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Equestrian NSW Annual Awards for Excellence 2009

Minister for Sport and Recreation, The Hon. Kevin Greene
Photograph:Alicia Birch

Wendy Cohen, Monday, 8 February 2010

2009 Equestrian NSW Annual Awards for Excellence - A Great Success

The Equestrian NSW 2009 Annual Awards for Excellence were held on Friday 5th February at the Waterview Covention Centre, Homebush Bay. The awards were attended by more than 220 people including winners and finalists from all disciplines and we were able to welcome special guests including The Hon. Kevin Greene,MP - the NSW Minister for Sport, Neale Lavis OAM, Wayne Roycroft - EA Eventing Head Coach, Ann-Marie Gordon of Gow-Gates, sponsors, members of the Equestrian NSW Board, members of the Equestrian Australia Board, Olympians and members of our various discipline committees. The evening was hosted by Equestrian NSW CEO, Wendy Cohen and included a welcome address by Dr Derek Major, Equestrian NSW Chairman and a wonderful, and inspirational speech from Minister Greene who highlighted the excitement Equestrian NSW was feeling leading up to WEG in the US later this year where he expected our members would feature.

Awards were given in all disciplines with the evening culminating in the prestigious Gow-Gates Services to the Sport awards and the Equestrian NSW Volunteer of the Year Award which was won, in an extremely popular fashion, by Judy Sweeney. The Equestrian NSW Coach of the Year was George Sanna who acknowledged his commitment to coaching student of all levels, to the high profile successes such as Edwina Alexander to those just starting out on their equestrian sport career. The final word, before the dancing began, surely went to Roger Fitzhardinge, winner of the Gow Gates Services to Dressage award, when he reminded the entire room that the most important thing to remember that night, and always, was the horse - the very reason we were all there that evening.

Thanks must go to the Equestrian NSW staff for coordinating the evening, in particular Elysha Sargent and Susie Burns, and to Alicia Birch for her wonderful photographs. Also thanks to Derek Major and all the Equestrian NSW Board members for their support for the evening and all the staff as we re-organised our work schedules to ensure the evening was one to enjoy. See you next year for an even bigger and better show.

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	Full list of winners

Minister for Sport and Recreation, The Hon. Kevin Greene	Doug Denby and Junior Vaulter of the Year, Lani Maher	Senior Vaulter of the Year, Tristyn Lowe	Joanne Prestwidge with Saddle Horse Junior Rider of the Year, Billie McEvoy
Saddle Horse Senior Rider of the Year, Amanda Reid	Saddle Horse Adult Rider of the Year, Mark Kenzig	Owners of co-Saddle Horse Horse of the Year, Supernatural, Sarah Connell and Harriet Wadsworth	Owner of the co-Saddle Horse Horse of the Year, Nottingham Fine Print, Pam Bush with Joanne Prestwidge
Chair of the NCDC, Judy Meredith, presents Shane Keir with the award for Carriage Driver of the Year	Junior Jumping Rider of the Year, Monique Barrett	Jumping Young Rider of the Year, Emily Blinkworth	Amateur Jumping Rider of the Year, Todd Hinde
Jumping Horse of the Year Vivant's owner, Chris Chugg	Best Agricultural Show of the Year for Jumping Events, Camden Show, accepted by Alice Cameron	Jumping Equitation Child Rider, Brandon Beneke	Jumping Equitation Junior Rider, Sarah Louise McMillan
Jumping Equitation Young Rider, Danielle Butcher	Dressage Young Rider of the Year, Robbie Soster	Dressage Young Rider Encouragement Award, Jessica Willard	Dressage Rider of the Year, Brett Parbery with DNSW President, Prue Spurrett
Carolyn Lieutenant, owner of Victory Salute, Dressage Horse of the Year	Megan Bryant, Eventing Junior Horse and Rider winner	Eventing Junior Pre Novice award winner, Isabelle McIntyre-Bowditch with Neale Lavis and EvNSW President, Shane Rose	Eventing Rider of the Year, Shane Rose
Sarah Ingham, Owner of the Eventing Horse of the Year, Watermark Grayson with rider Stuart Tinney	Equestrian NSW Coach of the Year, George Sanna	Gow Gates Services to Saddle Horse winner, Samantha Watson with Ann-Marie Gordon of Gow Gates Insurance Brokers	Gow Gates Services to Vaulting winner, Pip Tonkin
Gow Gates Services to Carriage Driving winner, Judy Meredith	Gow Gates Services to Dressage winner, Roger Fitzhardinge	Gow Gates Services to Jumping recipient, David Willis	Gow Gates Services to Eventing recipient, Neil Kennedy
Finalists in the Equestrian NSW Volunteer of the Year	Equestrian NSW Volunteer of the Year, Judy Sweeney, receives her award from Minister Greene	Awards	Chairman, Dr Derek Major with special guests, Neale and Velma Lavis
Cathy Cupit	Mrs Frances Greene with Wayne Roycroft	Susie Burns of the ENSW office with husband Ian	Minister Greene with Ann-Marie Gordon of Gow Gates
Board member, David Lawrence and Mrs Gail Benson	Partying on!	Debbie Bugden from the ENSW office and partner Gary.	Awards

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