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3 minute read
March Spotlight Award winner is announced as Gracie Harrison
We’re delighted to announce that Gracie Harrison has been chosen as March’s Spotlight Award winner. As part of her award, Gracie wins a uvex exxential 3 riding helmet, courtesy of Zebra Products.
Presented jointly by The Howden Way and British Eventing, the Spotlight Award is a monthly recognition that celebrates individuals who embody the shared values of both organisations. Each month, British Eventing lead coaches are invited to nominate a recipient from their region who has been recognised for their contributions to the eventing community. The winner is then selected by Olympic Gold Medallist, Laura Collett, from a shortlist of contenders.
Coach Phil Brown nominated Gracie for the March Spotlight Award on behalf of the East Midlands region. He said: “Gracie is a committed member of the East Midlands Youth Programme and really engages with our training offer. She always comes to training with a really positive outlook, puts her pony first and is a team player with other members of the programme.
“Last year she was part of our team at the BE90U18 championships at Chillington and jumped a double clear. She has since made a successful step up to BE100 and hopes to compete in some PT100s this season as well as BE100U18 classes.”
Laura Collett, who has the pleasure of selecting the winning candidate, said: “I'm thrilled to congratulate Gracie on winning the March Spotlight award. She is clearly a committed and enthusiastic member of the Youth Programme, with a great attitude towards training and putting her pony first. Gracie has taken her BE training on board and made huge strides in her progress, successfully moving up the levels. Her dedication and hard work deserve this recognition."
Gracie commented: “My pony Gigi (Killaughey Gigolo) is a 14.2hh Connemara and is absolutely amazing! He's turning nine in May and we've been a partnership for over three years. We've only been members of BE a couple of seasons but love eventing and having the chance to compete at some fantastic venues with the support of East Midlands U18's. We had a great year in 2024 competing at 90 for East Midlands U18's and successfully qualified for Regional Champs. This season we have stepped up to 100U18 and have already enjoyed a successful couple of runs at Oasby and Northallerton. Next up is Speetley and I’m also looking forward to the PT100 at Oasby.
“I really enjoy regional training. I feel really lucky to have the expert coaching of Phil Brown and Lisa Morris who always make training challenging but enjoyable and I always feel supported to achieve more and develop during these sessions. YRC Liz Murfitt has also been really supportive and helped keep me updated with training and development opportunities.
“I love eventing and feel really happy every time I get the chance to train or compete for East Midlands U18 on Gigi. To have won an award for doing something I love makes it even more special and I'm really excited to try out my new hat!”
The Howden Way and British Eventing are committed to fostering a culture of excellence, growth, and camaraderie, and the Spotlight Award is a testament to this shared commitment. Each month, a Grassroots (80-100) BE member is nominated by one of British Eventing's lead regional coaches based on their commitment to the following core values and attributes:
- Prioritising horse welfare and athlete wellness
- Embracing and supporting a collaborative, inclusive environment in training and or competition
- Emphasising personal growth and skill development
- Exhibiting sportsmanship and serving as a positive role model
For more information on the Spotlight Award, visit here
For those wishing to join British Eventing, there is a 40% discount for new Pony Club and Riding Club members. For information on how to join, visit here