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Find out who was in the money at the SEIB Insurance Brokers Awards
The fourth annual SEIB Insurance Brokers Awards took place at Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire on 8 September 2021. The aim of the day was to celebrate the skills, hard work and talents found in leading equestrian establishments with the SEIB Livery Yard, Riding School and Riding for the Disabled (RDA) Centre of the Year awards, while granting funds to some of the worthiest causes in the SEIB Charity Awards – with a few additional surprises and awards thrown in for good measure, too.
The SEIB Livery Yard, Riding School and RDA Centre of the Year Awards
Over 1,100 client nominations were made for yards, riding schools and RDA centres throughout the country for the award. Those nominated underwent a rigorous judging panel including a video submission before a shortlist was drawn up.
The SEIB RDA Centre of the Year went to Barrow Farm RDA in Essex, for which a delighted Anne Mitchell and Karen Lehner went up on stage to collect their trophy. Peggy Douglas and her daughter Sophie from Erme Valley RDA in Devon took the highly commended prize.
Contessa Riding and Training Centre headed the Small Riding School of the Year awards with Tina Layton and Betty Vegere collecting the award. Highly commended in this section went to owner, Gerry Dunne and manager Cam Christie of Grovely Riding Centre near Salisbury.
The Large Riding School of the Year Award saw Abergavenny-based Triley Fields Equestrian Centre take the win for Beccy Field. Lorraine Webster and April Eley of Kingsmead Equestrian Centre and Pippa Hutton and from the Talland School of Equitation both went home with highly commended prizes.
The SEIB DIY Livery Yard of the Year went to Berries Farm Liveries, for which Jen Brooker and Richard Pointer headed up on stage to collect their award. Highly commended in the DIY section went to Andrew and Abigail Turnbull from Richmond Equestrian centre in North Yorkshire.
Finally, the Full Livery Yard of the Year award went to Jason and Helen Newbold of Folly Fields Farm, while Ruth and Richard Botham of Bogs Hall Stables Livery and Training collected the highly commended plaque.
The SEIB Charity Awards
The public nominated their favourite charities in the first stage of the decision-making process for the 2021 SEIB Charity Awards before SEIB clients were given the opportunity to have the final vote for the top 10 placings.
A cheque for £10,000 and a commemorative plaque was awarded to winning charity, The Horse Trust and nine other charities reached the final voting stage of the SEIB Charity Awards and a share of the remaining £33,000 prize pot from SEIB, including £8,000 Epsom Riding for the Disabled who was voted top small charity, and the Children’s Heart Unit Fund received £6,000.
The other finalist charities are were: Missing People, Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital, Me&dee Charity, SiMBA, Proteus Reptile Trust, World Horse Welfare and Bransby Horses Rescue and Welfare.
The SEIB and Horseworld Trust Inspirational Award
Late in 2020, an idea was conceived to celebrate horses and the important role they can play in helping mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. Fast forward 10 months and The Great Horses for Health Relay ride is proving an unprecedented success. Throughout Great Britain, since 2 May this year, riders and their horses have taken part in this relay ride – and are still doing so – to help raise funds for seven equine charities.
The SEIB and Horseworld Trust Inspirational award was presented to ride founder and organiser, Sophie Gifford. Sophie has worked tirelessly, with the Horseworld Trust to launch and successfully run The Great Horses for Health Relay that started on 2 May in Yorkshire and will conclude in the South West in October.
Sophie Gifford said: “I’m so grateful and proud to have been awarded the The SEIB and Horseworld Trust Inspirational Award on behalf of Horse for Health. So many people have worked very hard to pull together events across the UK, so this award is a testimony to their enthusiasm and commitment.”
Full results
The SEIB Livery Yard, Riding School and Riding for the Disabled Centre of the Year Awards
SEIB RDA Centre of the Year – Winner – Barrow Farm Riding and Carriage Driving for the Disabled – Anne Mitchell and Karen Lehner
SEIB RDA Centre of the Year – Highly Commended – Erme Valley Riding for the Disabled Group – Peggy and Sophie Douglas
SEIB Small Riding School of the Year – Winner – Contessa Riding and Training Centre – Tina Layton and Betty Vegere
SEIB Small Riding School of the Year – Highly Commended – Grovely Riding Centre – Gerry Dunne owner, Cam Christie Yard Manager
SEIB Large Riding School of the Year – Winner – Triley Fields Equestrian Centre – Beccy Field
SEIB Large Riding School of the Year – Highly Commended – Kingsmead Equestrian Centre – Lorraine webster and April Eley, yard manager
SEIB Large Riding School of the Year – Highly Commended – Talland School of Equitation – Brian and Pippa Hutton
SEIB DIY Livery Yard of the Year – Winner – Berries Farm Liveries – Richard Pointer and Jen Brooker
SEIB DIY Livery Yard of the Year – Highly Commended – Richmond Equestrian Centre – Andrew and Abigail Turnbull
SEIB Full Livery Yard of the Year – Winner – Folly Fields Farm Livery – Jason and Helen Newbold
SEIB Full Livery Yard of the Year – Highly Commended – Bogs Hall Stables Livery and Training – Ruth and Richard Botham
SEIB Giving Awards 2021
1st The Horse Trust – £10,000
2nd (and highest placed small charity) – Epsom RDA – £8,000
3rd Childrens Heart Unit Fund – £6,000
4th Missing People – £4,000
5th Brent Lodge – £3,500
6th Me&Dee Charity – £3,000
7th SiMBA Charity – £2,500
8th Proteus Reptile Trust – £2,000
9th World Horse Welfare – £2,000
10th Bransby Horses Rescue and Welfare – £2,000
SEIB and Horseworld Trust Inspirational Award
Winner – Sophie Gifford, Horses for Health founder