Ingrid Klimke, double gold medallist at the 2019 FEI European Championships for Eventing and all-around cool lady. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The 2019 FEI Awards nominations have been posted, and we are excited to see a deserving eventer in the mix. Ingrid Klimke, whose double gold medals at the European Championships were the cherries on top of an already bang-up year, is up for the honor of Best Athlete.
Two other U.S. representatives made the ballot: The Wheatland Farm Equestrian Center in Virginia, a USEF/USPEA Center of Excellence for Paralympic Dressage, is up for the FEI Solidarity Award, and Para Dressage rider Marie Vonderheyden is nominated for the FEI Against All Odds category.
The winners will be decided through a system in which 50% of the public’s vote and 50% of the judges’ vote will be combined to give the final result. Voting is open today through Oct. 7, so go vote here today!
Twenty-two total nominees have been shortlisted across five awards categories — click here for their bios:
Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete – paying tribute to the athlete who over the past year has demonstrated exceptional skill and taken the sport to a new level.
- Steve Guerdat (SUI), Jumping
- Martin Fuchs (SUI), Jumping
- Ingrid Klimke (GER), Eventing
- Bram Chardon (NED), Driving
- Sanne Voets (NED), Para Dressage
Cavalor FEI Best Groom – for the behind-the-scenes hero who ensures the horses they look after are given the best possible care.
- Tim Varlec (SLO), groom for Irish Para Dressage athlete Tamsin Addison
- Madeleine Broek (NED), groom for Dutch Jumping star Marc Houtzager
- Yann Devanne (FRA), groom for French Olympic Eventing team gold medallist Thibaut Vallette
- Ann-Christin De Boer (GER), groom for Olympic Dressage golden girl Helen Langehanenberg
Longines FEI Rising Star – for the youth athlete aged 14 to 21 who demonstrates outstanding sporting talent and commitment.
- Max Wachman (IRL), 16, Jumping
- Juan Martin Clavijo (COL), 19, Vaulting
- Semmieke Rothenberger (GER), 20, Dressage
- Costanza Laliscia (ITA), 20, Endurance
FEI Against All Odds – for an inspiring individual who has pursued their equestrian ambitions and overcome challenges and obstacles along the way.
- Marie Vonderheyden (USA), Para Dressage
- Eric Lamaze (CAN), Jumping
- Tobias Thorning Jørgensen (DEN), Para Dressage
- Zhenqiang Li (CHN), Jumping
FEI Solidarity – for an FEI Solidarity or equestrian development project, an individual or organization that has used skill, dedication and energy to expand the sport.
- DSA LEAD Programme (RSA)
- Uno Yxklinten (SWE), farriery training programme in Zambia
- The Wheatland Farm Equestrian Center, Virginia (USA)
- The Jack Dodd Foundation (IRL)
- The Urban Equestrian Academy (GBR)
The nine judges are as follows: Ingmar De Vos (BEL), FEI President; Matthieu Baumgartner (SUI), Longines Vice President of Marketing; Marina Sechina (RUS), President Russian Equestrian Federation and member FEI Solidarity Committee; Simone Blum (GER), Jumping athlete and winner of the FEI Best Athlete Award 2018; Peter Bollen (BEL), Founder and chief nutritionist of Cavalor; Martin Atock (IRL), Managing Director of Peden Bloodstock; Robin Parsky (USA), Vice Chairman of the Jumping Owners Club (JOC); Harald Link (THA), President Thailand Equestrian Federation; and Eve Van Den Bol (CAY), President Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (CIEF) and member FEI Solidarity Committee.
The 2019 Awards winners will be celebrated at a star studded ceremony at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow (RUS) on Nov. 19.
Learn more at the website here.
[Sporting rivalries feature between FEI Awards 2019 nominees as public voting begins]
