SPSS Awards - The British Breeders Dinner Award

The British Breeders Dinner Award

Photo by kind permission of Trevor Meeks

In 2006, the SPSS started to sponsor an award at the annual British Breeders Dinner & Award Ceremony (organised by the British Horse Foundation). Initially, the award was titled the "Top Native Pony Sire of Performance Ponies Award". Then in 2008 it was broadened to be the "Top Sire of Performance Ponies" so pony stallions that had made a significant contribution to UK Sports Pony breeding could be rewarded regardless of their breed or origin. In 2011, the award title was again amended to be the "Pony Performance and Breeding Award". The award is presented at the Breeders Dinner which is held in January each year with the SPSS Directors selecting a worthy sports pony recipient that has contributed to British Sports Pony breeding in some way – sometimes through their progeny, sometimes through their results..

Read about the winners below.....

Roll of Honour

LE Chiffre & Lara Kuropatwa

Photo by Qorum Photos

The SPSS Performance and Breeding Award 2016 being collected by Bev Brown (on right) from SPSS Studbook Manager, Lucy Sheldrake

Photo by kind permission of Craig Payne

2016 - Pony Performance and Breeding Award

LE Chiffre (Caesar 171 x DOnnerwetter)

At the 2017 Breeders Dinner & Awards Ceremony (organised by the British Horse Foundation), the SPSS sponsored Pony Performance & Breeding Award was presented to SPSS passported and Elite Graded LE Chiffre (Caesar 171 x DOnnerwetter). The award was presented to LE Chiffre's breeder, Bev Brown, by SPSS Director, Lucy Sheldrake.

LE Chiffre was selected for this award by the SPSS in recognition of his being the first SPSS passported pony to compete at the Pony European Championships (ridden by Lara Kuropatwa) and the only British dressage team pony to score over 70% in all the tests.

2016 Pony European Championships

Team Test - 10th with 70.744%

Individual Test - 11th with 70.268%

Freestyle Test - 8th with 71.200%

9 year old SPSS LE Chiffre, who in 2013 was the first SPSS passported pony to represent Great Britain internationally, is owned by Samantha Brown. Both of LE Chiffre’s parents are SPSS graded and his sire, SPSS ELITE Caesar 171 (Condor x Askan), also represented Britain at two Pony European Championships, winning Team Silver in 2000 and Team Bronze in 2002 – so success has bred success. Caesar is 46.7% Welsh through his sire’s sire Constantin (90.625% Welsh) and his damsire, the British-bred Welsh Section B Tanlan Psalm who was renamed Askan when imported into the Weser-Ems breeding region of Germany.

With Lara now moving onto Junior level, we look forward to following LE Chiffre’s progress with his new British rider, Charlotte McDowell, who has already competed at FEI Pony International competitions with her own SPSS ELITE graded BKS Grand Design.

Rembrandt DDH & Clare Hole

Photo by Qorum Photos

The SPSS Performance and Breeding Award 2015 being collected by Tullis Matson (on right) from SPSS Committee member, Philippa Cole.

Photo by kind permission of Craig Payne

2015 - Pony Performance and Breeding Award

Rembrandt DDH (Renoir x Viktoria's Chirac)

At the 2016 Breeders Dinner & Awards Ceremony (organised by the British Horse Foundation), the SPSS sponsored Pony Performance & Breeding Award was presented to the SPSS Elite Graded stallion Rembrandt DDH (Renoir x Viktoria's Chirac). The award was accepted on Rembrandt's behalf by Tullis Matson of Stallion AI Services.

Rembrandt was selected for this award by the SPSS as not only did he play a major part in the British pony dressage team winning Britain’s first Pony Dressage Team Gold medal last year but he is also the first pony stallion to achieve a “hat trick” of 3 Futurity Elite foals in one year. Although Rembrandt was bred in Germany by Heinz Muller and is by Renoir out of a mare by Viktoria’s Chirac, he is actually over 40% Welsh, with such illustrious names as Tetworth Crimson Lake and Solway Master Bronze appearing in his pedigree. Rembrandt had already been successful with the Dutch pony dressage team when he was bought by Ian and Isobel Scruton and brought to the UK for their daughter, Maisie, to ride in Autumn 2010.

