Robyn Carr and homebred Admiral Augustus claim Search for a Star crown

Robyn Carr completed a memorable first season with her homebred horse Admiral Augustus by winning the Supreme SEIB Search for a Star Championship at the Horse of the Year Show.
Carr and Admiral Augustus, known as Angus at home, earned their place in the supreme final after winning the SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star Show Hunter Championship under the lights at Birmingham NEC on October 7. They returned the following day to claim the overall title.
Carr, a mother of three, said: “This win is amazing, I can’t believe we’ve done this! Angus is only five-years-old and that I bred him makes it even more special. He was born a month before my first child – he’s often referred to as my fourth child!”
The pair qualified at their third show together, having secured their place at Ruland in the spring. Angus is out of Carr’s thoroughbred mare and by the Irish Draught stallion Bannvalley Pride of Midnight.
Carr said: “Coming to HOYS, my friends thought we stood a chance but I was absolutely not so confident! I didn’t sleep at all last night. I bred Angus from my thoroughbred mare when she sustained an injury. He is by the Irish Draught stallion, Bannvalley Pride of Midnight. We qualified at just our third ever show together at Ruland back in the spring. We don’t get out showing very much as I’ve got three children under 5 including two-year-old twins so the horses help me keep my sanity!
“I haven’t shown in the ring for 11 or 12 years. We thought Angus was a nice sort and so decided to give it a go, we didn’t think for a second our first season would end so successfully! Search for a Star is a fantastic thing to aim for and I can’t believe we have won!”
The Search for a Star championships have given amateur riders the opportunity to compete at HOYS since 1998, with thousands taking part over the years.
Series organiser Nicolina MacKenzie said: “We are thrilled to be providing these opportunities for amateur riders. The HOYS Search for a Star championships are the culmination of months, and in some cases years, of preparation and training for the riders and their horses and ponies.”