Name: Carla Troughton

Age: 18

Principle Trainer: Alan Dewhurst, Steven Smith and Susie Hamilton Stubber

Address: 35 Ahorey Road, Richhill, Armagh, BT61 9LYNorthern Ireland

Notable Wins:

• 2006 – Won the pony club area Eventing and area dressage and 5th in the Pony club championships at Sansaw. Represented Northern Ireland in Scotland through Tetrathlon.
• 2007 – Qualified for the working hunter pony class at Dublin Horse Show, represented Northern Ireland at the Irish Pony club Eventing championships (where it was cancelled due to the course being under water!)
• 2008 – Represented Northern Ireland in South Africa at the South African Pony Club Championships. Winner of the Novice working hunter class and 2nd in the open class and taking overall reserve champion at Armagh County Show. Winner of the Junior C class at Glenarm, 5th at Loughamore in our first CNCJ* and 2nd at our second CNCJ* at Dromiskin. Represented Northern Ireland at the Irish Pony Club Eventing Championships and came 5th.
• 2009 – 4th in the Dengie pony club show jumping finals, competed Ballindenisk CIC*. 10th Dengie dressage finals. Represented Northern Ireland at the Combined Training Class at Dublin Horse show, and finished 5th.Won Interschool’s show jumping competition. 5th Open Working Hunter at Armagh County Show.

Like most young budding stars, Carla first got involved with horses when her Grandpa’s house was sold to the Hamilton Stubbers, who were involved with horses. She was introduced to Susie Hamilton Stubber who used to event and won the gold medal at junior level. This was a lucky break for Carla as Susie taught her to ride in 1999 and hasn’t been able to get rid of her since then. Carla started riding at the tender age of 9, and 9 years later she feels that she has achieved a lot in a relatively short space of time. In that period she has represented Northern Ireland for 4 consecutive years – 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Looking towards the future, Carla hopes to try for the young rider team, and hopes that all goes smoothly. She plans to be at Ballygraffen and Tattersalls International next year, with the possibility of Harass de Jardy or Necarne later on in the season. CoPa Ireland wishes her all the best for 2010 and hopes that it will be as successful as the last 9.