Rembrandt and Maisie quickly formed a partnership and were selected for the British Pony Dressage team in both 2011 and 2012. As she was then 16, Maisie was too old for FEI pony classes, but she continued to compete Rembrandt nationally for a year before generously passing the ride on to 12 year old Clare Hole in 2014.

In 2015, Rembrandt and Clare were selected for the British Pony European Championships Dressage Team where their score of over 71% was key to the British team winning the historic first British Pony Dressage Team Gold Medal. As Rembrandt has to date been primarily a competition pony, he has limited UK progeny so that 3 of them gained Elite Futurity scores in the same year, 2014, is an even more remarkable achievement and makes him one of the highest scoring Futurity pony sires to date.

Rock Dee Jay & Susan Fitzpatrick

at the 2014 Pony European Championships

Photo by qorum-photos.com

The SPSS Performance and Breeding Award 2014 being collected by Rock Dee Jay's breeder, Sharon Quigley (on right) from SPSS Committee member, Hannah Freer.

Photo by kind permission of Trevor Meeks

2014 - Pony Performance and Breeding Award

Rock Dee Jay (Arko III x unknown)

At the 2015 Breeders Dinner & Awards Ceremony (organised by the British Horse Foundation), the SPSS sponsored Pony Performance & Breeding Award was presented to the British-bred gelding Rock Dee Jay (Arko III x unknown) who has been one of the most consistent ponies at recent Pony European Jumping Championships. The award was accepted on Rock Dee Jay's behalf by his breeder, Sharon Quigley.

Born in 2002, Rock Dee Jay, who is known at home as “Buster", is by the top show jumping stallion Arko III out of Sharon’s Grand Prix mare, Dee Jays Rio Grande (breeding unverified). Buster was bought from Sharon when he was 5 and exported to Ireland by his current owner, Barbara O’Reilly Hyland, for her son Max to ride. Having brought Buster on carefully, Max rode him to his first Pony Euros medal in 2011 a Team Silver for Ireland. As Max was then too old for ponies, Buster moved on to the Dutch rider, Lisa Nooren and they won an Individual Silver medal at the 2012 Pony Euros. For 2013, Buster returned to Ireland to be ridden by Susan Fitzpatrick and that year they were crowned the Pony European Jumping Champions, winning the individual jumping Gold medal and leading Ireland to a Team Bronze. Still ridden by Susan last year, he was once again the best British bred jumping pony at the Championships, this time returning home with another Team Silver and an Individual Bronze. The SPSS is delighted to recognise this talented and consistent British bred jumping pony with this award

Photo by qorum-photos.com

Chelsea Pearce &

Catherston Nutsafe at the 2013 Pony European Championships

Photo by qorum-photos.com

2013 - Pony Performance and Breeding Award

Catherston Nutsafe (Catherston Nightsafe x Dutch Courage)

At the 2014 Breeders Dinner & Awards Ceremony (organised by the British Horse Foundation), the SPSS sponsored Pony Performance & Breeding Award was presented to SPSS Elite graded mare Catherston Nutsafe (Catherston Nightsafe x Dutch Courage). The award was accepted on Nutsafe's behalf by her breeder, Lizzie Murray.

Nutsafe won Eventing Team Silver in 2008 & 2009 (ridden by Ella McEwen) and Team Gold in 2010 (ridden by Sam Ecroyd). Then in 2013, aged 17 and ridden by Chelsea Pearce (pictured), Nutsafe represented GB again as an Individual and belied her years, completing the XC clear within the time despite the relentless sun and very high temperature to finish 15th.

SPSS Elite graded Nutsafe was awarded the 2008 SPSS Dancer Medal and has had 2 foals, the first (by Nurejew) is winning at dressage and the second (by Dunlewley Rigmarole) was 2008 Futurity Pony Foal Champion.

Nutsafe is graded Elite with the SPSS in recognition of her impressive Pony Euros results.

