BRITISH EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION ANNUAL REPORT JULY 2017 – JULY 2018 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

The BEF is a Federation of 19 Member Bodies united through a common purpose to advance the cause of equestrianism in the UK and globally. Shortly before joining the BEF as an independent Chairman in early April 2018 the findings of the Independent Review were published. The report’s three key recommendations were to (1) identify the role and responsibilities of the BEF; (2) establish a strong leadership within the BEF and, (3) maintain good governance. In the weeks and months that followed the BEF represented by its board and executive team worked closely with the leaders of our Member Bodies, the BEF Council, UK Sport and Sport to address these key areas. Through an open and constructive dialogue we have made significant progress. We now have clarity and agreement in which areas the BEF will lead and where it will support its Member Bodies. We will finalise and issue this as part of the BEF strategy work in the coming weeks.

Through the recruitment of Nick Fellows as our Chief Executive in March 2018 we have strengthened our management team. Nick is an experienced leader with an impressive track record. His contribution in leading and supporting a talented executive team and working closely with our key stakeholders is already making a positive difference.

With the support of UK Sport and Sport England we have implemented important governance reform and adopted the Code of Sports Governance at the BEF with the support of our Member Bodies. Implementation of the governance requirements is largely completed. I thank the BEF Board, BEF Council, and our Member Bodies for embracing the need for good governance as an important step to secure our future success. We thank UK Sport and Sport England for their guidance and support through a period of change and their continued support to us during the implementation phase.

Change is difficult for any organisation and particularly for a federalism such as the BEF. However, through goodwill, trust, and a shared common purpose exceptional outcomes can be reached. I am truly pleased to see the tremendous positive approach of support and cooperation by our Member Bodies to move forward as a strong and united equestrian nation both domestically and on the world stage. We now have a solid foundation on which to build an even more successful world class capability to support our athletes to achieve their best.

I look forward to an exciting and successful year ahead.

Mohamed Elsarky | Chairman CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT

Having joined the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) earlier this year, I have spent time visiting our Member Bodies, meeting coaches, volunteers, athletes, owners and World Class Programme staff, which has given me a great opportunity to understand the equestrian landscape, objectives and the aims of the different organisations, and how the BEF can best provide support across the industry.

Before I joined the Federation, the findings of the previous BEF Board commissioned Independent Review were published. The report acknowledged difficulties faced within the Federation as a whole and outlined three key areas of recommendation for the Federation moving forwards. Great progress has been achieved on these recommendations to date, with the support of our Member Bodies and funders, UK Sport and Sport England, with a Code of Conduct having been accepted and signed by all BEF Member Bodies in May this year.

The BEF has recently seen new faces join the organisation, not just my own as Chief Executive, but the appointment of our Chair, Mohamed Elsarky, and new independent and nominated appointments to our Board.

We are committed to representing the best interests of our Member Bodies and it has been fantastic to work closely with them since I’ve arrived – through the delivery of participation projects to grow and sustain equestrian sport, and through the World Class Programme, particularly with the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) disciplines on our planning and preparation for the World Equestrian Games this year in America – and we hope 2018 will be another exciting year for our athletes and teams.

Nick Fellows | Chief Executive MEMBER BODIES

ASSOCIATE MEMBER BODIES WORLD CLASS PROGRAMME

The UK Sport National Lottery funded equestrian World Class Programme currently supports 34 athletes (across , , showjumping and para- dressage) at Podium level and a further 28 athletes across Podium Potential squads.

In December 2016, it was confirmed that equestrian was one of 31 sports to receive funding, and had been awarded a total investment (WCP + APA) of up to £19,635,180. In particular, the investment endorsed equestrian’s success to date and the continued success of our world-leading para-dressage team who maintained their world-leading status.

