Isabelle Taylor from Banbury in Oxon is the winner of the 2001 Armathwaite Hall Rider of the Future Scholarship, which provides £2000 to be spent on agreed training opportunities during the 2002 eventing season.

18-year-old Isabelle, netted numerous competition wins and placings during 2001, including a victory at the Great Witchingham Junior Novice Two Day and a top 20 placing at Blair Castle CCI* with her mum Nicola’s mare Trefeinon Angel.

l to r – Armathwaite Hall Horse Trials Joint Organiser Charles Graves, Isabelle Taylor and Armathwaite Hall Horse Trials Joint Organiser Frank Hewett-Smith, pictured in front of the magnificent Armathwaite Hall Hotel.

Nominated by Central Regional Co-ordinator Celia Gough, Isabelle is supported not only by her mum, but also by her grandmother Jane Whiteley, who competed at Badminton 50 years ago and has been a staunch supporter of junior and young riders in the intervening years.

On learning she was to be the third recipient of this generous annual training award, Isabelle said, "I’m still a bit shocked really, partly because it’s a while since I sent my application off and I suppose I didn’t really expect anything!

"I’d already turned down a place at university to continue eventing and am going to Holland until the end of the year to train with my aunt Anneli Drummond-Hay. This will mean I’ll be more able to compete at a higher level and train more frequently than I had ever thought would be possible."

Isabelle confirmed that she’s now keen to train with both Yogi Breisner and Lucinda Green, from whose clinics she has benefited in the past.

Armathwaite Hall hosts an advanced event in July each season and as part of the organising team’s support of eventing, has committed to an initial five year sponsorship of the Armathwaite Hall Rider Of The Future Scholarship, providing £2000 annually for funding of approved training for a junior rider.

Isabelle is the third recipient of the scholarship, the first winner in 1999 was Emilie Chandler and in 2000 the second recipient was Ian Clark.

Isabelle’s prize will also include a long weekend at a professional event rider’s yard, where the emphasis will be ‘hands-on’ stable and horse management, plus advice on running a professional eventing yard.

Armathwaite Hall Rider of the Future Scholarship and Armathwaite Hall joint organiser Frank Hewett-Smith said, "We were impressed not only with Isabelle’s achievements in competition, but also with her very clear idea of her ambitions for the future."

"All of us on the selection committee felt that she has every chance of making rapid progress to the top level of the sport and we are delighted to be able to provide her with valuable training support."

ISABELLE TAYLOR
Age 18 from Aynho, near Banbury, Oxon.

Achievements
Reserve for Pony FEI European Championships - Wingerworth Gino Ginelli
Team 2nd and 1st individually at National Pony Club Show Jumping Championships
10th at Sansaw Pony Final Trials - Diamonds Vice Versa
Competed in Junior Regional Novice (JRN) trials on 2 young horses (Welsh Spinner and Riches to Rags
2000 1st at Hambledon JRN - Trefeinon Angel
Competed at Weston Park JRN Championships - Trefeinon Angel
2nd at Milton Keynes Area 12 Horse Trials - Ticket to the Moon
Team 1st Area 12 Showjumping - Ticket to the Moon
9th at Sansaw Pony Club Horse Trials Championships - Ticket to the Moon
Team 4th at Sansaw Pony Club Showjumping Championships - Ticket to the Moon
2001 1st at Northampton JRN - Trefeinon Angel
Placed every time at both Novice and Intermediate - Trefeinon Angel
1st at Great Witchingham Junior Novice Two Day - Trefeinon Angel
2nd Pony Club Area 12 Dressage - Trefeinon Angel
3 Pre-Novices, 1st and placed every time - Flurry Knox V
7th Novice Larkhill - Flurry Knox V
Competing Kirtlinton Red Baron at Pony Club and Pre-Novice
2nd at Purston Area 12 Pony Club Horse Trials - Pushka
19th at Blair CCI* - Trefeinon Angel (Finished on dressage score)

Aims for end of 2001 and 2002
Complete Somerly Pari CIC*
Complete JRN National Championships - Trefeinon Angel/Flurry Knox V
Complete CIC* and CCI* - Flurry Knox V and Kirtlington Red Baron
Complete CIC** and CCI** - Trefeinon Angel
Compete at Young Rider European Trials - Trefeinon Angel
Continue training with Anneli Drummond-Hay in Holland
Train with Yogi Breisner and Lucinda Green

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