BETA awards recognise excellence in equestrian business
Equestrian events, retailers and riders are among the winners of 2009 British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) Business Awards.
Now in their sixth year, the accolades were devised by BETA to recognise significant contributions to the equestrian industry.
The awards were presented at the annual BETA Gala Dinner at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, a glittering social occasion attended by more than 400 people on 15 February.
During the evening, BETA’s guests raised more than £1,000 for the Emile Faurie Foundation via a spot-prize raffle. The charity introduces children who would not normally have the opportunity to the joys and benefits of horse riding.
The 2009 BETA Business Awards attracted more nominations than ever from the trade and public, the SEIB Retailer of the Year Award alone receiving nominations from more than 3,000 individuals for over 350 different companies.
“BETA congratulates all award winners. Their achievements are an encouraging indication that enterprise, excellence and enthusiasm are thriving right across our industry,” said BETA’s executive director Claire Williams.
2009 BETA BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS
HORSEMART NUTRITIONAL HELPLINE AWARD
Winner – TopSpec Equine
With increasing numbers of feeds and supplements on the market, giving trade and consumer buyers more choice than ever, BETA wished to recognise the role that reliable and accessible nutritional advice plays in the selection.
Following trade and public nomination, the final judging was based on nominations plus carefully placed mystery calls with questions designed to challenge each helpline. TopSpec Equine won this award for the third successive year.
A consumer who nominated the winner said: “TopSpec offer real nutritional advice rather than marketing their own brand. Their help has been invaluable to me, a three horse owner. I doubt a top show jumping or racing yard would have been better treated.”
One of the incognito judges said: “We had a long, comprehensive discussion with clear and concise explanations being given for the choices recommended. TopSpec took time to understand my horse and its issues.”
BETA SALES REPRESENTATIVE OF THE YEAR
Winner – Dave Cook from E. Jeffries
Runner-up – Judith Riddell from Matchmakers International
This award recognises excellence in product knowledge and service to retail customers. Retailers were asked to nominate potential winners.
Dave Cook has been with E. Jeffries for 23 years. One of his nominating retail customers said: “Dave is totally professional, yet friendly and funny. It’s a pleasure to see him and he always brings a smile. I learn something new every time he comes into my shop.”
HARRY HALL RETAIL EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Winner – Sarah Blackmore from Tower Farm Saddlers
Awarded to the shop floor employee showing initiative, excellence in customer service, good product knowledge and commitment to retailing, nominations flooded in from employers and sales representatives.
The prize included a weekend break for two in London for the winner, with his or her employer receiving BETA Training Course vouchers.
Sarah Blackmore has worked for Tower Farm Saddlers near Rugby for four years and is training as a saddle fitter. Her employer said: “Sarah’s energy and commitment to customers is huge. Her knowledge is endless and we are blessed to have her in the shop.”
The independent judge added: “Sarah was bright and cheerful and made me feel very welcome. Above all, her pleasant nature and enthusiasm for her subject bubbled down the phone.”
JOULES EQUESTRIAN EVENT OF THE YEAR
Winner – Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials
Runner-up – Chatsworth Horse Trials
Trade stands are an integral part of many major indoor and outdoor shows, something that inspired this BETA Business Award. Show circuit trade exhibitors were invited to nominate the event that works best for them and which goes to extra lengths to look after their needs.
Badminton, the event all riders dream of winning, celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2009. For the trade, it represents a significant commercial fixture in the show calendar.
Comments from a nominating trade exhibitor were: “Everything about Badminton is so well organised that there are no hassles. Jane [Tuckwell, assistant event director] and her team have a wealth of experience that is not always seen at other events.”
BETA TRADE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
Winner – E. Jeffries & Sons Ltd
Runner-up – Natural Animal Feeds (NAF)
Judged by the retail trade, this award recognises a manufacturer, distributor or wholesaler offering superb delivery, customer service, product knowledge and awareness of retailers’ requirements.
A nominating retailer said of the winner, E. Jeffries: “This supplier is always efficient and reliable, the staff have excellent knowledge, there’s good customer service, yet they maintain the personal touch too.”
Another retailer added: “A pleasure to deal with, nothing is too much trouble, they offer next day delivery and they never make mistakes when invoicing.”
SEIB RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Winners -
RB Equestrian, Buckinghamshire (large retailer)
Martinshouse Equestrian, Scottish Borders (small retailer)
Ingatestone Saddlery (internet/mail order)
Runners-up -
Ingatestone Saddlery, Essex (large retailer)
Harley Equestrian, Northants (small retailer)
Derby House (internet/mail order)
Awarded to retailers offering outstanding customer service, 3,000 consumers’ nominations were received via the sponsor South Essex Insurance Brokers’ (SEIB) website.
Final judging took suppliers’ votes into account as well as incognito calls and ‘mystery shop’ visits. The SEIB Retailer Award is divided into three categories, large, small and internet/mail order, to reflect the diverse range of equestrian retail outlets across the UK.
A consumer who nominated large retailer category winner, RB Equestrian said: “Just the best! They have been looking after me and my horses for years. Excellent service and staff, they always have time to help, nothing has ever been too much trouble.” The mystery shop judge added: “A very well laid-out store, excellent service and friendly, knowledgeable staff.”
