Following a European search and with hundreds of entries to choose from the winner of the TopSpec sponsorship is event rider Ann-Catrin Bierlein.
Based in Warendorf known as the city of horses in Germany, 17-year-old Ann-Catrin is part of the U18 National Squad for 2019 and so far has competed up to CCI* level.
2018 was a successful year for Ann-Catrin, winning the CIC* in Langenhagen, Germany, finishing second with the German Team in the Junior Nations Cup in Waregem, Belgium and coming third in the CCI* at Strzegom, Poland.
Based on a yard with her mother, Ann Catrin said: “My father died in 2014, and so my mother is a single parent, managing everything by herself.
“I am super happy about winning the TopSpec sponsorship as it will help with the costs of running the horses.”
Ann-Catrin currently has five rides, ranging from four-year-olds to 12-year-olds.
“Each one of my horses is unique and special in their own way, that is why I would love to feed and try different products to find out which TopSpec feed suits which horse,” she said.
After finishing her A-Levels in Spring 2019, Ann-Catrin has plans to spend some time training with well-known coach Chris Bartle.
Ann-Catrin’s national coach and idol is Julia Krajewski a fellow TopSpec ambassador, Ann-Catrin said: “I absolutely believe in the quality and like Julia, I only want the best for my sports partners.”
Said Katy Mickle of TopSpec: “Thank-you to everyone who took the time to enter our European sponsorship competition. We have had some brilliant entries which made choosing a winner very difficult.
“Ann-Catrin thoroughly deserves to be our winner and we can’t wait to see what this year brings for her.”
Ann-Catrin will receive the £3,000 prize to help with TopSpec feed, training and lessons, entry fees, horse clothing, rugs and accessories, and rider competition and leisure clothing.