Ruth Hole collects Bernwode Broakt's award from Jan Rogers (BEF Head of Equine Development)

Photo by kind permission of Trevor Meeks

2012 - Pony Performance and Breeding Award

Bernwode Brokat (Brillant x Diamant II)

At the 2013 Breeders Dinner & Awards Ceremony, the SPSS sponsored Pony Performance & Breeding Award was presented to SPSS graded stallion Bernwode Brokat (Brillant x Diamant II). The award was accepted on Brokat's behalf by his 13 yr old rider, Ruth Hole. Brokat and Ruth were selected to represent Great Britain on the Pony International dressage teams three times in 2012, in Moorselle, Pompadour and Leudelange. Brokat is also a popular and successful sire; for 3 consecutive years he sired Elite Futurity ponies. In 2012, while Brokat was busy touring Europe 17 foals arrived taking his tally of British-bred children into the high 80s.

Brokat is graded Elite with the SPSS in recognition of his International competition successes.

The SPSS Performance and Breeding Award 2011 being collected by Falaza's breeder, Jane Fowles (on right).

Photo by kind permission of Trevor Meeks

2011 - Pony Performance and Breeding Award

Falaza (Libro x Embla George)

At the 2012 Breeders Dinner & Awards Ceremony, SPSS Founder Director and Chair, Celia Clarke, presented the SPSS sponsored Pony Performance and Breeding Award to Falaza, a rising 11 year old SHB(GB) British-bred grey mare bred by Jane Fowles in Norfolk. Now owned by Allyson Blagg and ridden by her daughter Beth Vernon, Falaza was a member of the GB Pony Jumping Team at the Pony European Championships in Poland in 2011 and won both Team and Individual Gold medals - a fantastic result for this British-bred mare and her young rider.

Falaza is graded Elite with the SPSS in recognition of her International competition successes although it is expected that she will be concentrating on her competition career for the next few years. Click here to read more about Falaza

Double Gold medallists - British-bred Falaza and Beth Vernon at the 2011 Pony European Championships

Photos by kind permission of Hannah Owen

The SPSS Performance and Breeding Award 2011 being collected by Samantha and Christopher Brown.

Photo by kind permission of British Breeding and Trevor Meeks

Photo by kind permission of Kevin Sparrow

2010 - Pony Performance and Breeding Award

Caesar 171 (Condor x Askan)

At the 2011 Breeders Dinner & Awards Ceremony, SPSS Founder Director and Studbook Manager, Sarah Steggall, presented the British Breeders SPSS Performance and Breeding Award to Caesar 171, a rising 22 year old bay Weser Ems stallion bred by Benno Stolle in Germany. Now owned by Samantha Brown of Godrics Stud (which is based at Leamside Equestrian in County Durham), Caesar was bred and graded in Germany gaining a good score in his performance test (including two 10s). After being imported to the UK, Caesar achieved an impressive dressage performance record being British Dressage Restricted Medium Winter Champion in 2000, a member of the GB Pony Team that won Silver at the European Championships in Germany in 2000 and the Bronze medal winning team in 2002.

Caesar is graded Elite with the SPSS in recognition of his International competition successes and, despite his competition career taking precedence for many years, he is also a successful sire. Caesar has graded sons and daughters in Germany and is damsire of the Reserve Bundeschampion in 2008 & 2009. His oldest UK progeny were born in 20 but he has already sired 2 SPSS graded sons and a SPSS graded daughter. At the 2008 British Breeders Awards, LE Chiffre (Caesar 171 x Donnerwetter) was awarded the trophy for "Best British Bred Pony Foal" and at the 2013 awards, LE Chiffre's full brother, Godrics Carpe Diem was awarded a certificate of merit as "top 3 year old pony".

Click here for Caesar's stallion page.

The SPSS sponsored Award for Top Sire of Performance Ponies 2009 awarded to Ashfield MacTalla

Photo by kind permission of British Breeding and Trevor Meeks

2009 - Top Sire of Performance Ponies

Ashfield MacTalla (Ormond Oliver x Carna Bobby)

At the 2010 British Breeding Dinner, SPSS Secretary Sarah Steggall presented the SPSS sponsored British Breeding Award for the Top Sire of Performance Ponies to Ashfield MacTalla, a 20 year old grey Connemara stallion. Owned by Miss Sue Rowe of Trewithian Stud, Cornwall, "Mac" was bred in Ireland in 1990 then brought over to England as a yearling.

