Brian Fitton, the President of Equestrian Queensland said “The Awards Night was a huge success with representatives from all our sports mingling and celebrating together as one Equestrian Sport industry.”

SaddlerySales.com Sport Star of the Year was Peter McMahon. Peter McMahon took out the coveted Olympic Cup at the prestigious New Zealand Horse of the Year, where 25 of the best combinations from both sides of the Tasman did their best in front of thousands to conquer the Leopoldo Palacious course, where the prize money was $150,000. In addition to this fantastic win, Peter was the only Queenslander in the 2009 Elite Jumping Squad and Peter came 1st at the Grand Prix event at the Stanthorpe Show in January 2009.

SaddlerySales.com Junior Sport Star of the Year was Alexandra Toft.  At just 14 years, Alexandra Toft is currently ranked no 8 on the FEI World Rankings and this is before her latest achievements have been added. Alexandra attended the 2009 World Youth and Junior Endurance Championships in Hungry, where she was the first Australian Rider to finish and the youngest competitor to finish the course. She and her horse Bremervale Justice placed 17th. Alexandra competed in four FEI ** events in 2009,

·       In March at Fernvale she came 5th,

·       In Eldorado in Victoria she came 2nd,

·       At Rosedale Victoria she came 3rd

·       At Fernvale again she came 1st.

Aitken’s Saddlery Event of the Year was the 2008 Horseland EFA Interschool Australian Championships. The Event was the Inaugural National Championships for Interschool Equestrian competition and had 279 riders and over 300 Horses participating in over 5 separate Disciplines. There were representatives from all states and territory’s of Australia in attendance and competing in Toowoomba, with all competitors qualifying at their relevant State Championships to be eligible to compete at the Nationals. This meant that the event met its charter and objectives of bringing together the best interschool riders from around the country to compete at a competition of high level of equestrian sport. This was the first ever multi discipline event of its kind run by one committee at one location. There were 100 + Technical Designers, Course Designers, Officials, Judges and volunteers helped make this event a success.

The King Track Group Administrator of the Year was won by Deb Postle. Deb Postle is the Event Secretary for Fig Tree Pocket Equestrian Club which hold 3 ODE’s a year, catering to approximately 160 competitors as well has 2 Dressage Days which they added to their Calendar for the first time in 2009. Deb is the Treasurer and within this role, was responsible for the application preparation for the significant capital improvements in their facility and has been instrumental in fostering an ongoing relationship with Brookfield Equestrian Group. In addition, Deb has actively pursued enhancing the club’s relationship with the Brisbane City Council.

Equestrian Qld Club of the Year was won by Fig Tree Pocket Equestrian Club. In 2009, Fig Tree Pocket Equestrian Club conducted the final construction for an Amenities block,  Canteen renovations, a large undercover area, two covered yards in the hospital paddock, 18 new additional timber horse holding yards. Fig Tree Pocket Equestrian Club runs 3 ODE’s a year catering to approximately 160 to 180 competitors each time, plus 2 Dressage Days and there is a strong level of commitment by the current committee and of the members of Fig Tree Pocket Equestrian Club to operate as a team with tasks completed as required and with a minimum of fuss. 

Barastoc Coach of the Year was won by David Finch. David Finch is an EFA NCAS Level 2 Showumping Coach and EFA Coach Educator. David is the Scots PCG College Showjumping coach and the Scots PGC team won the QISEA State Showjumping Team. David consistently travels all over Australia coaching riders at all levels. He does regular clinics in Darwin, Maryborough, Mackay, Rockhampton as well as South East Qld, no other coach does the miles David does to ensure people in regional areas have access to good coaching. David teaches his riders to understand their horse so that they can get the best from the horses at all times.

Black Truck Sales Officiator of the Year was won by Graeme Watts. Graeme Watts is known and highly regarded for his honesty and fairness to every competitor at every level and type of competition. Graeme’s abilities as a Course Designer are extensive; enabling him to adapt his courses suitably for each and every competition, ensuring the highest degree of rider, horse, sponsor and spectator satisfaction is met. Graeme officiatored at:

·       Sydney Jump Club as Course Designer

·       Qld Jumping Championships as Course Designer

·       Toowoomba Royal Show as Course Designer

·       Sydney Royal Show as Judge

·       Melbourne Royal Show as Course Designer

·       Grand Prix Championships in Malaysia.

Penkar Pty Ltd Service to Junior Sport was won by Diana Winwood posthumous. Diana Winwood was involved in the horse world for all her life. She has moved from Dressage events into Vaulting in the last 4 years and has achieved a high standard of horses and vaulters. Diana has taken on the love and devotion to teach a disabled student, and has achieved and developed physically beyond words what was ever thought possible. Her club, the Kingfisher Vaulters have achieved fabulous results since 2005 through to 2009 in local, State and National and World competitions, due to the dedication, training and passion provided by Diana.

Unfortunately Diana passed away this year, so this award was received posthumous and was collected by her husband Michael Winwood.

The Brisbane City Council Service to Sport Award went to Lesley Sullivan. Lesley Sullivan has played an integral role within the horse world for many years now, both in the capacity of a volunteer and as a paid professional. Lesley is an A Level Dressage Judge, a Retired National Show Horse Judge, and EFA /NCAS Level 1 Coach until 1991 and an FEI Candidate Steward since 2008. During the years, she has been involved in many Committees and positions, including:

·       Committee / Chair of NT RAS 1971—1989

·       President and Publicity Officer—Darwin Dressage Club

·       President of NT Show Horse Association 1998-2001

·       Chair of Dressage Australia Committee 2007—2009

The Print and Graphic Solutions Volunteer of the Year Awards went to Carole Lok. Carole Lok is the mentor to the Young Rider Committee, helping them to run a successful Young Rider Championships, giving generously of her time to collate the draw and lead the scoring team at the Championships. Carole gives hundreds of hours of voluntary work to ensure the financial success of the Qld Festival of Dressage, and is irreplaceable and integral part of the organising committee. Carole if the High Performance Co-ordinator of the Dressage Committee and keeps all Committee members, State Selectors and the riders well informed of everything that is occurring. Carole was one of the Co-ordinators of the State Squad Training Camp. Carole helps in the scoring rooms at the LEGS 2*, the NAGS 2* Championships, the Qld State Freestyle Championships and nearly all PRARG Dressage events.

The Equestrian Queensland Sponsor of the Year is Sandale Saddlery. One of the very generous major Sponsors of Eventing Queensland, focusing on the Pre-Novice, Preliminary and Introductory riders with a Leaderboard competition. Sponsor of the Sunshine Coast Dressage Championships, major sponsor of the Sunshine Coast Showjumping Club, Sponsor of the showjumping at the Maleny Show, Caboolture Show and the Sunshine Coast Show, as well as point score leaderboard for the 3 shows and a Major Sponsor of many Pony clubs and competitions including the Annual Jumping Extravaganza.

In addition to the main awards, each Sport Committee gave out their main award: