The Animal Health Trust UK Equestrian Awards 2012

 

More than 400 people from all walks of the equestrian world attended the Animal Health Trust’s United Kingdom Equestrian Awards at the Lancaster London on Thursday 1 November, to celebrate equestrian excellence.

 

The Awards ceremony, hosted by Mr Mike Tucker and Miss Zoey Bird, proudly honoured the fantastic Olympic and Paralympic success of 2012, in both hosting and competing in the games.

 

Awards were presented by HRH The Princess Royal in seven categories – Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping, Racing, Voluntary Service, Equine Vet of the Year and the Animal Health Trust Special Award. The Animal Health Trust proudly honoured all of the Olympic and Paralympic teams with awards for their outstanding achievements this summer.

 

A number of the Olympic and Paralympic riders were present to collect these including: Carl Hester, Charlotte Dujardin, Zara Phillips, Nicola Wilson, Mary King, Natasha Baker and Sophie Christiansen, as well as owners and trainers.

 

Special attention was paid to the Olympic Games Makers who made the Olympic and Paralympic games possible as the South Essex Insurance Brokers Voluntary Service Award was awarded to all of the dedicated volunteers, collected by Sarah Phillips from British Riding Clubs on behalf of all the Games Makers.

 

Full list of winners:

Vion Foods Dressage Award awarded to:

Team GB Olympic Gold Medal Team

Carl Hester

Laura Bechtolsheimer

Charlotte Dujardin

 

And

 

Team GB Paralympic Gold Medal Team

Lee Pearson

Natasha Baker

Sophie Christiansen

Debbie Criddle

Sophie Wells

Jacksons (CI) Eventing Award awarded to:

Team GB Silver Medal Team

Mary King

William Fox-Pitt

Zara Phillips

Kristina Cook

Nicola Wilson

 

British Showjumping Award awarded to:

Team GB Gold Medal Team

Nick Skelton

Ben Maher

Peter Charles

Scott Brash

 

Betsi Racing Award awarded to:

Frankel

 

South Essex Insurance Brokers Award awarded to:

Volunteer Games Makers

PetPlan Equine Vet of the Year awarded to:

Keith Chandler, a senior partner at Kessock Equine Vets in Inverness,  for his personal dedication, knowledge, pragmatic and caring approach and his practice’s outstanding customer service.  

 

Animal Health Trust Special Award awarded to:

Lord Harris of Peckham, to celebrate a lifetime of outstanding achievement and contribution to equestrianism.

 

Desi Dillingham, Chair of the Equestrian Awards Organising Committee, said: “The Equestrian Awards is a fantastic showcase of the equestrian talent in the UK. 2012 has been a wonderful year for our equestrian sports and the awards really do celebrate all of the incredible achievements”.

 

“With so many outstanding performances throughout London 2012 to celebrate, the awards evening could have spanned a month and we still wouldn’t have enough time to give everyone their due credit! We really are so proud of our equestrian athletes and it’s a privilege to honour them in this way.

 

“We’re also particularly grateful to all those who sponsored either an award or part of the evening and helped us raise vital funds which will enable the AHT to continue its very important work.”

Image:  The award being presented by HRH Princess Royal to World Class Showjumping Performance Manager Rob Hoekstra and Olympic Team Reserve rider Tina Fletcher who collected on behalf on the Team.