OUR VISION: to be the world-leading equestrian Olympic and Paralympic sporting nation by 2024; both on and off the field of play

OUR MISSION: to provide optimal support to our combinations, enabling them to fulfil their potential in Tokyo 2020 and provide a legacy that builds on the solid foundations to develop depth of excellence at all stages

Securing 10 medals at the European Championships (7 golds, 1 silver and 2 bronze) as well as retaining our place in the jumping FEI Nations Cup Division 1 series, ensured the BEF hit its UK Sport targets for 2017. EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017 : STRZEGOM

Great Britain’s eventing team were crowned European champions for the first time since 2009 as they pipped Germany to the top spot in Strzegom. After four Personal Best tests were recorded in the dressage phase, across the first two days of competition, a dramatic final day saw Ros Canter, Tina Cook and Nicola Wilson deliver foot-perfect showjumping rounds to secure gold for GB. With a clear round posted in the final phase, Nicola Wilson also secured her first individual title, a Bronze, just ahead of team mates, Tina and Ros, who finished fourth and fifth respectively. EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017 : GOTHENBERG

The 2017 Longines FEI European Championships played host to dressage, para-dressage and jumping championships, and saw Great Britain return with eight para-dressage medals. Championship debutants Suzanna Hext and Julie Payne secured three gold medals, with the team once again defending their unbeaten team title.

There were some impressive performances from the dressage team of Carl Hester, Emile Faurie and Spencer Wilton, who were unlucky to just miss out on a team medal; whilst showjumper William Whitaker produced some great rounds on his senior championship debut. THE ROAD TO TOKYO 2020

The 2017 Europeans provided an important stepping- stone on the build-up to the 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG).

The Games, which will be held in Tryon, North Carolina (USA), 11-23 September 2018, will see Great Britain field seven teams across the FEI disciplines. The BEF is very grateful to UK Sport and the National Lottery, the British Equestrian Federation Fund, and our team partners for the support given to the British teams.

For the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, WEG represents an important milestone on the journey to Tokyo 2020, with the first opportunity for nations’ to qualify team places across the four disciplines. SUPPORTING THE PATHWAY

NEW STRUCTURE FOR THE PERFORMANCE PATHWAY LAUNCHED FOR 2019-2021 SQUADS

The structure of the World Class Programme has been reviewed to ensure the best support is provided to both human and equine athletes to promote their continued development and enable Equestrian Team GBR to deliver medal success in the future.

The equestrian pathway now has three distinct phases

PODIUM

PODIUM POTENTIAL

PODIUM POTENTIAL PATHWAY

The previous age restrictions that applied to Podium Potential riders have been removed to ensure that athletes at any stage of their development, who meet the selection criteria, are eligible to apply. © Hayley Watson-Greaves

The new Podium Potential Pathway (formerly Excel Talent) squad structure will enable selected athletes to benefit from tailored Key achievements from 2017-2019 Excel Talent squads: support and education, to gain the foundation skill for performance • James Winter: jumping junior European team gold that will enable them to progress up to Podium Potential. This level • Heidi Coy: eventing junior individual and team European silver of the programme is supported by funding from Sport England and • Georgia Bartlett: eventing junior team European silver UK Sport, so will now offer some athletes the opportunity of • Charlotte Dicker: dressage European young rider selection, finished 6th in the receiving the UK Sport Athlete Performance Award. team event • Georgia Wilson: named on the WEG 2018 para-dressage shortlist

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

17 ATHLETES ON THE INAUGRAL PROGRAMME, ACROSS THREE OLYMPIC DISCIPLINES

This new programme, launched in 2017, was designed to support young professionals as they make their way into the equine industry.

" Over the last 12 months we have covered pretty much every aspect of running a yard. Being on the Programme has allowed me to meet new people from different industries and pick up ideas that I can take back and try out ” COACHING

EQUESTRIAN COACHING CERTIFICATE (ENDORSED BY UKCC) YOUTH PATHWAY COACHING PROGRAMME

During 2017, the BEF completed a full tender process for the awarding body Created in collaboration with , British Showjumping and role for equestrian’s qualifications endorsed by UKCC. We also gained the 3 , the new Youth Pathway Coaching Programme, welcomed year re-endorsement for the UKCC from UK Coaching to 2020. The tender its first cohort of coaches earlier this year, with 14 coming forward for the process was successfully won by 1st4Sport. During the transfer to 1st4Sport 2018-2019 Programme. an opportunity was taken to review the content of the UKCC and ensure it was fit for purpose. This included a re-write and updating of sections of the Designed to develop coaches currently working within the Youth qualifications. There are now live qualifications offered by , Pathways, the programme looks to give those selected more insight into ABRS, British Showjumping, British Eventing, British Dressage and the holistic approach used during the key development stages of the HorseScotland, with other qualifications in development. youth athlete to provide a process and environment that promotes well- being and nurtures potential from a young age. These discipline specific qualifications also gained international recognition by the International Group for Equestrian Qualifications (IGEQ) for competition coaches.

