Clare Whitaker scoops top award

THE manager of the teams that together notched up seven European Championship medals this summer has won the 2017 British Showjumping (BS) Award.

Clare Whitaker was presented with the honour at the BS awards ball (3 October) after 40 years of dedication to the sport.

“The British Showjumping Award acknowledges excellence, commitment and contribution and we were delighted to award it to Clare,” BS chief executive

Iain Graham told H&H. “Clare has played an instrumental role in top level development of the sport in this country and her focus on giving youth riders a solid platform has seen our young riders dominate for decades.

“This year, the youth teams brought home seven medals from their respective European Championships, which only serves to highlight the incredible success of the framework she has implemented.

“Clare is held in extremely high regard by the association and we hope this goes some small way towards expressing our gratitude for everything she does for us.”

William Whitaker and Utamaro d’Ecaussines, and

Scott Brash and Hello Forever, won the international horse and rider senior team and five-star awards respectively, and Annabel Shields the national champion title. Ellie Hall McAteer, Oliver Fletcher, Harry Charles and Amy Inglis took the four youth rider awards, and Helen Tredwell the international stairway title.

Robyn Clohessy won groom of the year, Mia Palles-Clark UKCC coach, and MTF Madame X CSIO horse debutant of the year. Jayne Bean won the British breeder title for JB’s Hot Stuff.