Since its launch over 20 years ago, the Animal Health Trust UK Equestrian Awards have marked the achievements of riders, owners, trainers and horses from all areas of equestrianism.
Showjumping, dressage, eventing, racing, veterinary care and voluntary service have all been celebrated and each year a ‘special award’ is given to an individual, or team, who have made an impact during the past 12 months.
This year H&H readers are invited to vote for three of the awards. The nominees are listed below. To register your vote email equestrian.awards@aht.org.uk with the award name in the subject line (eventing, dressage or showjumping) and your choice of winner in the body of the email.
The UK Equestrian Awards 2010 take place at Lancaster London, situated near Hyde Park and Notting Hill, on Thursday 4 November. Tickets are on sale now at £130 each or £1200 for a table of 10. Each year the event raises around £60,000 for the Animal Health Trust.
For more information about the awards visit www.equestrianawards.info
Nominations for the Vion Food UK Dressage Award
LAURA BECHTOLSHEIMER
During 2010 Laura has continued to achieve outstanding performances in international competition to be ranked 3rd in the world (FEI World Dressage Rankings), the highest place ever achieved by a British rider. Having been instrumental in winning the 2009 European team silver medal and individual bronze, she went on the break all British records at grand prix. She was recently crowned National Champion before flying to Kentucky to represent Great Britain at the World Equestrian Games, where she won three silver medals.
SOPHIE WELLS
Sophie Wells, 20, made history this year in being the first ever para-equestrian dressage rider to represent Great Britain on an able-bodied team. Despite her disability, Sophie was selected to ride for Great Britain at the European Young Rider Championships in Kronberg, Germany where she was the second highest placed British rider. She is also a seasoned campaigner on the senior British Para Dressage Squad, winning three gold medals at last years European Championships, and represents Great Britain at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.
JANE GOLDSMITH
Jane Goldsmith has been a leading light in the world of Para Equestrian Dressage and in the last year was recognised by the FEI who awarded her the 5* Judge status (previously known as ‘O’ judge). She joins a group of only 15 worldwide; a remarkable achievement given she only started judging in 2005. Her expertise in para-equestrian has seen her officiate in Paralympic and World Championships, as well as lead the selection panel for Great Britain. Her guidance to Team GBR has been invaluable in them achieving their dominant status, remaining unbeaten in European, World and Paralympic team championships. Along with her husband John, Jane runs the Para Dressage Training Trust (PDDT), a charity which supports riders with a disability through training support and provision of horses. They currently own three horses, two of which have helped riders medal at World and Paralympic level.
Nominations for the Jacksons (C.I.) Limited Eventing Award
NOBLE SPRINGBOK
The 14.2hh eventing pony Noble Springbok, by Kiltealy Spring, has won four individual European medals with three different riders in the last six years, as well as team medals at Championship level. Currently owned and ridden by Miss Grace Walker, his most recent haul was individual silver and team gold at the Pony European Eventing Championships at Bishop Burton.
MARGARET CHURCHILL
Margaret volunteers at BE events nearly every weekend of the season and has been doing so for at least the last 20 years. She is primarily a fence judge volunteer coordinator for numerous events, organising upwards of 200 volunteers for a single day of competition and then takes care of them during their stint to make sure they are happy and comfortable. To do this she has to build and maintain relationships with, and the enthusiasm of, a very large group of people so she can call on them when needed. This takes a great deal of time and effort in her own time. She is truly impressive and her cakes are the stuff of legend!
ROSEMARY SEARCH
Rosemary is the owner breeder of Opposition Buzz, who helped Great Britain win team gold at the 2010 World Equestrian Games with her rider Nicola Wilson. By Fleetwater Opposition out of Rosemary’s own Jungle Bee, Opposition Buzz is hugely popular with eventing fans as his enthusiasm on the cross-country more than makes up for his slightly unauthodox jumping style. Rosemary owns a further three homebred event horses, who are all showing promise for the future. Rosemary is a life member of British Eventing.
Nominations for the BSJA Show Jumping Award
CARIAN SCUDAMORE
Carian completed a faultless second round as part of the European team at the Youth Olympics. A jump-off at the event against Australasia resulted in Europe taking home the gold medal due to a faster time around the course. Carian made history as one of the first ever gold medallists in the Youth Olympic Games equestrian competition.
GREAT BRITAIN’S CHILDREN ON HORSES TEAM
Great Britain’s children-on-horses team won team gold at the European championships in Jardy, France, for the fourth consecutive year. The team comprised of Katie Robertson (14) with Cameron Poe, Christie Pritchard (13) on Larkspur, Jake Saywell (14) with Cornelius 27 and Millie Allen (13) riding Trueleva.
MILLIE ALLEN
After a four-way jump off, Millie Allen secured the individual silver medal at the Children on Horses European Championships. Riding Rachel Steel’s 10-year-old bay mare Trueleva, Mille produced two fantastic clear rounds finishing just one second behind the winning time.
How to vote
To register your vote email equestrian.awards@aht.org.uk with the award name in the subject line (eventing, dressage or showjumping) and your choice of winner in the body of the email.
Horse & Hound readers are also invited to suggest nominees for the South Essex Insurance Brokers Voluntary Service Award: a person, team or organisation they feel has made an outstanding contribution in a voluntary capacity to equestrian in 2010.
Previous winners of this award include:
- 2009 Air Ambulance Association
- 2008 The Pony Club
- 2007 Bransby Home of Rest for Horses
- 2006 Retraining of Racehorses
- 2005 Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund
- 2004 SPANA
- 2003 Carrie Humble
- 2002 St John Ambulance
- 2001 Michael Clayton
- 2000 Mike Tucker
