By Amy Pollock
A BANGOR youngster and her beloved pony have qualified to compete in one of the biggest equestrian events in the UK.
Eight year-old Amelia McCartan and her 17 year-old Shetland pony, Lewie, are preparing to venture to Birmingham next month for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), where they will join 1,500 competitors from across the world.
Between Wednesday and Sunday, October 8 to 12, around 65,000 spectators will attend to enjoy a range of equestrian entertainment, including national championships, international competitors and popular displays.
Amelia and Lewie (competing as Eynhallow Lewis) secured their ‘golden ticket’ to HOYS after an incredibly successful show season. This summer, the pair won Mini Pony Supreme Champion at the Northern Ireland Festival, helping them qualify for the NPS Summer Championship in England where they won the Lead Rein Mountain and Moorland non-Welsh class, Concours D’Elegance class and President’s Prize, ultimately granting them a coveted spot at the upcoming HOYS event.
At the NPS Championship, Amelia and Lewie outshone over 25 produced ponies, an achievement that Stuart McCartan, Amelia’s dad, said feels ‘very special’.
“They beat 26 produced ponies to qualify for HOYS – that’s people where it’s their business to professionally train ponies. So because he’s home-produced, it makes it that bit more special because it’s all our work. Between all of us, we would be up with Lewie three times a day,” he said.
“What makes it even more special is that Amelia’s mum, Natalie, won a ticket to HOYS 20 years ago, so obviously it’s really nice for her mum too, because 20 years on she’ll be standing in the ring at HOYS with her daughter.”
As Amelia and Lewie prepare to compete, they are only one of a few Northern Ireland competitors to qualify for HOYS.
Stuart says Amelia ‘can’t wait’ to get to Birmingham, as well as friends and family who are ‘so proud’.“We’re absolutely thrilled, the whole family is over the moon. There’s even some of her friends that she would show with who are actually flying out to Birmingham this year to see her,” he said.
Both Stuart and his wife Natalie also decided to give Amelia and Lewie another goal to aim towards – raising money for a local charity.
“The other sort of twist with it is, in order to give back and celebrate this achievement, we’ve come up with our own fundraiser called ‘Shet-tember’ – so every day throughout September we’re dressing Lewie up in a different costume in aid of Cancer Fund for Children,” he said.
As part of Shet-tember, Lewie has adorned many different costumes, including dressing up as Barbie, a Minion, a builder, a banana and even a firefighter, where he was paid a special visit by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service in support of the family’s fundraising efforts.
Having raised well over their initial £500 target, Stuart said the family are ‘delighted’ the fundraiser has been received so positively.
Amelia’s mum, Natalie McCartan, said of her daughter’s achievement: “It’s just amazing for Amelia to get to HOYS on her dream horse, he really is her world and she’s been so motivated with this fundraiser because she’s doing it with him, we’re super proud of them both.”
To keep up-to-date with Amelia and Lewie’s Shet-tember antics, visit @princess.pony.dreams on Instagram.For those interested in donating to Amelia’s fundraiser, visit: www.justgiving.com/page/shetember
