A night of Celebration at the 2024 British Showjumping Awards Ball
Friday 11 October 2024
The Annual British Showjumping Awards Ball took place on Tuesday, 8 October, to celebrate excellence and acknowledge outstanding achievement of those who are involved in our sport from riders to grooms to volunteers.
The evening kicked off with a champagne reception during which all 2023/24 KBIS Club League Winners and Graded Para League winners were recognised for their achievements this year.
Following this was the main awards ceremony, where there were high achievers amongst the nominees with difficult final decisions made. Congratulations to all our winners. Good food, a great live band who kept the dance floor filled until late into the night and good company made a for a successful and enjoyable night, and we look forward to seeing you next year!
The 2024 award categories and respective winners are as follows:
Leading Pony Rider – Sophia Rogers
Sophia has enjoyed a successful pony season with the British-bred 11-year-old Neil 55, having taken over the ride from sister, Izabella. The consistent pair contributed vital double Clears at Nation Cups this season, finishing second in the Pony Grand Prix in Hagan and third in the Pony Grand Prix of Compiegne. They were also part of the gold medal winning team at the Pony European Jumping Championship finishing joint ninth individual, as well as part of the gold medal winning Pony Nations Cup Final Team.
Alongside Sophia on the nominees list for the award were Katie Bradburne, Cate Kerr and Hollie Gerken.
Leading Children on Horses Rider – Rosie Smith
Rosie started 2024 with a win in the Winter Children on Horses Championship at the British Showjumping Spring Championships before jumping double clear in Compiegne Nations Cup to help secure second place for the team. A winner of the Children on Horses Grand Prix in Zduchovice, Rosie was also a vital team member who helped secure the gold medal at the Children on Horses European Championships this year.
The nominee line up also included her team-mates Emily Gulliver and Lottie Adams.
Leading Junior Rider – Olivia Sponer
The achievements of Junior Team Bronze medallists Olivia Sponer stood out to be awarded Leading Junior Rider. Olivia supplied a double clear as part of the second place Junior Nations Cup team in Zuidwolde and jumped vital clear rounds for the team in the Junior European Jumping Championships to help secure the bronze medal. Third place in the Junior Grand Prix’s of Zuidwolde and Hagan, Olivia has also seen much success Internationally, picking up wins in 2* and 4* classes in Samorin and Azelhof.
Tabitha Kyle, Henry Squibb and Noora Von Bulow were also successful in being nominated for this award.
Leading Young Rider – Olli Fletcher
This year’s Leading Young Rider went to someone who has excelled themselves both nationally and internationally this year. Riding in his eighth Youth European Championship competition, Olli Fletcher brought home the long awaited individual gold medal riding Hello William. Olli has also picked up several international victories including a win in the Gorla Minore 2* Grand Prix as well as first place in the Roseblood Wine 5* 1.45m at the London Leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour.
Also nominated for this award was Claudia Moore and Rachel Proudley.
Team Groom of the Year – Paul Drew
Grooms are the backbone of the sport, the unseen heroes who put in all the hours of nurture and care for the welfare of the equine charges behind the scenes. Paul has worked for Britain’s Number 10 rider Tim Gredley for the past four years as his show groom. Paul couldn’t be there on the night due to Tim’s busy competition schedule but sent a video saying: “I’m honoured and extremely grateful to have been recognised for this award for doing the job that I truly love. Thank you to everyone at home, it really does take a village that most people don’t see”.
Georgia Ellwood (groom of Harry Charles) and David Honnet (groom of Scott Brash) were also nominated for this award.
Volunteer of the Year – Lyn Windeatt
With many years of dedicated involvement in showjumping alongside her husband, Peter—a renowned showjumping photographer—Lyn Windeatt’s passion for the sport is evident. Her commitment deepened as her granddaughter joined the Devon Junior Academy, prompting Lyn to take on a vital support role for the Devon Area.
For over 10 years Lyn has managed finances, coordinated all the events run for both the Senior and Junior Academies, and supported the organisation of the Area Show, Awards evening and the Christmas Party. Her tireless efforts and smooth operation of these events, ensure the area is financially sustainable making her an indispensable part of the team.
Anyone in the Devon showjumping community would confirm Lyn's unwavering dedication and hard work. Truly, every team needs a Lyn—a passionate, committed individual who makes a significant impact and who we wouldn’t want to be without.