HIGH PERFORMING COACHES COMPLETED 5 THEIR UKCC LEVEL 4 COACHING QUALIFICATION

The BEF continues to work with the University of Gloucestershire to deliver the highly successful Level 4 Programme GROWING THE SPORT

Sport England awarded the BEF £2.7million for the four-year funding cycle 2017-2021. The funding will deliver a focus on equestrian’s core market, to keep current participants active in the sport and extend the equestrian offering to the youth market.

15 PARTICIPATION PROJECTS TO CORE MARKET WILL BE DELIVERED BY 10 BEF MEMBER BODIES

The projects can be summarised into six key themes:

Riding for Schools Access for All

Routes Identification Coaches for Confidence

Increasing Customer Values Volunteering for Development

A number of projects aimed to Riding for Schools Coaches for Confidence provide coaching support for those engaging with the sport for the first time

The focus for the project is Volunteering for Accessibility for All Increasing Customer Values looking at linking riding Development establishments with schools, to encourage and enable primary school children to give horse riding a go

Looking at the continued Aimed at encouraging, Projects specifically looking at delivery of support to promoting and supporting the equestrian Routes Identification commercial riding centres, to retaining continued workforce - stewards, judges, enable them to provide coaches - to be able to deliver BHS engagement and lessons to people with volunteering in what a customer needs and disabilities; part of the equestrian sport, wants, in order to provide an project is around supporting focussing on the 16-35 increased customer experience additional training and age group education for coaches to enable greater disability participation Supporting the identification of thousands of off-road riding routes to support riders to ride safely in the countryside. Through this project routes will also be preserved for walkers and cyclists

© British Eventing | Adam Fanthorpe 2017 PARTICIPATION

During 2017/18 (to end March 2018) projects supported by the BEF continued to grow to support participation. There were also some fundamental changes in the way in which the BEF delivers this work with a withdrawal from direct delivery to centres.

ALL DELIVERY WILL NOW BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE FEDERATION’S MEMBER BODIES.

We also phased out of the Hoof brand and removed support of the Take Back the Reins brand as a single national marketable course at riding centres - though not the principles in welcoming and supporting adult returners.

3,548 people engaged with the BHS’ Participation Project in 2017, total project engagement was 11,522 >1300 young people are now involved in The Pony Club’s Young Equestrians Project in 77 centres 342 sign ups were made to the Young Equestrian Leaders Award 247 children were involved in the pilot of Park Palace Ponies in Toxteth, with 60 still riding >100 attended British Eventing’s access all areas days to encourage people into volunteering in eventing 13 new Accessibility Mark centres came on board, bringing the total to 50 centres with this mark GOVERNANCE

THE BEF’S MEMBER BODIES VOTED UNANIMOUSLY AT AN EGM ON 26 OCTOBER TO APPROVE NEW ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION FOR THE BEF

The approval of the new Articles of Association was a key INDEPENDENT CHAIR milestone in achieving compliance with UK Sport and Sport Mohamed Elsarky England’s A Code for Sports Governance.

