British Eventing’s end of season awards were presented last weekend at a star-studded ceremony hosted by The Event Horse Owners Association (EHOA) at Cheltenham racecourse. The recipients included the newly crowned World Champion, Yasmin Ingham and our individual medallists from this summer’s Junior and Young Rider European Championships, Alice Casburn and Isabelle Cook.
After what has been a truly brilliant season for them, kicking off with a second place in the 5* at Kentucky and culminating in the individual gold medal at the World Championships in Pratoni, there were awards for both Yasmin Ingham and her horse, Banzai Du Loir. Yasmin received the Jane Holderness-Roddam Trophy, presented to the highest placed British Senior Rider in the respective yearly Championship and the Calcutta Light Horse Trophy, for the British horse gaining the highest number of points throughout the season, went to Banzai Du Loir’s owners, Sue Davies and Janette Chinn.
“I am so proud to receive these awards,” said Yasmin. “Banzai and I have had the most incredible year, with a 2nd in our 5* debut and then becoming Individual World Champions in Pratoni in September is something I never thought possible. It’s been a complete dream.
“Thank you to the EHOA for hosting the awards at Cheltenham Racecourse and to British Eventing and British Equestrian who make it all happen for us. Lastly a huge thank you to Banzai’s wonderful owners Sue Davies and Janette Chinn, who sadly couldn’t be present to collect the awards in person, but they will be very proudly displayed!”
Another horse to catch the eye this year was Ros Canter’s British bred ride, Lordships Graffalo. His breeders, the Lordships Stud at Writtle College in Essex, collected the Wide Awake Trophy – presented to the breeder of the British bred, owned and ridden horse gaining the highest number of points. A second-place finish at Badminton and individual fourth at the World Championships in Pratoni were the standout moments of a superb season for the 10-year-old gelding owned by Michele Saul.
One of the highlights of this year was undoubtedly The European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders, held in front of an appreciative home crowd at Hartpury University and Hartpury College in Gloucestershire. All our riders did us proud throughout a fabulous week of competition, which saw both our Juniors and Young Riders take team gold. The award ceremony was an opportunity to reflect on this success and recognise the achievements of our highest placed British competitors. The Hubert Allfrey Trophy, presented to the highest placed British rider in the Junior European Championship, was awarded to West Sussex’s Isabelle Cook after her individual silver medal with Mexican Law and The Sir John Burder Trophy,given to the highest placed British rider in the Young Riders Championship, went to Norfolk’s Alice Casburn for her individual bronze medal success with Topspin.
There was a second honour for Alice, who also received the Edy Goldman Trophy – awarded to the British U21 rider gaining the most points throughout the year. This award was presented by Tracey Johnson on behalf of Ecovoltz, who kindly sponsor this league. These British Eventing awards cap an incredible week for Alice, who was also awarded this year’s Longines FEI Rising Star Award out in Cape Town, South Africa over the weekend.
The success of our Pony riders was also recognised, with the Jane Rook Trophy – presented to the highest placed British competitor in the current Pony Rider European Championship – being awarded to Pippa Royle from Wiltshire, for her fifth-place finish with Midnight Engagement in Strzegom, Poland.
The Tony Collings Memorial Trophy, presented to the British rider gaining the highest number of points on any horse or horses, went to Oliver Townend in recognition of another outstanding season for the Shropshire-based rider and the Britannia Trophy, for the British rider with the most wins gained on any horse or horses at CCI4* level not to have carried union flag at a championships, went to Mollie Summerland. Mollie, now based in Wiltshire, had some great results with the gelding Charly Van Ter Heiden again this season – including a CCI4*-S win at Barbury in July.
‘I’m very proud to have won the Britannia League again with my wonderful horse Charly,” said Mollie. “We have had a wonderful day at Cheltenham celebrating all the great achievements from so many riders this year. It’s been lovely to wrap up this season with such a fantastic day. Thank you to everyone who helped organise the EHOA awards and to all the Sponsors and Owers for their continued support.”
“It is a privilege to be able to celebrate some of the outstanding achievements of our members this year, as we reflect on what has been another fabulous year of sport,” concluded BE Chief Executive, Helen West, who presented the awards. “We would like to extend our deepest thanks to Linda Allan and her team at the EHOA for their hard work in organising the event and their generosity in welcoming the British Eventing awards alongside their own awards and those of the British Horse Federation. What a great way to end the season.”
