Finalists announced for BETA Business Awards

Companies and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the equestrian industry will be recognised in the 2011 BETA Business Awards. The annual ceremony is set to take place at the British Equestrian Trade Association’s Gala Dinner, at the National Motorcycle Museum, near Birmingham, on 20 February.
 
“The awards highlight  BETA’s mission to promote excellence in equestrian commerce,” said BETA executive director Claire Williams. “Congratulations to all who have reached the finals by setting the high standards of professionalism that BETA encourages.”
 
All BETA Business Award finalists have been nominated by their customers or peers within the equestrian trade. The search for the overall winners is now under way – and the process (depending on the award category) includes BETA members’ votes, mystery shoppers and incognito telephone calls. An independent panel will scrutinise the finalists’ submissions.
 
There are 12 award categories, including the Harry Hall Retail Employee of the Year, Joules Equestrian Event of the Year, HAYGAIN Feed Helpline of the Year, UKTI Export Award, SEIB Retailer of the Year and the BETA Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Finalists are:

Harry Hall Retail Employee of the Year
Paula Whitson – Carrs Billington Agriculture, Selkirk
Anna McGurk – Tower Farm Saddlers, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire
Laura Thorpe – Tower Farm Saddlers, Rugby, Warwickshire
Kathryn Martyn – Countrywide Farmers, Taunton, Somerset
Lucy Osborne – Countrywide Farmers, Totton, Southampton
Janet Keeley – Countrywide Farmers, Witney, Oxfordshire
June Cross – The Tack Room, Johns Cross, Robertsbridge, Sussex
Jodie Tennant – Norvite Farm & Country, Aberdeenshire

Joules Equestrian Event of the Year
Badminton Horse Trials
Burghley Horse Trials
Royal International Horse Show
Your Horse Live

TSM Rider Award
Andrew Gould – nominated by Prestige Italia, Baileys Horse Feeds, Equine America, KM Elite
Beverley Brightman – nominated by HorseHage
Henriette Anderson – nominated by British Horse Feeds
Matt Ryan – nominated by Propress Equine/Haygain
Pippa & Millie Allen – nominated by Horsemasters

SEIB Retailer of the Year – Mail Order/Internet Retailer
Derby House
Dressage Deluxe
Ingatestone Saddlery Centre
Robinsons Country Leisure
Supplement Solutions
The Horse Bit Shop

SEIB Retailer of the Year – Large Tack Shop
Derby House – Wrightington store, Lancashire
Ingatestone Saddlery Centre, Ingatestone, Essex
R&R Country, Selby, North Yorkshire
Robinsons Country Leisure – Ashton store, Lancashire
Robinsons Country Leisure – Cannock store, Staffordshire
Robinsons Country Leisure – Basingstoke store, Hampshire
Speedgate Enterprises – Longfield, Kent

SEIB Retailer of the Year – Medium Tack Shop
Houghton Equestrian – Heddon the Wall, Northumberland
R B Equestrian – Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Redpost Equestrian – Totnes, Devon
Tower Farm Saddlers – Rugby, Warwickshire

SEIB Retailer of the Year – Small Tack Shop
Acre House Equestrian – Denbigh, Clywd
Express Equine – Long Stratton, Norwich
Iron Horse Equestrian Supplies – Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Tower Farm Saddlers – Earls Barton, Northamptonshire
Zara Countrywear – Barnard Castle, County Durham

HAYGAIN Feed Helpline of the Year
Allen & Page – Thetford, Norfolk
Dodson & Horrell – Kettering, Northamptonshire
Spillers – Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
TopSpec Equine – Thirsk, North Yorkshire

ETN Sales Representative/Agent of the Year
Dean Mastouras – Matchmakers International, Bradford, West Yorkshire
Dave Wright – Agent for Sherwood Forest, New Basford, Nottingham, and Carrots, Chelmsford, Essex
Lisa Gregory – Charles Owen & Co (Bow), Wrexham
Michael Glover – Dengie Crops, Maldon, Essex
Michael Darley – E Jeffries & Sons, Walsall, West Midlands
Nikki Newcombe – Black Country Saddles, Cannock, Staffordshire

UKTI Export Award
Black Country Saddles – Cannock, Staffordshire
Fly Away – Stourbridge, Worcestershire
Hilton Herbs – Crewkerne, Somerset
Horseweigh –Llandrindod Wells, Powys
Vale Brothers – Walsall, Staffordshire

BETA Trade Supplier of the Year
Ariat Europe – Faringdon, Oxfordshire
Black Country Saddles – Cannock, Staffordshire
Friendship Estates – Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Matchmakers International – Bradford, West Yorkshire
Shires Equestrian Products – Leominster, Herefordshire
Stockcare (Gold Label) – Beverley, East Yorkshire

BETA Trade Website of the Year
Battle, Hayward & Bower – Lincoln
Black Country Saddles – Cannock, Staffordshire
Horseware Ireland – Co Louth, Ireland
Matchmakers International – Bradford, West Yorkshire