The articles came into effect 30 October, and through the new INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE structure the BEF has a board of 12 directors, who are the ultimate DIRECTORS decision making authority. The Members’ Council, with Sarah Broughton representatives from all 15 full and four association members, remains involved through consultation and constructive challenge. Kevan Taylor Martyn Wilks

FOUNDER MEMBER NOMINATED DIRECTORS Julia Biddle Christine Blackford Tim Holderness-Roddam Lise-Lotte Olsen

COUNCIL ELECTED DIRECTORS Jess Cook Barry Johnson Jane Nixon Claire Williams

CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL Malcolm Wharton CBE SAFEGUARDING

Headline updates from the last 12-months; AN INDEPENDENT SAFEGUARDING AUDIT WAS CARRIED OUT IN MARCH 2017 ACROSS THE FEDERATION IN RESPONSE TO THE SPORTS • 95% of all athletes and World Class Programme practitioners have MINISTER’S LETTER TO ALL NATIONAL GOVERNING BODIES OF SPORT. received training - from Excel Talent through to Podium; the remaining 5% will have received training by the end of 2018 The audit was carried out by LimeCulture, and included all Member Bodies apart • All practitioners (where appropriate) have had criminal records from HorseScotland and the BEF Associate Members. The Member Bodies were checks completed asked to complete a self-assessment questionnaire and then submit this to the • A new face to face safeguarding course has been developed with The BEF Safeguarding Officer to conduct a preliminary assessment before sharing Pony Club, and Riding for the Disabled Association, with the auditors; the auditors then held individual and group meetings with and is being rolled out across the country. It has now been designed to Member Bodies. allow for smaller member bodies to deliver it. The online course has been refreshed and updated to capture a wider workforce. The audit produced some generic recommendations, particularly regarding the different levels of engagement and this was further discussed at a meeting of CEOs and LimeCulture where it was agreed that a working group should be formed. ANTI-DOPING

THE BEF DELIVERS ANTI-DOPING EDUCATION AND CARRIES OUT THE EQUINE ANTI-DOPING TESTING PROCESS AT A NATIONAL LEVEL

The BEF works closely with FEI discipline Member Bodies – British Dressage, British Showjumping, British Eventing, EnduranceGB, British Carriagedriving and British Equestrian Vaulting, to provide and administer the testing process.

Over 12 education days have been delivered since 2017, across Member Body programmes and the World Class Programme and Pathways squads.

With regards to human anti-doping, the BEF works closely with UK Anti- Doping to provide guidance and education to all competitors. PARA-CLASSIFICATION

THE NATIONAL PARA-CLASSIFICATION PROCESS CAME IN TO THE BEF IN SUMMER 2017 TO PROVIDE SUPPORT ACROSS THE BEF MEMBER BODIES

Delivering a classification process for all competitors wishing to compete at a national level across Great Britain, across Riding for the Disabled Association, British Dressage and British Showjumping.

The BEF work closely with British Blind Sport, who provide classification for athletes with visual impairments.

All international classification is still processed by the FEI. EQUESTRIAN TEAM GBR PARTNERS & SUPPLIERS

Equestrian Team GBR is supported by the UK Sport National Lottery funded World Class Programme; the British teams are very grateful to the support they receive from the British Equestrian Federation Fund and our official partners. BEF MEDAL OF HONOUR

