Lifetime opportunity as Liz heads to HOYS as a steward

Liz Twite has been awarded one of two prized places to steward at this year’s Horse of the Year Show.

The Search for a Star Steward competition has seen a really good level of entries from all over the country, and after preliminary judging at four previous Search for a Star qualifying shows, the three finalists were Tracy Mason from Caithness, Lynn Salmon from Cheshire and Liz Twite from Devon. The three came to Vale View Equestrian Centre, Leicestershire, for the final judging and Tracy and Liz were the winners, with Lynn a respectable Reserve.

Liz entered the competition as she thought it was a good opportunity to do something different and never dreamed she might win.

“I can’t believe it – this is the opportunity of a lifetime”, said Liz who works at The Big Sheep, a tourist attraction near Bideford, Devon. “Everyone at work has been supporting me and they gave me a good luck necklace which I have been wearing. I love the fact that you can be involved and get to see so much more when you are in the ring.

“I missed HOYS last year as I was in hospital with an asthma attack, so this year I bought my tickets early! Now I can sell them to my friends as this year is going to be extra special.”

Liz helps the local riding club with stewarding duties and has already contacted some of the other bigger shows in the South West about stewarding opportunities on the advice of the people she has met through Search for a Star Steward.

“My husband is very supportive, and even though he is not horsey, he will do my horses for me while I am away stewarding,” she said.

The competition made its debut this year and has been judged by Di Longland, a BSJA judge and long-standing steward at Search for a Star and many county shows.