FEI Awards 2010 Nominations Now Open – Will Another Aussie Win?
The FEI launched the “Oscars of the equestrian world” in 2009 to recognise and reward outstanding dedication to horse sport in five categories. The five categories are;
Best Groom Award, Rising Star Award, Best Athlete Award, Against All Odds Award and Development Award
An international judging panel, chaired by HRH Princess Haya, will select the winners, who will be flown to Chinese Taipei to attend the awards ceremony at a VIP gala dinner, which takes place during the FEI General Assembly in November.
The inaugural FEI Best Groom Award was won by Australian groom, Michelle Robson who is well-known in eventing circles as the head girl for one of the featured riders in An Eventful Life - Shane Rose. Michelle has worked for Shane and Niki Chapman for over 6 years and is an integral part of their equestrian business. She started to work for them shortly after they began operations at their racing/performance horse centre, Bimbadeen Park in Werombi, NSW as a graduate of the Horse Management Course at Marcus Oldham College.
As well as being a competition rider herself, successfully producing horses up to two star level, Michelle has been the travelling competition groom for Shane and Niki at some very important events. She has accompanied horses to the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, the prestigious CCI**** at Burghley in the UK, the Olympic Test Event in Hong Kong and, of course, the actual Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. Niki and Shane nominated Michelle for the award last year and were delighted when she won
“Without Michelle in our yard, life would be a lot harder” says Shane “She knows the running of Bimbadeen Park inside out and it was great that she her contribution could be recognised this way”
Michelle plays an important role on the racehorse side of the business too, being very knowledgeable about thoroughbred bloodlines and racing facts and figures. As Niki says, “She knows the story of nearly every horse that comes through our front gates”.
In November last year, Michelle travelled to Copenhagen to receive her award at the FEI Gala Awards night. She was contacted two weeks before the ceremony and asked if she would be able to attend the award presentations as a finalist, courtesy of the FEI. Now most people would have said yes like a shot but Michelle’s first thought was “I can’t! It’s such a busy time between the Adelaide International Three Day Event and Lakes and Craters” – which is probably a reason she deserves the award! However Shane and Niki convinced her that she MUST go and that they would manage without her for a few days.
On arrival in Copenhagen, it didn’t take long for Michelle and the other award finalists to work out that they were the actual winner of their category which made their stay in the five star hotel and wonderful awards dinner even more special. Michelle was presented with a trophy for the Best Groom Award at the Gala dinner which takes place during the FEI General Assembly and is attended by representatives from all of the National Federations. She then enjoyed two extra days to take in the sights of Copenhagen including the Tivoli Gardens and the famous Carlsberg Brewery.
“It was a great trip and I feel very privileged to have won the inaugural Best Groom Award” says Michelle “It was made even more special to know that Niki and Shane had put in a great nomination for me. Even when you love your job and the horses you look after, it is great to feel appreciated for the work that you put in”
If you know of anyone who should be nominated for a category of the FEI Awards, make sure that you get your nomination in before 30th August 2010. Further information is available at http://www.feiawards.org