Martinshouse Equestrian was successfully nominated for the small retailer award by a consumer who said: “Finally somewhere I can get everything I need and who know what they are talking about. Superb staff who are always willing to help and go out of their way for you.” The incognito judge reported: “An inviting and well set-out store with staff there to help when advice is needed. I felt like a valued customer.”
Internet/mail order winner Ingatestone Saddlery was described by a nominator as “Very helpful with a wide variety of products. A five-star retailer!” The mystery caller added: “A clear and easy to view website. During the phone enquiry, the advice given was practical with a wide choice of product given, backed up with plenty of information and price points.”
TSM RIDER AWARD
Winner – Mary King
Designed to recognise successful competitive riders who also work hard for their sponsors, the independent panel of judges selected the popular British international event rider Mary King as this year’s winner.
In a career spanning two decades, Mary has become an eventing icon and regular member of the British team. She has won four team gold medals at world and European championships and been British champion a record four times. She has represented Britain at the last three Olympic Games.
Mary was nominated for the TSM Rider Award by her sponsor Joules Ltd who said: “As a sponsored rider, Mary is very aware of her responsibilities and is in constant contact, keeping us up-to-date with her plans and results. She always fulfils her role willingly and with great enthusiasm and is a huge asset to the sport of eventing, and in turn Joules, through her consistent hard work.”
Mary’s other sponsors are Ascot Timber Buildings, Ariat, Badminton Horse Feeds, Clipper Sharp, Cliff Barnsby Saddlery, Fort Dodge, Heltor, Marksway HorseHage, NFU Mutual, New Equine Wear, PolyPads, Safe T Bed, Stable Comfort, Stags, Snuggy Hoods, VW Touareg and Westgate EFI.
UKTI EXPORT AWARD
Winner – Joules Ltd
This award, which recognises companies that have generated substantial and sustained increases in export activity over a period of at least three years, is sponsored and judged by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) of which BETA is an Approved Trade Organisation. BETA-led export missions, benefiting from UKTI subsidy, promote British equestrian products around the world.
The judges’ citation read: “Once again, there was a strong field in the running for this award. The winning company showed a combination of flare, vision, a systematic and thorough approach and an awareness of the market place.
“Having a great product is not enough – you have to get it to market and our winner has done that with remarkable success. The overall impression we had of this company was one of sure-footedness – inevitable, perhaps, for people who started by selling wellies!”
BETA TRADE WEBSITE AWARD
Winner – Horseware Ireland
This new award rewards the website judged to be the most informative and useful to retailers. Following trade nominations, the winner was decided by an independent panel of judges.
Horseware Ireland’s website was described as “easy to use with an excellent media section as a retail resource. It has lots of technical information, is fast and interactive. Above all, this site caters for both the retailer and end user to the genuine benefit of both.”
BETA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Winner – Marion O’Sullivan
This award is presented by BETA to mark special and significant contribution to the equestrian industry over a long period of time.
Marion O’Sullivan is the commercial director of D J Murphy, publisher of PONY and Horse&Rider magazines. During more than half a century, she has been a key influencer and innovator in equestrian business as well as devoting herself to charity work. In 2008, she was awarded the MBE.
In 1951, at the age of 22, Marion Murphy joined the family publishing company D J Murphy selling advertising space in PONY and Light Horse (later to become Horse&Rider). PONY celebrates its 60th birthday this year. By the late 1960s, Marion was managing the publishing business.
She later initiated the famous Martini Awards which highlighted equestrian successes and personalities for more than 30 years with the recipients chosen by PONY and Horse&Rider readers. A more recent publishing coup was PONY magazine’s Periodical Publishers’ Association (PPA) Magazine of the Year Award.
In 1955, Marion married a surgeon, Bill O’Sullivan, and they had two children. Their daughter Kate succeeded Marion as managing director of D J Murphy; while as a four year old, their son Michael was involved in a road accident which left him severely disabled.
Marion’s tireless work for charity began when she led a fund-raising campaign to create the Diamond Centre for Disabled Riders in Surrey. Opened by The Princess Royal in the early 1970s, D J Murphy sponsored the centre’s first pony, Cobnut. Marion also persuaded celebrities such as Roger Moore to attend its annual horse show. The centre has since introduced thousands of disabled children to riding.
Marion’s commitment to horse-related charities has continued as she promoted the causes of World Horse Welfare, The Brook, The Donkey Sanctuary and HAPPA.
The mainstays of Marion’s success in business have been fostering loyalty among her staff and building genuine, long-term relationships within the equestrian industry. Among the many nominations BETA received, it was said of Marion that she is “unfailingly kind and full of ideas with suggestions always readily given with good humour and generosity. Her discreet and friendly approach makes her a joy to deal with.”
Another nominator commented: “Marion’s motivation has never been to make vast sums of money, but to provide her readers with information that would enable them to gain yet more pleasure from their sport and passion - horses.”
Others emphasised how much Marion has contributed to the growth and success of the UK equestrian trade while expressing admiration for her as “an unassuming, natural, engaging and honest individual.
“It’s amazing to consider how long Marion has worked in the industry and how many of her customers she has watched and helped grow into the thriving companies they are today.”
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