Cambridge’s Sophia Stratford had a typically youthful response to her recent success in the world’s most prestigious full-time saddlery course.
“So stoked!” she said on social media, referring to her ‘very successful day at the end-of-year awards ceremony’ in London.
Sophia Stratford at Capel Manor College with some of the work she has done during her first year. Photo: supplied
It marked the end of Sophia’s first year of a two-year Worshipful Company of Cordwainers diploma in saddle, harness and bridle-making. The former Cambridge High School student is doing the tongue-twisting qualification at Capel Manor College in Enfield, north London – one of just 12 students on the course and the only Kiwi.
Her reason for being so stoked? It turns out Sophia came away with the 2023-24 Master Lorinery Achievement Award for the Best Overall Student, The Worshipful Company of Coach and Coach Harness Makers’ second prize for Best Year One Harness Martingale, and The Worshipful Company of Saddlers’ Undergraduate Bursary.
In a nutshell, that means she nailed it across the coachmakers’ awards, loriners’ awards, and saddlers’ awards.
Sophia Stratford receiving the award for best overall student from Dr George Anderson, Master of the Worshipful Company of Loriners. Photo: supplied
Proud mum Sarah Fraser couldn’t be happier for her. “She has wanted to do this since she was 14, and she was 19 when she went over to the UK to start the course last September. She was so focused about getting there and now she’s really thriving.”
Capel Manor College’s historic and prestigious qualification teaches saddlery and leatherwork though practical demonstrations and hands-on workshops. The shoemaking course provides training in the cordwainers’ shoemaking workshop and a design studio. Once past the first two years, students undertake apprenticeships to fully equip them for jobs.
Sophia said she has settled in well and aside from missing home is enjoying her course.
“I don’t have any plans set in stone for when I’ve finished all my training, but there’s no doubt about my intentions to come home sooner rather than later.”
A display of Sophia’s work was shown at the prizegiving. Photo: supplied
The citation for her coachmaker’s award praised Sophia’s fern design, saying it demonstrated a high rate of progression and understanding of technique as it flew the flag for her native country. Her helpfulness towards other students was noted in the citation for her loriner’s award.
The citation for the saddler’s award said: “Sophia is another of those applicants who is so driven that they just won’t go away.” It noted her having given everything up in New Zealand to get onto the course, including selling her horse, and said: “I’m pleased that she followed her dream.”
Sarah said her daughter’s success was validation for the efforts of those in the wider Cambridge community who helped raise funds and offered support in the lead-up to Sophia’s departure.
Sophia Stratford with her Scotland-based godparents, Percy and Clara Weatherall, who came down to London for Sophia’s prizegiving. Photo: supplied
