Joey Ellis, from Bungay, was honoured recently when she received the South Essex Insurance Brokers Racehorse to Riding Horse Performance Award for Showing at a ceremony in a London hotel.

Joey Ellis, from Bungay, was honoured recently when she received the South Essex Insurance Brokers Racehorse to Riding Horse Performance Award for Showing at a ceremony in a London hotel.

She has been competing over the past year with her 11-year-old ex-racehorse, Blue Streak.

The awards are open to all ex-racehorses who compete in one of six disciplines, affiliated dressage, show jumping, eventing, showing, endurance or the unaffiliated combined disciplines section.

Blue was bought in 2000 by Kevin Bell Racing where Joey was an assistant trainer. She rode him in the Diamond Handicap Ladies' Race at Ascot in 2001, and in 2004 she bought him.

Due to their win at Derby County in June in the ROR class, they have already qualified for the Royal International Horse Show. “I am going to do some dressage with him over the winter and then will get him back into showing. I hope to qualify for the Horse of the Year Show,” said Joey.

“He has such a lovely character, with a superb temperament. I am so pleased we won this award, enabling us to be part of such a prestigious event.”