Inagural President's Commendation winners presented

At yesterday’s Regional Representatives Meeting, where all our regional volunteer committee members gather annually, we were delighted to welcome BD President Jennie Loriston-Clarke along to make three very special presentations.

A new award was launched earlier in the year help mark our 20th anniversary celebrations in the form of the President’s Commendation. We asked for nominations for individuals who show ‘undoubted and unequivocal excellence’ in the dressage community. The could be long term voluntary service, selfless acts, innovation, dedication – just those truly special individuals who go the extra mile.

The panel reviewed this year’s nominations and settled on three very worthy recipients;

 Alicia Anderson who has given over to decades of her time to British Dressage as an organiser, judge and regional volunteer. She’s been instrumental in shaping and developing the South West Region both as Judges Rep and Chairman. Hard working, dedication and determined are all words regularly mentioned in her citation and it’s these attributes which make her a President’s Commendation winner.

Steve Arnett wears many hats in the Wales region; judge, UKCC Level 3 Coach, Youth Assessor, mentor, volunteer, committee member and para trainer – he’s involved at every level, every ability, every chance he can. At the end of 2018, he will complete is eight year tenue as Chairman of the region and in that time he’s helped the membership to prosper both in numbers, ability and opportunity and will leave behind a great legacy. He has a life time of experience and knowledge which he willing gives back and asks nothing in return, making him a truly ‘lovely man’.

Jill Day is one of dressage’s most unassuming stars and has been the driving force behind modernising and consolidating our coaching programme for over a decade. Her involvement in coaching, mentoring and inspiring has spanned a great many more years and few BD Youth riders have gone up the grades without some sort of inspirational impact from Jill. She’s respected, driven and dedicated and has worked tirelessly to bring about a programme which is now the envy of others.
 

Board Director Julie Frizzell, who helped bring the new award to fruition, was there to see the inaugural presentations. There’s nothing greater than seeing a reward as remarkable as the President’s Commendation go to three inspirational members of the British Dressage community. To see the award come to life and see it go to exactly the calibre of people we’d hoped for is really gratifying,” Julie commented. “Thanks to everyone who helped bring the award to reality and Alicia, Steve and Jill may have their place in history as our first winners but I’m looking forward to seeing the roll of honour build into a group of truly remarkable individuals who I’m humbled and honoured to work with and call my peers.”