient of the 2017 Worshipful Company of Saddlers Award. Bubby was presented with a bespoke Frank Baines saddle by Hugh Thomas, The Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company, at the BEWA annual lunch held during the week of Olympia, the London International Horse Show.

The saddle, that is generously donated by the Worshipful Company of Saddlers, is awarded to the young rider (25 years or under) ‘judged to have made a successful transition from Young Rider level to Senior competition, whilst conducting themselves with maturity and dignity and presenting their sport well to the media’.

In July with her own eight year old gelding Eros DHI, Bubby won individual Gold and British team Silver at the Junior European Championships in Millstreet – in 2016 the combination won European team Bronze. In October with her young horse Cola III, she won the KBIS British Eventing seven year old championship at Osberton.

“This time last year I never dreamed that 2017 would be so exciting,” said Bubby. “I would like to thank BEWA for supporting me and the Worshipful Company for this amazing prize.”

Former BBC equestrian commentator, Michael Tucker, received the BEWA ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award, while New Zealander Olympian Andrew Nicholson was the recipient of the ‘Moment of the Year’ award in recognition of his first win at Badminton after 33 years competing at the event during which time he has achieved a record 37 completions. British senior three day event team rider, Nicola Wilson, was presented with the BEWA ‘Rider of the Year’ trophy. Nicola, from Northallerton in Yorkshire, won individual Bronze at this year’s European Championships in Strzegom and was a key member of the team that won the Gold medal.

Picture credit: John Stroud Media