Big Star’s owner collects international award
Top showjumper Big Star’s owner Beverley Widdowson has been named FEI owner of the year for the second year running.
“I am over the moon,” said Beverley, who collected the trophy at the Global Champions Tour of Chantilly on Friday (19 July)
Partnered by Nick Skelton, 10-year-old Big Star has had an extremely successful year — including team gold at the Olympics and grand prix wins at Aachen and Rome.
“Nick and Big Star have had some amazing wins so far this year,” added Beverley. “They’re both extremely focussed and doing their utmost — long may it continue.”
Beverley also picked up the award last year, for her 12-year-old grey gelding Carlo 273. The horse, also ridden by Nick Skelton, won double bronze at the FEI European Championships in 2011.
“To win this award for the second year running is an incredible feeling, and is testament to all the hard work of everyone on the team involved in the success of Big Star,” she said.
The FEI Owner of the Year Award was created in 2004 to recognise the most successful jumping owner on an annual basis and is based on points from the Longines world rankings.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.