2017 British Breeders Dinner and Awards

On Saturday 13th January, breeders of the top British-bred horses from around the country converged in London at the Grange City Hotel, for the 21st Anniversary British Breeders Dinner and Awards Ceremony, organised by the British Horse Foundation. There has been much to celebrate for British Breeding in 2017 and this glittering occasion affords the breeders of these potential world-class horses the special recognition they deserve.

Guests arrived at the Competition Stallions-sponsored drinks reception before moving on to a sumptuous four-course dinner, followed by invited guest speaker Roger Hart of Countrywide Promotions, who gave a very entertaining speech recounting his participation in the racing industry who then went on the conduct the evening’s auction that raised £8,500 For the British Horse Foundation.

Young, professional and amateur breeders were well represented throughout the Awards Ceremony in the Baileys Horse Feeds/British Breeding/BEF Futurity Certificates of Merit. Amongst the winners were Lynne Crowden who was presented with a joint dressage foal certificate for Woodlander Regatta de Blanc, along side Lisa Greenhill for Who’s’ That Girl. The yearling certificates of merit were presented to Caroline Sussex for Binley Silvern Tahlia (Endurance), Elisabeth Clarke for To Bed with the Wren (Eventing), Rachel Ablett for Dance of Destiny (Sports Pony). 2 year old certificates of merit were presented to Emma Mooney for ELM Avicii (Endurance), Kim & Tim Betteridge for Kingston Star (Show Jumping) and Penny Walster for Bathleyhills Swift Farouche (Sports Pony), 3-year-old certificates of merit were presented to joint breeders, Lisa Maynard and Chris Jackson for Balou for Pleaure (Show jumping) with Julie Keatinge collecting the certificate of merit for the breeders of Primitive Midnight Tiger (Eventing) on behalf of Juliet Whatley and Sam Smith.

Certificates of Merit were also awarded for the highest scorers in each age group at the Futurity Eventing Championships held at Osberton, where Barbara Heaton Smith was presented with two certificates for Diamonds CAWever, eventing yearling and CAWrus Girl, eventing 3 year old, with Hannah Iddeson, Verona’s Buddy B Good, eventing foal and Julie Keatinge for Keatinge Hello Reuben, eventing 2 year old.

In the prestigious Futurity age awards, Hannah Iddeson picked up the foal award for breeding Verona’s Buddy B Good, a potential eventing prospect. Julia Wilkinson, the owner of Gigi collected the yearling award on behalf of her breeder, Sarah Lucas, a dressage prospect. The two-year old award went to another dressage prospect Woodlander Wild Love bred by Lynne Crowden who also bred the horse that was presented with three-year old award, Woodlander Gloria, owned by Hannah Markham, who will start her ridden career.

Young horse awards were then presented to breeders of the best British bred young horses in the three main equestrian disciplines; Dressage, Eventing and Showjumping.

The Dressage Young Horse Awards saw a range of breeders step forward to collect their awards. Amongst the winners was Sarah Longworth of Waverley Stud who collected the 4 year old award for Waverley Dante, Judith Davis, who bred Hawtins San Floriana, last year’s 4 year old award winner, who this time collected the 5 year old award and Georgina Pole-Carew the 6 year old award for Tantoni Dallagio.

The British Eventing Young Horse Breeders Medals were presented to the breeders of the top British-bred horses from the BE Young Horse Championships; Mrs Zoe Feeney for the 4 year old winner, Just Soda No Ice, Carole Farr of Lordships Stud for 5 year old winner, Lordships Graffalo, Kitty King collected the breeders medal on behalf of Mrs Jane Andrews for the 5 year old winner, Drewmain Firefly, who only very recently lost his life to a rare form of colic. Tim Holderness-Roddam collected the 7-year-old breeders medal on behalf of Chris Stone for Chilli Knight.

The British Showjumping Young Horse Awards were presented to the breeders of the highest placed British bred horses of their age sections at the British Young Horse Showjumping Championships at Addington Manor in August 2017.

David Fudge for Vancurtis, the 5 year old winner, Tim & Julie Smith for Glencoe, the 6 year old winner, and Christine Mart for Greenacres 7 year old winner.

The Richard Matson Memorial Trophy, presented by the British Horse Foundation, to the breeder of the highest placed British bred horse at the 2017 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials providing it finished in the first twelve places. This award went to Trevidden bred Liz and Vin Jones of Preci-Spark Ltd, however it was announced at the Awards Dinner that Trevidden had recently passed away due to complications following an injury.

The SPSS Award went to a British bred, SPSS passported and Elite graded pony Littledale Bright Star in recognition of his outstanding contribution to British sports pony & horse breeding as he, a British - bred pony of just 12.2 hands, has sired horses or ponies which have competed at FEI International competitions in three disciplines.

The Horse & Hound Outstanding Mare Award went to Faeire Dazzler, bred and owned by Trisha Rickards, the mare not only competed up to three-star level eventing herself but also has produced progeny who have excelled on the world stage at the very highest level – with top three four-star results, as well as the Olympic Games.

The British Equestrian Federation Award to the Highest Placed British Bred Horse at the Longines FEI Senior European Championships went to the Para-dressage horse Dior UKH bred Suzanne Lavandera.

The Anglo European Studbook Award went to The Billy Stud in recognition of its contribution to the sport horse breeding industry.

Haddon Training continues to support the often ‘unsung’ heroes of the equestrian industry by it’s sponsorship of the Haddon Training British Grooms Awards of which there were 6 categories: -

Amy Baynton who works for World Horse Welfare was the recipient of the British Grooms Award that was open to all grooms in the equestrian industry; with Josh Steer being awarded the runners-up prize who works at Stallion AI Services.

The Team GBR Grooms Award was open to any groom who supported a senior Team GBR athlete at the Longines FEI European Championships in 2017, with the award going to Rachel Tolley, head girl to Tina Cook who was part of the gold-medal winning GB eventing team at Strazegom. 

David Burton was the recipient of the Team GBR Pony, Junior & YR Grooms Award, David groomed for Bobby Upton, who won the GB Junior European Eventing Individual Gold and Silver Medallist and Holly Needham an individual rider on the GB Junior European Team.

The Yard Manager Award was presented to Caron Roberts, with the Equine Apprentice Award going to Katie Jane Scott who is based with Tori Desborough.

The culmination of the evening was the Stallion AI Services Meritoire Lifetime Achievement Award; this annual award is presented as recognition for a lifetime’s contribution to the breeding industry… The Award was presented to Lynne Crowden, who received a resounding round of applause from everyone in the room, when it was announced who was the recipient for 2018.