Five-star event rider Wills Oakden from Perthshire was among the winners at the horsescotland National Equestrian Awards which took place at the Dunblane Hydro Hotel on Friday 27 September.
Wills was presented with the Performer of the Year Award following his successful 2024 season which included winning the CCI-4*L with Keep It Cooley and the CCI-2*L aboard Mile Beach at the final running of Blair Castle Horse Trials in August. He also finished in the Top 20 at Badminton with Arklow Puissance and Burghley with A Class Cooley this year.
Youth Performer of the Year was awarded to talented showjumper Fergal Holohan while para carriage driver Jayne McGarvie was presented with the Para Performer of the Year award.
Sophie Whitby took home the Youth Volunteer of the Year award following her fundraising efforts for the Equine Grass Sickness Fund. The 11-year-old has raised £6,000 for the charity over the last two years by organising sponsored rides.
Amy Fraser received the Volunteer of the Year Award for her contribution to the running of Lochside Arena in Stornoway.
Six decades of commitment
The Outstanding Achievement Award was given to Jim Balfour in recognition of his lifetime of dedication to the farriery profession while David Reid was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for 60 years of commitment to equestrianism. He has been a BE and FEI steward for the majority of his life.
Bogenraith Equestrian were named Equestrian Business of the Year for creating a welcoming space for equestrian activities in the North East, V&C Equestrian received the award for Equestrian Club of the Year for providing riding opportunities for children and offering therapeutic visits to care homes, and the Scottish Para Home Nations Team were presented with the award for Team of the Year. The trio of Kyla Mantilla Ross, Margaret Lupton, and Lesley McNaughton-Wells finished second at the Para Home Nations.
Other award recipients included John and Wendy McGrandles (Owner of the Year), Mary Turnbull (Equine Breeder of the Year) and Professor David Sutton from Glasgow Equine Hospital (Equestrian Employee of The Year).
