Two former members of the Essex and Suffolk pony club have been nominated for the Horse & Hound Awards

Tony Lock, a vet at Paton and Lee equine veterinary surgery in Witham, and Spencer Wilton, an international dressage rider and trainer, both attended the club at the same time.

Mr Lock, who lives in Stoke by Nayland, is one of four shortlisted for the Topspec Vet of the Year award.

He said: “I feel honoured and privileged to have clients who have taken the time to nominate me for the award and I am extremely grateful.”

Mr Wilton, who was born in Ipswich, is up against three others shortlisted in the Professional Rider of the Year category. He couldn’t believe he had been nominated for the award.

He said: “I thought they got it wrong at first, I couldn’t understand how I had been nominated. But I have had a surreal year this year and it is a real honour, especially when you look at the other riders I am nominated with.”

Mr Lock attended the Essex and Suffolk pony club from the age of six until he was 16.

Mr Wilton attended the club between the ages of nine and 16.

However the 44-year-olds haven’t seen each other since.

Mr Wilton said: “I haven’t seen Tony since we left the club, but I hope we bump into each other at the awards.”

Lady Aldous, president of the Essex and Suffolk Hunt Branch of the Pony Club, knew the two when they attended the club.

She said: “The pony club is a marvellous start for everyone, it is a good grounding for wherever you are going.

“Tony and Spencer are a great success story for the club, they show that hard work and dedication really does pay off.

“It is so nice to have two young men at the top of their game from the same place.”

Lady Aldous added: “Tony always wanted to be a vet, even as a young boy, he was always determined to be one.”

The award winners will be revealed on November 2, at the Horse & Hound gala dinner at Ascot racecourse.

You can vote for Tony Lock and Spencer Wilton here, voting closes on October 5.