EQUESTRIAN: Award for Jasmine (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

EQUESTRIAN: Award for Jasmine

12:20pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in Wiltshire Sport

SOPWORTH'S Jasmine Punter has won a national award from the British Showjumping (BS) Association.

The Beaufort Hunt Pony Club rider was named the NAF Shining Star of January, given to members of a BS Junior Academy who have shown a great deal of commitment, progression and outstanding behaviour along with riding ability.

Punter, a keen member of the Wiltshire Junior Academy, was nominated by the county’s lead coach Nicky Florence.

“She is a joy to coach, a great listener and always has a smile on her face when riding,” said Florence.

“I currently have several young show jumpers and I wouldn't hesitate to ask her to work and jump them for me if she had the time.”

The teenager has attended nearly all the Junior Academy coaching sessions and is currently working her way through the NAF Five Star Performance Awards.

Punter has forged a promising partnership with her new horse, the bay mare Clio V, with whom she has won a number of BS classes. The duo has qualified for the Blue Chip Championships, national finals held at Hartpury College each spring, and gained their Discovery and Newcomer second round qualification requirement of double-clear rounds.

Juggling horses with her education, Punter is currently studying for her A levels and works two evenings per week to help finance her showjumping.

“It is clear to see Jasmine is a very talented horse woman,” said Tracey Lloyd, from sponsors NAF (Natural Animal Feeds).

“Her commitment to her sport through dedicated and continuous education; including the NAF Five Star Performance Awards Training Programme which she is currently working her way through, has rightly won her this award.”

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