BRITISH SHOWJUMPING ACKNOWLEDGES 2009 ACHIEVEMENTS

 

 

The eleven highly prized awards were presented to:-

 

Best Pony Rider of the Year - Jessica Mendoza (Chippenham, Wilts)
14 year old Jessica has had a fantastic 2009 winning major Grand Prix's at both Moorsele and Freudenberg with her superb pony Tixylix.  A member of the John Whitaker International Pony European Championship Team she rounded off  the year by winning the 148cm class at Olympia, the London International Horse Show in December.

 

Best Rider Under 21 Years (On Horses) of the Year - Jemma Kirk (B’Oness, West Lothian)
21 year old Jemma has proved herself as a serious Young Rider, bringing home Individual Gold with Wexford at the Young Rider European Championships.  Jemma was also a member of two Young Rider Nations Cup Teams and has competed in many CSI 2* and 3* competitions with success.

British Showjumping Members Personality of the Year - Geoff Billington (Nantwich, Cheshire)

Geoff's colourful character is well known throughout the showjumping world and he is now easily recognised as not only one of Britain's leading riders but also as one of the voices of the sport.  Commentating at shows such as The Horse of The Year Show and Olympia Geoff stamps  his own personality throughout everything he does.
 

Riders Rider of the Year - Ben Maher (Bishops Stortford, Herts.)

Throughout 2009, Ben has continued to prove just how talented and focused he is, by not only being a linchpin of the Top Level Nations Cup Teams but also by finishing the highest placed British Rider at the 2009 European Championships.  Currently the highest placed British Rider on both the National and FEI Ranking List, Ben is incredibly talented, fabulously stylish and an asset to British Showjumping and it's future.
 

International Horse/Rider Combination of the Year - Ben Maher & Robin Hood W (Bishops Stortford)

Ben Maher and Robin Hood W have leapt to the top of both the Team GBR Rider and Horse Ranking Lists during 2009.  This super talented bay gelding, whom Ben jointly owns with Quainton Stud's Emma & Mike Philips jumped five clear rounds in seven British Nations Cups appearances during 2009.   The combination were also the only British representatives at the FEI World Cup Final where they finished in seventh place.  Robin Hood W further proved himself by finishing as the highest places British combination at the European Championships held at Windsor Castle in August.
 

Area/ International Points Winner - Helen Tredwell (Finmere, Bucks.)

Helen is one of Britain's most active competitors on the national circuit, in particular across the International Stairway series in which she finished in second place.  Winning the Area Trials at both Devon & Lincolnshire Show in addition to a number of placings across the County Show circuit which kept her within the top twenty leading riders on the Team GBR ranking list.
 

Members Show Venue of the Year - Ingliston Country Club & Equestrian Centre

Situated in stunning surroundings, Ingliston Equestrian Centre has some of the very best equestrian and lesire facilities in Europe.  The feedback from competitors has been incredible as they all say they have been 'truly blown away by the shear wow factor it has to offer".
 

Members County Show of the Year - Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate

The North's leading agricultural event takes place during July on the 250-acre Great Yorkshire Showground n the edge of the spa town of Harrogate.  Steeped in history it is particularly well known for it's fantastic Cock o'North competition that all riders aspire to win.
 

Breeders Award - Old Lodge

Old lodge have enjoyed a wonderful 2009.  Horses bred by Old Lodge include a European Young Riders Team Gold MEdallist and Individual 4th; British 4, 5 and 7 Year Old Champions; HOYS Grade C Champion, HOYS Foxhunter Champion plus 3 other Foxhunter finalists; and numerous other wins from foal classes to CSI 5* shows.
 

British Showjumping Coach of the Year - Susie Gibson (Warrington, Cheshire)

Susie is extremely dedicated and works hard to promote training for British Showjumping, sitting on the Executive Board, Marketing Committee and Training Committee, she is also the Lead Coach for Area 17 Junior Academy and also coaches the North Region Foundation Squad.  Over the past two years Susie has challenged her self to complete courses enabling her to become a UKCC Coach Educator and Assessor for British Showjumping.
 

Lifetime Achievement & Services to Showjumping - Harvey Smith (Bingley, West Yorkshire)
One of the very few men that needs no introduction, Harvey's name is not only synonymous with Showjumping but also very much a household name.  With a career spanning over forty years, Harvey represented his country at two Olympic Games, several World and European Championships and made over seventy British Nations Cup Team appearances.  Elected by the membership in 2009, Harvey has now joined the British Showjumping Executive Board with a view to assisting the sport moving forward.
 

The British Showjumping Business Partnership would like to thank all their guests who helped to make the evening such a wonderful success.