Aberdeenshire sisters, Natasha and Charley Hamilton, have enjoyed a successful 2016 in the showjumping ring with their competition ponies.
One of 12-year-old Natasha’s major accolades includes finishing fourth in the 128cm Championship Final at the Royal Highland Show in June with grey pony, Koda.
The following month saw Natasha compete for Scotland in both 128 and 138 teams. Riding Koda, the pair secured two bronze placings in the 128 teams in Wales and Ireland. Natasha went on to take gold in the 138 teams in Ireland and bronze in Wales with 12-year-old Aristo Justice.
Another major highlight of 2016 was qualifying for one of the world’s most famous horse shows, HOYS, in the 128 championship. The final, held in Birmingham in October, saw Natasha and Koda jump to an outstanding third place.
Natasha secured another qualification, taking her to the 128 championship at London’s International Horse Show, Olympia, in December. Unfortunately the final wasn’t a success, but few knew her leg was still broken from an accident two months before whilst she jumped the course.
Her broken leg, caused by a fall from a friend’s horse, forced her to miss out on the English Home Pony competition where she had been chosen to represent Scotland for the third time in both 128 and 138 teams.
Despite setbacks from her injury, Natasha finished the year on a high at the Liverpool International Horse Show, coming fifth in the 128 championship final on Koda. She is now fully recovered from her broken leg and is working on getting fit for competing this year.
Sister Charley, 14, has also enjoyed a successful year, jumping to fifth place in the 148cm championship at the Royal Highland Show with 20-year-old grey mare, I’m a Tomboy. The combination then went on to secure gold in the team 148 in Ireland.
July saw Charley secure bronze in the 138 team in Ireland with chestnut gelding Mr Jk.
At the British Showjumping National Championships in August, Charley took the 80cm Just for Schools National Champion title with 13.2 mare, Kayem Fridays Dance. The pair went on to win the 80cm and 90cm Schools League.
Charley took team 138 bronze, stepping in for Natasha following her accident, with pony Aristo Justice in England in October.
2016 saw Charley win the pony bronze league on Kayem Fridays Dance for the fourth consecutive time, and she is current silver league leader with nine-year-old mare, Novella.
Both sisters have goals this year of continuing to represent Scotland in home pony internationals, competing at HOYS, Hickstead and other major championships. Throughout 2016, they been sponsored by Hickstead horse feeds which will continue into 2017. They are also delighted to have secured a sponsorship deal with Marinetronix for 2017.
