Equestrian professionals to judge BETA International Innovation Awards

Jan 19 2009

BETA International has assembled a panel of equestrian professionals to judge the 2009 Innovation Awards, sponsored by Equestrian Trade News (ETN).

The awards, designed to reward inventiveness combined with products’ potential profitability for the trade, will be judged in six categories: Saddlery & Tack, Rider Clothing, Feed & Supplements, Horsecare Products & Equipment, Safety & Security and Other.

The judging panel for the BETA International 2009 Innovation awards comprises Yogi Breisner - World Class Performance Manager and chef d’equipe to the British eventing team, independent nutritionist Dr Catherine Dunnett, Kate Rees -an equine physiotherapist, farrier David Gill, Mike Norton – a master saddler and past president of the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS), and international dressage rider and trainer Pammy Hutton.

Judging will take place throughout Sunday, 15 February, the first day of BETA International, with the presentations happening the following day at the PONY and Horse&Rider Fashion Show stage.

All entries for the BETA International Innovation Awards must be new onto the market within the last 12 months. Visitors can view entered products by looking out for special cards on relevant stands as they tour the exhibition.

Award winners, and companies whose products the judges deem deserving of highly commended awards, will receive exclusive trophies, framed certificates and champagne, plus the right to use specially designed award winners’ logos in their advertising and promotional materials.

Innovation Awards have been an integral part of BETA International for many years, with several past winners going on to become household names in saddlery shops and tackrooms around the world.

Entry, which is open to all exhibiting companies, has now closed for 2009.

BETA International 2009 takes place on 15-17 February at the NEC, Birmingham, UK. Organiser Equestrian Management Consultants (EMC) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BETA Group.

Contact James Palmer at BETA International on +44 (0) 1937 582111 or visit www.beta-int.com for a full list of exhibitors and detailed visitor information including online pre-registration for free admission.