Reporter who exposed Middle East endurance scandal receives award

Equestrian journalist Pippa Cuckson’s efforts at exposing the scandal surrounding Middle East endurance have been recognised with a prestigious award.

Pippa, who is a regular contributor to H&H and former deputy editor of the magazine, has been award the 2013 Bureau Award by the International Alliance of Equestrian Journalists (IAEJ).

The award was established in 2012 to honour outstanding contributions to the industry. Its inaugural recipient was US showjumping chef d’equipe George H. Morris.

IAEJ Bureau members praised Pippa’s “intrepid reporting” exposing doping in Sheikh Mohammed’s endurance operation. She has reported on the issue for H&H, the Daily Telegraph and other publications, including Horse Sport International and Chronicle of the Horse.

“I am just doing what any news reporter ought to be doing, because this issue provides a snapshot of the two issues that will ultimately destroy equestrian sport,” said Pippa.

“Our responsibilities to horses when we use them as a piece of sporting machinery and how the moral compass of stakeholders seizes up when they get a sniff of big money.”

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