British breeders and grooms honoured

On Saturday 12 January, breeders of the top British-bred horses from around the country converged in London at the Grange City Hotel, for the British Breeders Dinner and Awards Ceremony, organised by the British Horse Foundation (BHF). There has been much to celebrate for British Breeding in 2018 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. 

The evening then moved on to the much-anticipated Awards ceremony, this year compered by Harry Meade, taking over the role from the much missed and loved Mike Tucker, who was fondly remembered by Vincent Jones, Chairman of the BHF during his opening speech.

Young, professional and amateur breeders were well represented throughout the Awards Ceremony that began with the presentations of the British Breeding Futurity Certificates of Merit, amongst the winners was Sally Warner who was presented with an eventing foal certificate for Time to Fly, Penny Walster received the sports pony foal certificate for Bathleyhills Orion, whilst Tullis Matson collected the eventing yearling certificate of merit for Mesmerize-Me-SSH, on behalf of Solaris Sport Horses Ltd. Tammy Ruffles was on hand to be presented with her dressage yearling certificate of merit for Summer Solstice, whilst 2 year old certificates of merit were presented to Jennie Loriston-Clarke for Catherston Tick Tock (Dressage), Keith Lovelock for Masterclass (Show Jumping) and Elaine Coleridge Smith for WFD Diangello (Sports Pony); Karen Fryer collected her 3-year-old certificate of merit for Sunny Side Up (Eventing).

In the prestigious Baileys Horse Feeds sponsored Futurity age awards, Rhiannon Stormonth collected the foal award on behalf of her mother Aileen, the breeder of Esme X, a potential showjumping prospect. Pippa Drew, breeder of Hammerwood Flamingo collected the yearling award, a potential dressage sports pony prospect, whilst Vanessa Francis, breeder of Cundlegreen Garanwyn, a potential eventing prospect, collected the 2 year old award, with Tom McManus collecting the 3 year old award as breeder of Barrowby Lord Darcy, a sports pony eventing prospect.

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 that saw a range of breeders step forward to collect their awards.
The Dressage Young Horse Awards were once again very well represented by the Hawtins Stud, with Judith Davis stepping up to collect the 4 year old and 6 year old British Dressage Young Horse Awards respectively, as breeder of Hawtins Lirica and Hawtins San Floriana, this lovely mare has now completed the triumvirate of BD Young Horse Awards.
Rebecca Hoare, breeder of Kiss & Tell was delighted to receive the 5-year-old British Dressage Young Horse Award.

The British Horse Foundation trophy together with £1,000 prize money was presented to the breeder of the highest placed British bred horse at the 2018 Mitsubishi Motors Horse Trials providing it finished in the first twelve places. This award went to Classic Moet bred by Elaine Hepworth, the horse winning it’s first CCI**** competition, ridden by Jonelle Price.
The SPSS Award went to two British bred, SPSS passported and Elite graded dressage ponies, Ella and George Clooney B.S. both identically bred by Julie Lockey and who have represented Ireland and GB at the FEI Pony European Dressage Championships.

The Horse & Hound Outstanding Mare Award went to Rubinsteena, a wonderful dressage broodmare, owned by Sarah Oppenheimer, who was absolutely thrilled to receive this award, as the broodmare sadly died in 2018 at the age of 22, leaving behind her a wonderful dressage dynasty.

The British Equestrian Federation Award to the Highest Placed British Bred Horse at the FEI World Equestrian Games, Tryon went to the double world gold medal winning Para-dressage horse C Fatal Attraction, bred by Astrid Bolton and Betty Brandon.

The Anglo European Studbook Award went to Summa’s Zorro, bred by Marily Power and Susan Lanigan O’Keefe in recognition of the horse winning the richest prize in showjumping, the $1,000,000 Spruce Meadows Masters.

The British Hanoverian Horse Society presented awards to the breeders of the best British bred Hanoverians that gained the highest points in International competition during 2018 in the disciplines of Dressage, Eventing and Show Jumping.

Judith Davis was the BHHS dressage winning recipient as the breeder of Hawtins Delicato, GB team bronze medallist at the FEI World Equestrian Games, Lucy Nelson, the BHHS eventing winning recipient as the breeder of Hester, who won the CCI** at Camphire, before representing NZ at Mondial du Lion in the CCU2* for seven year olds, ridden by Jonelle Price, with Nicola Williams the BHHS winning showjumping recipient as the breeder of Contendros Quest a 9 year old bay mare who is jumping at 2* Grand Prix level with Adrian Whiteway.

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 are 5 categories: -

Lucy Seddon who works for Tom McEwen Eventing was the recipient of the British Grooms Award that was open to all grooms working in the UK equestrian industry; with Gabby Southern being awarded the runners-up prize who works at Catherston Stud.
The Team GBR Grooms Award was open to any groom who supported a senior Team GBR athlete at the FEI World Equestrian Games 2018 with the award going to Sarah Charnley, who groomed for Ros Canter, who was part of the GB gold medal winning eventing team and who also won the individual gold medal in Tryon. 

Joe Castree was the recipient of the Team GBR Pony, Junior & YR Grooms Award, nominated by Jonquil Hemming, coach to the Pony Eventing team; Joe was key to managing the preparations up to the Pony European Championships and her ability in creating a calm environment in the stable yard during the Championships was instrumental to the GB Pony team winning team and individual gold medals.

The Manager Award was presented to Emma Jayne Eldridge, yard manager at Stallion AI Services, with the Apprentice Award going to Poppy Zofia Graves who is based at Wimbledon Village Stables, with a Highly Commended certificate awarded in this category to Connor McCunn who is based with Daniel Watson.

Since Haddon Training began its sponsorship of the British Grooms Awards five years ago the overriding message from all the winning recipients is one of appreciation that there is now the opportunity for all hard working grooms not only to be recognised but also to receive the acknowledgement that they quite rightly deserve and with the five categories that form the British Grooms Awards this allows for a wide spectrum of grooms to be recommended and rewarded for these prestigious awards.

The culmination of the evening was the Stallion AI Services Meritoire Lifetime Achievement Award; this annual award is presented in recognition for a lifetime’s contribution to the breeding industry… The Award was presented to Jennie Loriston-Clarke, who received a resounding round of applause from everyone in the room, when it was announced who was the recipient for 2019 together with a standing ovation when it was presented.