British equestrians shortlisted for FEI awards

Four British equestrians have been nominated for the 2014 FEI awards — vaulter Joanne Eccles and grooms Alan Davies, Jackie Potts and Jessica Benbow.

Joanne, who won individual gold and pas de deux bronze at the FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games (WEG) this summer, has been nominated for the Reem Acra best athlete.

The 25-year-old will face stiff competition from showjumping world champion Jeroen Dubbeldam, driving world champion Boyd Exell, and German showjumper Daniel Deusser, who won the World Cup Final in Lyon in April.

All three nominations for the best groom of the year award are British. Jackie Potts, who has been with William Fox-Pitt for 21 years, won the award in 2006 and has been nominated again.

She is joined in the category by Alan Davies, who is the groom for Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin, and Jessica Benbow from Somerford Park Farm.

In total 18 candidates have been nominated across five categories — Longines rising star, Reem Acra best athlete, best groom, against all odds and FEI solidarity.

All the nominees have been invited to attend the awards ceremony which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan on 14 December as part of the FEI’s general assembly.

The full list of nominees:

Longines rising star — dedicated to equestrians aged 14 to 21 who demonstrate outstanding sporting talent:

Irma Karlsson (SWE)

Lambert Leclezio (MRI)

David Ziegler (CAN)

Reem Acra best athlete — athletes who have demonstrated exceptional equestrian skills and have taken the sport to a new level over the past 12 months:

Boyd Exell (AUS)

Daniel Deusser (GER)

Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED)

Joanne Eccles (GBR)

Best groom — this award is reserved for those all-important, behind-the-scenes team members who work around the clock to ensure that horses get the best possible care and attention:

Alan Davies (GBR)

Jackie Potts (GBR)

Jessica Benbow (GBR)

Against all odds — people who have pursued their equestrian ambitions despite physical handicap or extremely difficult personal circumstances:

Roxanne Trunnell (USA)

Sofie Lexner (SWE)

Sudipti Hajela (IND)

Sydney Collier (USA)

FEI solidarity — an equestrian development project, or an individual or organisation that has demonstrated skill and energy in expanding equestrian sport:

Andrjey Malcievsky (RUS)

Equal Ark (SIN)

Southern Hills Eventing Inc (AUS)

Yuriy Chertkov (UKR)

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