Last updated 05:36, Friday, 25 July 2008

A keen horsewoman from Hesket Newmarket has won the British Horse Society Northern Regional Award 2008.

Veteran stars: Helen Kerry and her trusty chestnut mare Gentle Breeze

This is the first year the award has been issued and Helen Kerry was chosen for the positive way in which she has helped to promote equestrianism, her commitment to the British Horse Society, her service to the equestrian community and her enthusiasm and successes in competing.

Helen, with her trusty veteran chestnut mare Gentle Breeze, has worked for the British Horse Society and Cumbria Road Safety Partnership for years.

Breeze has featured in road safety and general horsemanship publications as well as appearing on the big screen at Hickstead.

Helen was awarded top spot in the Veteran Horse Society Performance Achievement Awards for 2007, as well as securing successes at a many competitions ranging from dressage to jumping and in-hand showing, both in Cumbria and nationally.

Helen is also the Access and Rights of Way local contact for the British Horse Society and sits on the BHS county committee.

She has also earned her BHS 10-year committee long service badge.

She said: “I really had no idea that I was even being considered for an award. I feel extremely honoured.”

BHS committee members from Cumbria were also given long service badges, including Helen’s husband David (10 years). Those with over 25 years’ involvement included Joan Chapman and Betty Walker (25 years) Gay Parkin (30 years) and Peter Dean (40 years).