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Annabel Widdowson

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Annabel Widdowson

Annabel first took to the saddle at the age of just 3 years old and was instantly bitten by the bug. Her ponies are adored and she spends every possible second with them. Annabel is no stranger to competing in major championships. In 2022, at just 7 years old, Annabel became the youngest rider to ever win a second round, qualifying them for the Royal International 128 championship on Whinney Lass. Annabel continued breaking records in 2023, becoming the youngest rider to ever win a championship in the International Arena at Hickstead, as well as becoming the youngest team member on an England gold medal winning pony team, jumping a double clear in the Home Pony at aged just 8 years old. 2024 was another incredible year, with England Team victories in both the Wales and West and English Home Pony Shows, winning both the Enablelink Ltd 128cm Championship at Horse of The Year Show and The Agria 128cm Championship at The London international Horse Show, and also being awarded the Young Achiever of the year Award by the Welsh Pony and cob Society. Annabel's hopes and dreams are to ride on European teams with Ponies and Children on Horses and one day be on the Olympic team! Annabel who attends the Granville School, looks up to Tiffany Foster, Laura Kraut, Rodrigo Pessoa and of course Nick Skelton.

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Beverley and Gary Widdowson

Beverley and Gary have been long term supporters of British Showjumping and have owned some incredible horses that have had a huge impact on the sport. They were awarded the coveted FEI Owner of the Year in 2011 and 2012 for Carlo 273 and Big Star which recognises the most successful Jumping owner on an annual basis. in 2017 British Showjumping announced that the National 6 Year Old Championship would be renamed the Big Star Championship, in honour of Big Star's tremendous talent and performance. Gary and Beverley purchased Big Star as a 4 year old after he was spotted in Holland. Gary said; 'We had a 24-hour option on him so we flew out immediately. We had had scouts out around Europe to find the best young horse possible and we bought him specifically with London 2012 in mind,'. Gary had 'virtually grown up' with Nick Skelton and the other GB riders whom he had got to know in his youth when he was also a showjumper, representing England in the 1970s. In an interview with The Gait Post, Gary said: “We are extremely pleased to have Big Star acknowledged in this way. The National 6 year-olds is a championships we have won twice. Once in 2008 with Carlo, whom Nick also produced to the highest level, and then in the following year with Big Star whom we felt was the right horse for us to keep with London and Rio in mind. To have Big Star’s name bestowed over a championships that we have always felt a pivotal one in our horses development is an honour and we are delighted”. You can read the full article here: https://www.thegaitpost.com/national-6-year-old-champs-in-honour-of-big-star/

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