6
June 2007
Tottie Dream
Team
Young show jumping trio Portia Howard, Jemma Kirk and Philippa Dobby have formed Team Tottie in a new sponsorship deal. Each month we will hear about their up and coming events, news, stories and results from there busy competition lifestyle.
This month we hear about the girls’ first visit to Matchmakers International, home of the Tottie collection and their plans for the up and coming year.
Portia
(21)
This month we had our first visit to Tottie headquarters. I was quite nervous at first but I have known Philippa for years, since we were on ponies, and I have got to know Jemma better since last year when we were both travelled abroad together.
I first got into riding through my friends and have been riding since I was about seven-years-old. I was in the North Norfolk Pony Club and I was also members of many of the local riding clubs around the area.
I have always been interested in show jumping and I have never thought about competing in any other phase. My first major win was the Junior Intermediate Championships at the Festival of Show Jumping; I was riding Nethertowns Air To Spare who was 14.2hh.
Matchmakers International have been so great and have really helped us feel like a team already in such a short space of time. It was so cool on our visit as we got to design our own show jumping jacket and it is being made to our own size and shape. We also got to choose some rugs that will have ‘Team Tottie’ embroidered on to them.
I am really looking forward to being in Team Tottie as we all get along great. As there are three of us, we will be recognised more and we also have each other to support at competitions and shows.
My aims for this season are to keep climbing up the rankings and to hopefully get selected for a Senior Nations Cup and win the Queens Cup.
Jemma
(18)
I am 18-years old and have been riding since I was three-years-old on my first ever Shetland buttons. I am currently based at Billy Twomey’s yard in Cheshire.
I’m particularly looking forward to being apart of team Tottie as I think it’s really important to support each other, either while your abroad competing or whether you are in the UK. Competing can become stressful, especially while we are all so young. I think Portia, Philippa and I becoming a team together will be fun and exciting for us all; and everyone at Tottie are so nice.
I decided to choose show jumping as my chosen discipline as you always know where you are; if you knock a fence down, you know what to do to fix it. Whereas in dressage, for example, it is based on someone’s opinion and may change from judge to judge.
My first pony, a Shetland called Buttons, really showed me the ropes when I was learning to ride on him. We even attended mini-camp together when I was three-years-old with Linlithgow Pony Club. My first major title was at the Horse of the Year Show in the Mini Show Pony of the Year class.
My all time ultimate win would be the European Championships or the Olympics. But for now, I’ll just concentrate on winning and building up my team of horses.
Click
here to find out more about Philippa
I have been riding since I was five-years-old and was a member of the Saddleworth Pony Club. I am currently based at home in Mawdesley, Lancashire with my seven horses.
Our visit to Tottie was amazing. To see how things work in such an industry was hard to take in all at once. I know I am really looking forward to Team Tottie as it’s such a great opportunity, and to be apart of a team with two other successful and nice girls is great.
I have known Portia for around seven years since we were both on ponies and Jemma for about five years. We all get on so well and have already been at the same shows together and have grown up within the same circuit.
I have grown up within the show jumping world and the more I’ve pursued the sport, the bigger drive I’ve gained. My first major win was the 138cm Grand Prix at the Cavan Home Pony International when I was 10, and the day before I was a member to the gold medal winning HPI team.
I would love to always have an involvement with the BSJA in some way. When I retire I would love be a selector for the Juniors and Young Riders within the BSJA.
My aims for this year are to hopefully be selected for the Under 18’s European Championship Team, and to be a Senior Nations Cup Team.