Finalists announced for 2008 Kuster BEF Groom Award

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) has announced the finalists for the 2008 Kuster BEF Groom Award.

Riders from all disciplines, riding schools and welfare organisations throughout the country rely on the support of others to reach the top, but for the nine finalists, it is their turn to be recognised for their hard work, dedication and enthusiasm, as they reach the finals of the prestigious Kuster BEF Groom Awards 2008.

The finalists are:

Dayley Fisher - a show jumping groom who works for Ben Maher.
Joanne Fulham  - a welfare groom who works for World Horse Welfare
Jo Hill    - a dressage groom who works for Henry Boswell   
Caroline Churchley - a hunting groom who works for  The Hon Mrs Mark Vesty
Laura Hale  - a riding school groom who works at Hole Farm Trekking Centre   
Alice Walthen  - a point to point and hunting groom who works for Celia Plunkett



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Faye Corte    - a show jumping groom who works for John Whitaker   
Naomi Binns  - nominated by Linda Whetherly   
Darnelle Hubbard - from Gloucestershire


The finalists and their guests will be invited to attend the final judging day on 8 December, including a champagne lunch, where they will be interviewed by three judges, double-Olympic medallist Tina Cook, Paralympic medallist Simon Laurens and the Chairman of the British Horse Society, Patrick Print.

Lucy Katan, Kuster BEF Groom Award Coordinator, said: ‘This year has seen some exceptionally strong nominations and to narrow it down to a small number of finalists for each award has been very difficult.  Both awards are a great way to recognise and reward the grooms for their hard work.  All of the grooms nominated this year deserve to be in the final and we really hope that nominators will re-enter their grooms for the awards in 2009.’

The winners will be presented with their prize at Olympia, the London International Horse Show during the evening performance on 18 December.

The award, once again sponsored by Frank Kuster, has gone from strength to strength over the last six years, attracting a wide range of grooms from all spheres of the equestrian industry, including top flight competition, riding schools and welfare yards.

For more information, please visit www.bef.co.uk.

Published: 04 Dec 2008