A night of Celebration at the 2025 British Showjumping Awards Ball
Thursday 09 October 2025
The British Showjumping Awards Ball 2025 brought together riders, owners, and supporters on 7th October at St Johns Hotel, Solihull for a glamorous evening celebrating the very best in the sport. The night began with a champagne reception recognising KBIS Club League and Graded Para League winners, before the main awards ceremony honoured outstanding performances, inspirational individuals, and achievements across all levels of British showjumping. Guests enjoyed delicious food, a live band, and lively celebrations, making it a memorable evening of camaraderie, recognition, and fun.
The 2025 award winners are as follows:
Leading Pony Rider – Darcy Breen
Darcy Breen has enjoyed a phenomenal season with her British-bred 10-year-old mare One Saharah. A key member of Great Britain’s gold medal-winning team at the European Championships, where she jumped clear all week, Darcy also claimed the individual silver medal. Her impressive record continued as part of the winning Pony Nations Cup Final team, alongside victory in the Linz-Ebelsberg Nations Cup and second place in the Grand Prix — sealing her status as one of Britain’s brightest young talents.
Alongside Darcy on the nominees list for the award were Nellie Lock, Hollie Gerken and Sophia Rogers.
Leading Children on Horses Rider – Eleonora Ljungman
In her first year on British teams, Eleonora Ljungman has made a remarkable impact riding the 11-year-old Dutch-bred mare Jamaica EBH. She was part of the gold medal-winning Nations Cup team in Hagen, helped Great Britain to second place in the Children on Horses Challenge Cup Final, and impressed with an individual silver medal at the European Championships — an outstanding debut season on the international stage.
The nominee line up also included her team-mates Christina Cotton and Tabby Morgan-Evans
Leading Junior Rider – Emily Gulliver
Riding her talented nine-year-old French-bred mare Glamor De Vie, Emily Gulliver has enjoyed an excellent season at junior level. Selected to represent Great Britain at the European Championships, she played a key role in the winning Junior Challenge Cup Final team, contributed to a strong fourth-place finish in Hagen, and secured a top-ten placing in the 1.40m Grand Prix at Oliva — a season that highlights her consistency and growing success on the international stage.
Ruby Barrs and Madison Seedhouse were also successful in being nominated for this award.
Leading Young Rider – Rachel Proudly
Rachel Proudley has enjoyed an exceptional first season at Young Rider level with her 14-year-old Irish-bred mare Quality Street. Making her debut at the Youth European Championships, she helped Great Britain to team bronze before claiming individual gold. Her impressive year also saw her play a key role in the second-place Nations Cup team in Hagen, finish third in the Young Rider Grand Prix, and achieve standout wins in the Defender Puissance at the Dublin Horse Show — where she made history as the first female winner in 61 years.
Also nominated for this award was Claudia Moore and Olivia Sponer
Team Groom of the Year – David Honnet
The Groom of the Year Award celebrates those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the well-being and success of their equine partners. This year’s winner, David Honnet, who grooms for Scott Brash, has been recognised for his exceptional care, professionalism, and unwavering dedication — qualities that play a vital role in maintaining peak performance at the highest level of the sport.
Paul Collier (groom of Jack Whitaker) and Amber Couper (groom of Sienna Charles) were also nominated for this award.
Volunteer of the Year – Christina Foley
Christina Foley has been named Volunteer of the Year in recognition of her extraordinary dedication to British Showjumping. As Area Representative in Northumberland, Christina has driven the development of the sport through the Academy, Area Shows, Awards Ball, and the growth of the Wolsingham Show into a major regional event. With 40–50 years’ involvement as a rider — still competing up to 1.40m — she combines vast experience with energy and enthusiasm, ensuring all levels of the sport are recognised, supported, and celebrated.
British Breeders Award – Sue Jaggar for Millfield Colette
This annual award recognises the British Breeders who have been the visionaries behind the best British Bred horse we have seen this year, and this year that visionary was Sue Jaggar for Millfield Colette, breeder of the exceptional 2013 grey mare Millfield Colette. Long term ride of Donald Whitaker and jointly owned by Reitsportanlage Dagobertshausen GmbH & Co. KG and Donald Whitaker, Millfield Colette has been a standout ambassador for British breeding — playing a key role in Great Britain’s silver medal–winning team at the European Championships, where she also finished in the top ten individually, and helping secure victory in the CSI5* BMO Nations Cup of Calgary.
Other nominees for this award were Olga Whiter for Chawton and John & Clare Whitaker for Vermento.
National Champion – Rebecca Marsh & Stevie G
For the second year running, Rebecca Marsh and Susie Gibson’s Stevie G have been crowned National Champions, awarded to the outright winner of the International Stairway Final at the British Showjumping National Championships. Successfully defending their 2024 title, they also finished second in the Stairway League, cementing their status as one of the most consistent and formidable partnerships in the sport.
5* Team Horse Debutant – Hello Folie ridden by Scott Brash, owned by Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham
The Team Horse Debutante Award celebrates a horse making a remarkable impact in their first 5* team appearance, and this year’s winner is Hello Folie. Owned by Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham and ridden by Scott Brash, Hello Folie made an impressive team debut at La Baule, jumping clear in the second round and finishing fifth in the Grand Prix. The talented mare also contributed to Great Britain’s silver medal at the European Championships, where she claimed individual silver in her first major championships, jumping clear all week, and capped her season with a Grand Prix victory at the City of Barcelona during the Longines League of Nations Final.
Chawton, owned by Peter Charles and Chacco Volo, owned by Deborah Cox were also nominated for the award.
Senior Team Performance – European Silver Medal winning team of Ben Maher, Scott Brash, Donald Whitaker and Matthew Sampson and chef d’Équipe Di Lampard
The Senior Team Performance Award recognises those who have excelled on the senior international stage. This year’s accolade goes to the team of Ben Maher, Scott Brash, Donald Whitaker, Matt Sampson, and chef d’Equipe Di Lampard, who delivered a remarkable performance to secure team silver at the Senior FEI European Championships in A Coruña, Spain. The award was collected by Di Lampard on behalf of the team, highlighting not only the riders’ skill and dedication but also the invaluable support of grooms, owners, and all team supporters, whose contributions were pivotal in achieving this momentous success for British showjumping.
Sustainability Award – HPower for Royal Windsor Horse Show
HPower, for their work at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, has been awarded this year’s Sustainability Award. Working alongside New Horizons Plastics, they recycled over 94% of the show’s waste in 2025, setting a high standard for sustainability and demonstrating their commitment to a greener future for equestrian events.
British Showjumping Award – Blue Chip Feed
Blue Chip Feed was honoured with this year’s British Showjumping Award in recognition of their exceptional and enduring contribution to the sport. For 27 years, they have proudly sponsored the Pony Newcomers Championship, one of the longest and most successful partnerships in British showjumping. Their support has provided countless young riders with a vital platform to develop and succeed, leaving a lasting impact on the growth and strength of the sport. British Showjumping extends its sincere gratitude to Clare and the team at Blue Chip Feed for their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to nurturing the next generation of riders.
Images: Simon Coates Photography / Peter Nixon
fuuele0kh8qq.JPG "William Rekert takes the victory in the Events Through a Lens Talent Seekers")
1y1twj2ldz5o4.JPG "Pippa Goddard added her name to an illustrious roll of honour by winning the Senior Newcomers Championship")
1di73rsqdxn8n.jpg "Emily Morris and Mollie Smith Crown a Sparkling Start to HOYS in NAF Five Star League Championships")
