Nick Skelton and Hannah Francis shortlisted for FEI awards
Nick Skelton, Sophie Christiansen and Hannah Francis are among the equestrian stars shortlisted for prizes at this year’s FEI awards.
The winners will be revealed tomorrow (22 November) at the Prince Park Tower Hotel in Tokyo, Japan.
Launched in 2009, the awards celebrate those making an outstanding contribution to equestrian sport.
Hannah has been nominated in the against all odds category.
The inspirational event rider died on 1 August, 15 months after being diagnosed with bone cancer.
Hannah launched the Willberry Wonder Pony charity, which funds bone cancer research and grants horsey wishes to those with serious illnesses.
Brazilian para dressage rider Rodolpho Roskalla, Chilean showjumper Manuel Franke Bertolotto and Austrian para dressage rider Pepo Punch are also shortlisted for the against all odds category.
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“We’ve had a huge response to the awards this year showing how much equestrian has captured the imagination of fans across the globe,” said FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez.
“Heroes, heroines, inspirational figures who never give up and make us think ‘wow’ are what the awards are here to celebrate.”
Olympic hero Nick Skelton has been nominated for the best athlete award.
Fellow Brit and para dressage rider Sophie Christiansen has also been shortlisted in this category, as have German dressage rider Isabell Werth and French eventer Astier Nicolas.
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Nick’s groom Mark Beever, and Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin’s groom Alan Davies, are among those in the running for the best groom award.
“We are a global sport but we are also way of life and a community with a very strong set of values”, FEI president Ingmar De Vos added.
“The FEI awards honour everyone who make our sport happen and this has been shown time and time again in the thousands of nominations we have received since the FEI awards were launched in 2009.”
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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.