HERE COMES THE HOTSTEPPER
First TransPennine Express worker celebrating after not looking a gift horse in the mouth
First TransPennine Express ticket sales assistant Elly Hoyes, 32, who works at Brough train station, has
luck on her side after coming first in a dressage competition she took part in for a bit of fun, on a horse
that was purchased for just £150.
After just 8 weeks of training together, Elly decided to enter the competition at Sykehouse Arena in
Doncaster with Mr Jeeves, 19, who has recently recovered from an injury, purely to test the waters out.
The feat sees the pair automatically qualify for Trailblazers, an amateur equestrian competition
featuring Dressage Show at the prestigious Championships at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire at the end
of July 2015. In addition, Elly and Mr Jeeves have also qualified for Sykehouse Arena season final, which
takes place in April, and if they get through this stage they will qualify for the Sunshine Tour competition
at the All England Showground, Hickstead, in September.
Commenting on her win, Elly said: “We have previously qualified for Trailblazers in 2013 and absolutely
loved it, so I am so excited to get another chance. Last time we attended, I knew we wouldn't even place
when comparing myself to the other competitors, but after our best ever scores this year I feel like we
may have a chance!
"It's crazy to think when I first bought Mr Jeeves, as an unridable horse of 16, he wouldn’t even stand
still for me to get on him – but I've spent a lot of time with him now. That doesn’t mean I've not had a
few falls, though."
David Hatfield, First TransPennine Express station manager at Brough, said: "Since coming to work at
FTPE, it is clear that Elly is a very determined individual who is passionate about her horse riding. Elly
has done incredibly well to get to the finals and we all wish her well - Rio 2016 could be calling!"
-ENDSFor further information contact Kacee Fennelly on 0161 669 4708 or email [email protected]
Notes to Editors
First TransPennine Express' vision is to provide solutions for an increasingly congested world… keeping
people moving and communities prospering.
First TransPennine Express – run by First Group plc in partnership with Keolis SA – operates inter-city
services on three main routes:
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North TransPennine - including Newcastle to Liverpool via Manchester Victoria, Middlesbrough
to Manchester Airport, Scarborough to Liverpool and Hull to Manchester Piccadilly
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South TransPennine from Cleethorpes via Doncaster and Sheffield to Manchester Airport
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North West and Scotland – from Windermere, Barrow in Furness and Blackpool North via
Preston and Bolton to Manchester Airport; Edinburgh, Glasgow, Carlisle, Penrith and Oxenholme
to Manchester Airport
●
Destinations served by First TransPennine Express include Newcastle, Middlesbrough,
Darlington, Northallerton, Thirsk, York, Malton, Scarborough, Hull, Selby, Leeds, Huddersfield,
Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Meadowhall, Doncaster, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Carlisle, Barrow in Furness, Blackpool, Lancaster, Preston, Bolton, Manchester, Manchester
Airport, Warrington and Liverpool