British Breeders Award – Susie Gibson, for Stevie G
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 Susie Gibson for Stevie G.
Susie has made showjumping her life’s work having been a board member, an accredited coach, riding professionally as well as breeding several top level horses. The 12-year-old gelding, Stevie G, is by The Billy Stud’s Billy Mexico and out of one of Susie’s mares, Be Nimble Li.
Stevie G was the ride for this year’s National Champion, Rebecca Marsh, as they achieved their long term goal of qualifying for the International Classes at the Horse of the Year Show. Susie credits The Billy Stud for their help to breed such a successful and talented horse, commenting how helpful they were in successfully picking out a stallion to match with her mares
International Stairway Champion – Adrian Speight & Millfield Baloney
Last year’s National Champion, Adrian Speight, has enjoyed a bumper season on the International Stairway League as he topped League riding Judith Whitham’s British-bred Millfield Baloney. The pair have been partnered since 2018 and picked up placings in seven of the International Stairway Series competitions, including a victory at Suffolk County Show. They have also seen much success this year with several top 10 international placings as well as winning the Royal Highland Show Grand Prix.
National Champion – Rebecca Marsh & Stevie G
This year it was Rebecca Marsh and Stevie G who landed the National Champion title for the first time. The combination took the win in the HOYS International Wild Card Qualifier Incorporating the British Showjumping Business Partnership International Stairway by just 0.19 seconds, narrowly beating the only other double clear of the class, Max Routledge on Janeiro. The pair also picked up a placing at the show leg at the Great Yorkshire Show. Having started riding Stevie in 2021, Rebecca has taken this much-loved horse from British Novice to National Champion and credits Stevie as an incredible teammate.
5* Team Horse Debutant – Imperial HBF, ridden by Tim Gredley, owned by Unex Competition Yard, Rachel Gredley and William Gredley.
This award recognises those horses that have made their debut on a British CSIO5* Senior team this year. This year’s winner was the British-bred 11-year-old Impreial HBF (GLASGOW-W VH MERELSNEST X CARINA VDL) who is ridden by Tim Gredley and owned by Unex Competition Yard, Rachel Gredley and William Gredley. Imperial HBF has had a great first season contending 5* Nation Cup competition. First jumping at the 5* Nations Cup of Wellington, USA, the partnership jumped clear in first round of Longines League of Nations, Rotterdam to help the team secure third place as well as jumping as part of 5* Nations Cup Team in Calgary, also finishing third.
Sustainability Award – Charles Owen
For the first time, British Showjumping have introduced a Sustainability Award to recognise the contribution made by our suppliers and sponsors who are transitioning their operations to help creating a more sustainable future.
Judged by White Griffin and awarded on the night by Ruth Dancer, the winner was Charles Owen. Impressed by the way the company have looked into all aspects of their impact on the environment, Charles Owen were chosen as the winners due to their broad range of activities already underway which significantly reduce their negative impact on their environment, including:
- 100% renewable energy, of which 30% generated by onsite solar as part of their Net Zero commitment
- Rainwater harvesting at the factory to provide the water needed in production
- Onsite wildflowers and over 7,000 trees planted to date
- Commitment to both recycled packaging and the use of recycled materials in their helmets as part of next level innovations
Of worthy mention are the other two finalists, Blue Chip Feed and Prestige Italia who both also have a hefty array of measures in place, including relocating their factory 100 miles closer to reduce mileage, removing 85% of plastics from production and conducting carbon footprint assessments of their products.
Senior Team Performance – Olympic Gold Medal winning team of Ben Maher, Harry Charles, Scott Brash and chef d’Équipe Di Lampard
The final award of the evening was the Senior Team Performance of the Year award, an accolade which acknowledges those who have excelled in the senior international field.
This year’s award went to the team of Ben Maher, Scott Brash, Harry Charles and Performance Manager Di Lampard, who took home the team Gold Medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Having brought home a gold medal at the past three Olympic Games, the pressure was on for Great Britain to succeed again. Jumping in front of the iconic Palace of Versailles, Ben, Harry and Scott were the only team not to add any jumping penalties to their scorecard in a tense showdown between nine nations, securing the gold medal once again.
“Well, the plan has come together after four years and it’s absolutely amazing,” she Performance Manager Di Lampard after the medal ceremony. “I’m completely overwhelmed. They were outstanding. The lads were ice cool and deliver on the given day.”
Images: Simon Coates Photography
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