Nick Skelton and Big Star among BS award winners
Nick Skelton, Big Star and a promising young Whitaker were among the winners at this year’s British Showjumping (BS) Awards Ball.
The awards took place earlier this week (4 October) at the St Johns Hotel in Solihull.
More than 400 guests attended the evening that celebrated the country’s top showjumping talent.
Legendary rider Nick Skelton was a worthy winner of the British Showjumping award.
His Olympic gold medal-winning partner,
Big Star, and the stallion’s owners, Gary and Beverley Widdowson, received the Horse and Owner of the Year award.
Jack Whitaker (pictured above with Michael and William in 2015), the 14-year-old son of Michael, took home the Leading Pony Rider of the Year award and Peter Charles’ children, Sienna and Harry, also received awards.
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The siblings took home the Leading Children on Horses of the Year and the Leading Junior Rider of the Year titles respectively.
Oxfordshire-based Tim Wilks was named as the Leading Young Rider of the year and Helen Tredwell was the International Stairway League winner.
Grooms, coaches and breeders were also celebrated at the awards.
Related articles:
- Nick Skelton in epic battle for Nations Cup crown
- 10 reasons Big Star captured our hearts in Rio
- The placid stallion who yawns when it’s time to work: behind the scenes after Big Star’s homecoming
Mark Beever (pictured above) , groom to Nick Skelton, won the Top Level Team Grooms award, Corinne Bracken received UKCC Coach of the Year and John Roberts, received the British Breeders award for Spirit T.
“The evening saw in excess of 400 guests celebrate with the extremely worthy nominees and winners from grassroots competitors through to those that achieved podium success,” said a BS spokesman.
“BS would like to thank its sponsors, supporters, nominees and guests who made the evening possible and also the team who worked on the event to make it such a memorable one.”
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.