The Haddon Training British Grooms Award Winners

At the recent British Breeders Awards Dinner, Chris Hewlett, Managing Director of Haddon Training presented the winning candidates in the five categories of the Haddon Training British Grooms Awards with their awards, commenting, “Haddon Training is delighted to sponsor the British Grooms Awards for the third consecutive year. Haddon Training work with over 800 U.K wide employers and support 100’s of young people and adults to launch a successful career within the Equine industry, develop high quality skills and achieve nationally recognised qualifications. We help our employers to access over two million pounds worth of Government funded training each year. Haddon Training support many Grooms, often the unsung and forgotten heroes and backbone of our industry. We are therefore honoured to recognise the outstanding contribution and achievements of a few this evening”.

The winner of the Haddon Training British Groom’s Award, Amy Baynton was nominated by Claire Dickie, her employer at World Horse Welfare Glenda Spooner Farm, who emphasised how Amy is genuinely committed to improving the lives of countless horse and ponies that are unfortunate enough to need care and goes above and beyond the call of duty almost every day, with an incredible attention to detail. 

“When I first found out I had won this award I was overwhelmed and a little nervous. It was a great night and it’s so good that grooms and yard managers got recognition of all their hard work. I absolutely love my job and what the charity does and I really appreciate Claire my manager for nominating me” said Amy.

The runner-up in this category was Josh Steer, who was nominated by Tullis Matson, his employer at Stallion AI Services, highlighting how Josh leads by example and always give 100% effort in all tasks asked of him, he is passionate about horses and has dedicated his life to his work.

The winner of the Haddon Training Team GBR Grooms Award, Rachel Tolley, received the loudest cheers of the evening. Nominated by Liz Brown, the GB eventing team vet, Rachel has worked for Tina Cook for 20 years and in that time has groomed for Tina at two Olympic Games, four World Equestrian Games and eight European Championships. Rachel’s care and preparation over the previous 4 seasons of Billy the Red, Tina’s ride at the European Eventing Championships at Strzegom in 2017 was vital to the GB gold medal winning team’s success.

The Haddon Training Team GBR Pony, Junior and YR Grooms Award was presented to David Burton, a freelance groom, who groomed for Bobby Upton at the GB Junior European Eventing Team in Millstreet, Ireland, 2017, where she won the Junior European Eventing Individual Gold and a Team Silver Medal.

The Haddon Training Yard Manager Award was presented to Caron Roberts, yard manager at Caron Roberts Equestrian. Nominated by Tam Thornton, a Colleague and Employee saying how Caron is completely devoted to the industry that she has been in for over 20 years, managing her own competition path and yard, where she provides a ‘real’ learning environment for young learners to start their journey within the industry.

The Haddon Training Equine Apprentice Award was presented to Katie Jane Scott, who was nominated by her employer, Tori Desborough saying how Katie had started with the yard as a 14 year old Saturday worker and during this time showed a keen interest in becoming an apprentice and on leaving school came to the yard full-time to complete her Level 2 and has since go onto her Level 3.

Besides generous cash prizes, the winners received engraved trophies, branded gilets and a year’s membership to the British Grooms Association.

Highly Commended Certificates were awarded to the following:-

Lucy Seddon – British Grooms Award
Claire Hinton – Team GBR Grooms Award
Kiah Leigh Thomson – Team GBR Pony, Junior & YR Grooms Awards
Michelle Williamson – Yard Manager Award
Aleksandra Lachowicz – Equine Apprentice Award
Polly Parker – Equine Apprentice Award
Emma Wilkinson – Equine Apprentice Award
Lauren Jackson – Equine Apprentice Award

Image by kind permission of Craig Payne.

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