1949: Brigadier L Bolton DSO | Major P Borwick MC | 1968: The Most Hon The Marquess of Exeter KCMG| Hignett, CBE, FRCVS | Major Gen J R Reynolds CB,OBE | Brigadier A Carr OBE | Lt Col J H Dudgeon OBE MC | Lt Major Gen Sir Evelyn Fanshawe, CB,CBE,DL | Count R Mr F R Stovold | Mr J Whitaker 2003: Desi Dillingham | Philip Billington | Jeff Osborne | Col H M Llewellyn CBE | Col H M V Nicoll, DSO, MBE | Lt Orssich Yogi Breisner | Richard Davison | Jane Kidd Col D N Steward, DSO, MC 1982: Mr A J Blakeway | Lt Col Sir Henry Tate | 1969: Major D Allhusen CVO,DL | Mrs T D Holderness- Bart,TD,DL 2004: Debbie Criddle | Jane Goldsmith | Carl Hester | 1952: Col Sir Michael Ansell CBE,DSO Roddam | Mr W O Case | Miss M Oakes Brig J C George Lane Fox Friedberger, DSO,DL | Mr H Gross | Mr R Hall | Mrs L 1983: Major A L Rook MC | Mrs D Reid | Mrs P E 1953: The Duke of Beaufort KG, PC,GCVO, MFH | Mr P Johnstone | Sgt B Jones | Mr R Meade, OBE | Miss J Langford | Lt Col M Beale | Miss J B Taylor 2006: Dr John Lloyd Parry MBE | Ian Woodhead | E Blackmore | Mr R A Brown OBE | Capt J A Collings | Pontifex | Mrs R C T Sivewright, FIH,FBHS | Mr W Katrina Moore Col The Hon C G Cubitt DSO, TD, DL | Mr W J Cumber | Thomson, MRCVS 1984: Miss R Bayliss | Mr J Jack | The Earl of March and Lt Col J E Hance | Mr J R Hindley MH | Mr Horace Smith 1970: Mr S Barker | Lt Col J D Crawford | Mr P Durno Kinrara FCA,DL 2007: Mr M Bates | Mr M Mac | Miss T Robinson | Mr | Lt Col J A Talbot-Ponsonby | Mr W H White | Col V D S Brig J R Gannon, CBE,MVO | Mr L W Harris | Mr F K K Clawson FBHS | Hartpury College Williams OBE | Capt G H S Webber OBE |Sir Nigel Haydon | Mrs C Haydon, MBE | Prof W C Miller, FRCVS 1985: General Sir Cecil Blacker GCB,OBE,MC | Mrs F Colman, Bart | Mr T Forshaw | Lt Col T L Horn, MC | Mrs G Spooner | Mr S Watney Viner | Miss D Clapham | Mr T Grubb | Miss V Holgate 2008: Simon Laurens | Emma Hindle | Sophie | Mr S Smith | Mr I Stark | Mr M Whitaker Christiansen | Tina Cook | Bob Ellis | Maggie Maguire 1955: Brigadiar P Bowden-Smith CBE | Mr C Cornell | 1971: Mr P Burrell, CBE | Mr J G Carse, OBE,JP | Mr D Mrs V D S Williams Colton | Mr J A George | Mr H Smith | Mr R M L Stilwell 1986: Mrs L Clarke | Mr C Bartle | Mr R M L Stillwell | 2009: Sam Barr | Tim Stockdale | Tim Holderness- Mrs J Wood Roddam | Brian Higham | David Hunter 1956: Mrs Victor Hurst MBE | Mrs P Koechlin OBE | Mr 1972: Miss A Balfour -Kionnear | Capt E Goldman | 1987: Col N F Grove White | Miss D Mason | Mr G R F Ling | Mr H T L Young Major Cyril Hall | Mr Stan Mellor | The Lord Oaksey | Munro Ashman 2010 : Laura Bechtolsheimer | Corinne Bracken | Mr M A P Simons, MRCVS | Miss E Thomas Joanne Eccles | Brendan Murray | Sophie Wells | Nicola 1957: Mr J E Blackmore | Mr A E Hill | Col. A K Main 1988: Miss K Straker | Mrs R Barlow | Lt Cdr W B Wilson DSO | Major A L Rook | Lt Col F W C Weldon, 1973: Mr G R Benbow | Mr R Brooks -Ward, MFH | Jefferis RN (Retd) MVO,MBE,MC | Miss G M Yule Dame Mary Colvin DBE, TD | Lt Col W J W Froud 2011: Emile Faurie | Charlotte Dujardin | Emma CBE,FBHS | Miss M Gordon-Watson MBE | Lt Col J 1989: Mrs Laurence Rook Sheardown | Haydn Price | Mandy Stibbe | Natasha 1958: Mr A G Holland Miller, KCVO, DSO, MC | Miss A Moore, MBE | Mr G C Baker | Robert Smith Mossman | Mrs C M Parker | Lt M Philips 1990: Colonel P R Drew OBE,TD | Mrs Henrietta Knight 1959: Mrs S Waddington 2012: Will Connell | Ben Maher | Scott Brash | Peter 1974: Lt Col R H L Brackenbury, OBE | Col G H Critchley 1992: Mr Christopher Schofield Charles | Tim Hadaway | Zara Phillips | Michel 1960: Mr F Allison | Major C Davenport, OBE,FRCVS | Brigadiar J Grose, OBE,MC | Miss S Haynes | Mrs H W Assouline | Andrew McLachlan Mr S J Marsh | Mrs C Morgan-Owen | Miss S Smith Inderwick | Mr P McMahon | Mr A Mouncer | Miss J 1993: Lord Patrick Beresford | Nick Skelton | Hugh Middleton | Miss P Oram Thomas | Joszef Turi 2013: Hannah Eccles | Michael Foljambe | Rob 1961: Mr R Armstrong FWCR | Miss S Calmandy- Hoekstra | William Funnell | Simon Brooks-Ward CVO Hamlyn | Mr H Wynmalen 1975: Brig T G G Cooper, CBE,DL | Lt Col J D Crawford, 1994: Michael Tucker | Malcolm Barr | Mr & Mrs OBE TD FBHS | Mr W Manning | Mrs G Spooner | Major G Bradley 1962: Mr D Broome | Lt Col G C Cox-Cox OBE | Mr R Worboys 2014: Robrecht Cnockaert | John Eccles | Virginia Keen Hanson CBE | Mr E Holland-Martin | Mr R Keer | Mr D 1995: Kristina Gifford | Charlotte Bathe | Mary King MBE | Sara Green | John McEwen MBE BVMS MRCVS W Mould | Mrs J G Watherston | Mr D Williams OBE | 1976: Mrs A Harries | Mr B W Pride Mr C G Wright 1996 : John Tulloch | Gill Watson | Dane Rawlins 2015: Juliet Seal | Karen Robertson | Linda Whetstone, 1977: The Hon Verona Kitson MBE,TD | Lt Col W S P |Maggie Moreton 1964: The Viscount Cowdray, DL | Mr G Cross | Mr R W Lithgow | Mr R Massarella | Capt R Wallace MFH 1997: James Gilmore | Sheila Elstone | William Fox -Pitt Dean CBE | David Hunt 2016 : Alan Davies | Andrew Finding OBE | Derrick 1978: Mr G Barnes | Mrs P Carruthers | Mr R N Hall | Mayes | Fiona Bigwood | Islay Auty | Keith Taylor | 1965: Chief Supt H A Griffin | Brig J R Allen OBE | Lt Col Mr G Hobbs | Miss L Prior -Palmer MBE | Mr J Stevens 1998: Rod Fisher Richard Waygood MBE | Spencer Wilton | Sydney Smith R B Mosley | Mr P Robeson MBE | Capt G H S Webber 1999: Duke of Beaufort | Stephen Clarke | Jon Doney 2017: Alex Colquhoun | Elizabeth 2000: Pippa Funnell | Jeanette Brakewell | Leslie Law | 1966: Mr R S Summerhayes | Major W Thompson | Mr 1979: Miss C Bradley MBE | Mrs A G Loriston-Clarke Kay Gebbie | Nicola Tustain | Lee Pearson | Ann Inman |Giles Roswell | Peter B Young FBHS | Col G T Hurrell, OBE,JP MBE,FBHS | Court R Orssich | Mr D Bourne Dunham | Stephanie Cook | Kate Allenby | Alan Oliver | Whitehead |Suzanna Hext |Erin Orford Allan Willis | Robert Baskerville 1967: Mr W T Barton | Mr L H Candler | Brig K W Dunn 1980: Mr A Ball | Mr D H D Bunn | Mr M Pyrah | Mr D | Julie Payne CBE | Mr Bernard Mills | Mr P Scott Dunn MRCVS | Mr Ricketts | Capt M Whiteley A E Stringer 2002: Ann Cutcliffe | Mike Etherington Smith | Bill 1981: Lt Col H M Allfrey MC,TD,DL | Mr G Bowman Mr S Henson | Elizabeth Edgar

COMPANY INFORMATION JULY 2017 – JULY 2018

CHAIRMAN Mohamed Elsarky (appointed 05 April 2018)

CHIEF EXECUTIVE Nick Fellows (appointed 26 March 2018)

COMPANY SECRETARY Sarah Bunting

COMPANY NUMBER 3174767

REGISTERED OFFICE Abbey Park Stareton Warwickshire CV8 2RH

© Images copyright BEF | Jon Stroud Media