Archie Smith Maxwell, breeder of the outstanding sire Jumbo, has been honoured for his contribution to British sport horse breeding.
The Irish draught/thoroughbred stallion Jumbo evented to advanced level with Andrew Nicholson and has gone on to sire a string of winning prix st georges dressage horses, grade A show jumpers and four-star winning event horses.
Snow prevented Mr Smith Maxwell, now 82, attending the British Breeders awards dinner in London on 9 January to pick up the Equestrian Edge Meritoire — where his remarkable story of a relentless pursuit for higher standards in sport horse breeding was highlighted.
But he told the gathering by phone that he was “delighted and privileged” to accept the award.
Some 31 awards were presented at the 15th British Breeders dinner, as detailed below.
The Baileys Horse Feeds/British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity section
- Stallion Award – Silvester (KWPN) s: Carthago Z d: Notre Dame (s: Voltaire)
(Owner: John & Hazel Offord, Bicester, Oxfordshire) - Mare Award – Phonia VS (KWPN) s: Nimmerdor d: Wonia (s: Le Val Blanc XX)
(Owner: Nicola & Sam Burton, Wrestow Stud, Warks) - Foal Award – Ettonia (KWPN) s: Carolus d: Phonia VS (s: Nimmerdor)
(Breeder : Nicola & Sam Burton, Wrestow Stud, Warks) - Yearling Award – MFS Dandyman (KWPN) s: Marlon d: Why Bella (s: Holland)
(Breeder: MFS Studfarm, Banff) (Owner: Janet Keith, Insch, Aberdeenshire) - 2 Year Old Award – Flamingo (OLD) s: Flemmingh d: Hawaii (s: Harvard)
(Breeder: Christine Trendell, Chalfont St. Giles) (Rider/Handler: Paul Friday) - 3 Year Old Award – Handels Classic (AES) s: Handel d: Sasja (s: Splitau)
(Breeder: Vikki Evans, Chailey Stud, North Chailey)
Futurity Certificates of Merit for consistent results
- All-round and dressage sire Classic Juan (s: Crazy Classic)
- Show jumping sire Silvester (s: Carthago Z)
- Eventing sire Future Illusion (s: Fleetwater Opposition)
- Sports pony sires Littledale Bright Star (s: Catherson Nightsafe) and Bernwode Brokat (s: Brillant)
- Dressage dam Sigyn Torsmark (s: May Sherif)
- Dressage dam Nurolieta (s: Balzflug)
- Show jumping dam Phonia VS (s: Nimmeredor)
- Eventing dam Louella Primitives Posy (s: Primitive Rising)
- Sports pony dam Bernwode Evelina S (s: Prins Alfred)
Sports Pony Studbook Society Sire of European Team Pony
- Connemara sire Ashfield Mactalla (Ormond Oliver) sire of top European team pony Trewithian Bracken
(Owner: Sue Rowe, Treloithian Stud, Cornwall)
British Eventing Young Horse Awards
- 4 Year Old Award – Faerie Dianimo (SHBGB) s: Dimaggio d: Faerie Dazzler (s: Catherston Dazzler)
(Breeder/Owner: Mrs Tricia Rickards, Hampshire) Rider/Handler: Angela Mace - 5 Year Old Award – Coopers Law (SHBGB) s: Mill Law d: Miss Cooper (s: Kildalton Gold)
(Breeder: Miss Nicola Dickson, South Yorks) (Owner: Miss Sally Williams) Rider/Handler: Emilie Chandler - 6 Year Old Award – Whitson (SHBGB) s: Cameos Reflection d: Castle Weir Rebel (s: Coosheen Liam)
(Breeder/Owner: Mr Roy & Mrs Annie Baker, Herefordshire) Rider/Handler: Louise Skelton
British Show Jumping Young Horse Awards
- 5 Year Old Award – Faize (AES) s: Oberon Du Moulin d: Killavil Cruise (s: Cruising)
(Breeder/Owner – Old Lodge, collected by Mrs Corrina Duncan) Rider/Handler: Steven Franks - 6 Year Old Award – Billy Laden (AES) s: Cevin Z d: Cruise the Border (s: Cruising)
(Breeder – Donal Barnwell, West Sussex) Rider/Handler: Daniel Moseley - 7 Year Old Award – Argento (AES) s: Arko d: Flora May (s: Gasper)
(Breeder: Miss Keeley Durham, Notts) Rider/Handler: John Whitaker
British Dressage Young Horse Awards
- 4 Year Old Award – Romanno Ruinart (OLD) s: Rohdiamant d: St Pr St De La Rosa (Belvedere) (s: De Niro)
(Breeder: Jennifer Gilchrist, Romanno Stud, Lanarkshire) (Owner: Mrs E J Down, Sheffield) - 5 Year Old Award – Don Archie (BHHS) s: Dimaggio d: St Pr Lorena (s: Lysander)
(Breeder: Suzanne Lavandera, West Sussex) (Joint Owners: Carl Hester / Ann Cory) - 6 Year Old Award – Headmore Delegate (BHHS) s: Dimaggio d: Allerliebst (s: Akut)
(Breeder/Owner: Mrs S Oppenheimer, Hants)
The British Horse Foundation’s Outstanding Mare Award
- Show jumper Wiston Bridget (AES) s: Rosewall Grandure d: Cares Lady Jane
(Breeder: Brian Pennington, Cheshire)
The BEF European Award
- Miners Frolic (GSB) s: Miners Lamp d: Mighty Frolic (s: Oats)
(Breeder: Maurice Pinto, London) (Owner: Mr and Mrs Nicholas and Valda Embricos & Mrs Sarah Pelham) Rider/Handler: Kristina Cook