Fleur Jeffery has been awarded the NAF Shining Star for October for her cheerful and hardworking attitude along with being dedicated to furthering her knowledge within the Junior Academy environment.

Twelve-year-old Fleur from Hailsham, East Sussex was nominated by Lead Coach for the Sussex Academy Judi Piper-Dadswell. “Fleur has been a member of the Sussex Junior Academy for the past three years. She is cheerful, hardworking and is equally dedicated to learning about caring and training for her ponies, as well as being a strong competitor,” said Judi. “Despite being one of our youngest members, Fleur is a great team player and is always supportive of her teammates.”

As well as producing some fabulous winning rounds for the Sussex Junior Academy team at the British Showjumping National Junior Academy Championships riding her 128cm pony, Symondsbury Piper, Judi added the following about Fleur “She has produced her young pony BBS Sky High, known as Blue, from being an unruly pony to now jumping calm, stylish rounds in competitions. She also completed the NAF 2* Pony Five Star Final competition in tremendous style despite the inexperience of the combination which is a credit to her patience and determination.”

After finding out she was the winner of October’s NAF Shining Star, Fleur said “I was really surprised when I found out I had won as I didn’t know that I had been nominated; I still can’t quite believe it. The Sussex Academy is brilliant, I’ve made new friends and everyone always helps each other as well as having lots of fun. Training with Judi is great, she explains everything, gives me ideas and lots of homework to practice to help me and my pony. Next year, I am looking forward to bringing my 138cm Blue through the levels and seeing what we can do. I’d like to qualify him for the National Championships and I’m looking forward to the Academy competitions too as they’re such good fun.”

Branwen Griffin from NAF added “Congratulations Fleur, a very worthy winner of this month’s Shining Star Award! It is a pleasure to hear how dedicated she is at such a young age. Her hard work and determination is admirable. With such a fantastic mature attitude and dedication, Fleur is bound to go far. We wish you a very successful 2019 and well done!”

Fleur will now receive a number of NAF Equine products to use alongside the NAF products that she is already using such as NAF Superflex, NAF Superflex Senior and the NAF Sheer Luxe Leather tack care range.

The NAF Shining Star Award was introduced when NAF became a British Showjumping Business Partner. The award is for members of a Junior Academy who have shown a great deal of commitment, progression and outstanding behaviour along with their riding ability and much more. Riders are nominated by their lead coach, and then judged and awarded by NAF to one person each month.