The Absorbine Groom of the Year Award, presented at the Showing Council/Showing World Awards Dinner held at the East of England Showground on the 22nd October, was split into two sections to recognise the valuable contribution of both professional and amateur grooms. Jamie Punchard, groom for show producer Katy Carter based in Staffordshire, received the award for Professional Groom of the Year, and Hilary Curtis from Sussex, won the award for the amateur section.
Over five hundred showing enthusiasts attended the gala dinner where Hannah and Julie were presented with their awards by Absorbine European marketing manager, Rachael Holdsworth.
Jamie is yard manager for show producer, Katy Carter at the family yard based in Stoke-on-Trent and has was worked for Katy for four years. Originally hired as a jockey for breaking in the youngsters, he is now a dedicated and loyal member of the team. Jean Andrew, who also works for Katy, nominated Jamie for the award. “I couldn’t believe it. Katy waited to tell me I’d been nominated just before it was announced” said Jamie, who only started riding at the age of fifteen.
“There were 14 of us, it was a brilliant evening. I was stood next to Jo Jacks, who has worked for show producer Katie Jerram for 13 years, I thought she had won it,” he explained. “I said to her ‘you’ve got this in the bag’, but then they called my name out and I couldn’t believe it. It was only my first time nominated,” said Jamie, who received an Absorbine goodie bag full of their most popular grooming products. “We love the ShowSheen and 2in1 shampoo and conditioner, that’s really good, they will definitely be gone first.”
Amateur Groom Award winner Hilary has been groom to her daughter, Emily, for over 36 years and grooms for her 6-year-old granddaughter Zannia. “It feels like I’ve been doing it for an eternity,” jokes Hilary, who plays the roles of nanny, driver, and mechanic as well. The girls have nine horses and show seven of them. “We have show hunter ponies, lead rein ponies, hacks, coloureds, cobs, it’s a bit of a mixture,” explains Hilary. “I told Zannia that she needs to learn how to muck out her own ponies soon and she replied ‘No Nanny, that’s why you live here!’ She is taking after my daughter!”
Hilary was nominated for the award by the Carter family who also show horses. “I wasn’t expecting it, it wouldn’t have mattered if I didn’t win but, I had a really good evening. It’s incredible to be able to share the stage with people who share the same passion as you, professional or amateur. That’s why we all do it,” said Hilary. “My Daughter marched off with the Absorbine goodie bag, it is probably already in the lorry. We already use some of the products and we’ve got coloured horses, so stain remover is very important”, she added.
Leading horse care products company, Absorbine has sponsored the Showing Council / Showing World Awards for six years. European marketing manager, Rachael Holdsworth said, “It is great for Absorbine to be associated with providing recognition for all the hard work put in by showing grooms throughout the season. Our eight finalists this year were of an exceptional standard”.
The full range of Absorbine products are available from Equestrian retailers and Absorbine Stockists. For more product information, visit www.absorbine.co.uk or find us on facebook www.facebook.com/AbsorbineUK