Ashfield MacTalla has sired many pure bred Connemaras and part breds that are doing well in the show ring, eventing and show jumping. His greatest achievement is the home bred "Trewithian Bracken" who represented Great Britain to gain the Team Silver Medal at the Pony European Eventing Championships at Moorsele in 2009. Ashfield MacTalla was graded into the SPSS Studbook in October 2009 and, as the sire of an International event pony, he was awarded the accolade of 'Elite' to the delight of his owner. Bracken’s full brother, Trewithian Speedwell, just broken, is shaping up to follow in his brother’s footsteps.

SPSS Treasurer, Edith Rutherford, presenting the SPSS sponsored Award for Top Sire of Performance Ponies to Meirion Jones, the breeder of winner Machno Carwyn

Photo by kind permission of British Breeding and Trevor Meeks

2008 - Top Sire of Performance Ponies

Machno Carwyn (Carregcoch Bleddyn x Tylan Danny)

At the 2009 British Breeding Dinner, SPSS Treasurer Edith Rutherford presented the SPSS Award for the Top Sire of Performance Ponies to SPSS Elite stallion Machno Carwyn. Owned by Mrs Yvonne Schoch, Machno Carwyn was ridden by the family Schoch’s children Faye and Jordan and bred in Wales by Meirion Jones who collected the award.

Machno Carwyn is often referred to as the best show jumping pony stallion in Europe. Since the beginning of his career in 1997, Carwyn was placed more than 220 times in official competitions; approximately 140 times internationally and 50 times at grand prix (including winning 7 grand prix). He is the only pony stallion ever to have won a gold medal at the European Show Jumping Championships, and he has done this twice! He also won the Swiss National Championships 4 times and has numerous highly successful progeny. Carwyn is graded Elite by the SPSS.

Michelle Thompson collects the SPSS sponsored Award for Top Sire of Performance Ponies won by her stallion, Laban, from SPSS Chair, Celia Clarke

Pictures taken by Trevor Meeks and by kind permission of SEIB

2007 - Top Pony Sire of Performance Ponies

Laban (Aleksander x Honnor Ostrup)

At the 2008 dinner, the Top Pony Sire of Performance Ponies award was won by SPSS Elite stallion Laban. Laban (who died in 2011) was a Danish Oldenburg pony bred in Denmark by Marco Christensen. Laban was born on the 6th April 1985 and, by the age of four, had been imported into the UK.

The most notable of Laban's progeny, and the reason for his SPSS Elite status, was his son, Red Alert. Red Alert was bred by Mrs Clapham out of Starlyte Ponteyne by Redmount Tarquin and was bought by Kitty Boggis (now Kitty King) as an untouched 3 year old. Kitty produced Red Alert as an Eventing pony and the pair became members of the British Eventing Team at the 1998 FEI European Pony Championships. Red Alert was only 7 years old at these Championships and therefore one of the youngest ponies competing. Despite this the combination won Team Silver and finished ninth individually.

Click here to read more about Laban.

2006 - Top Native Pony Sire of Performance Ponies

Caerberllan Tywysog Coch (Paith Tywysog Coch x Cyttir Telynor)

The Welsh Section D stallion Caerberllan Tywysog Coch was awarded the 2006 Top Native Pony Sire of Performance Ponies trophy. Caerberllan Tywysog Coch was bred by W T Jones (Wales) and owned by RG McNeil (Co Durham) and is the sire of the WPCS Sec C, Sakama Chezni. Sakama Chezni was bred by Sakama Stud (Wales) and is out of Parkton Victoria (by Paddock Playboy). Sakama Chezni was the leading British bred jumping pony (as identified by winnings) in 2006 and, during that year, he won the 138cm Championship at HOYS, ridden by Pippa Allen. Sakama Chezni was only 7 when he won at HOYS and beat ponies twice his age and experience.

2005 - Top Native Pony Sire of Performance Ponies

Carregcoch Bleddyn (Cathedine Express x Parc Sir Ivor)

SPSS Elite and Welsh Section D stallion Carregcoch Bleddyn was awarded 2005 The Native Pony Sire of Performance Ponies trophy by the BEF. Coincidently, this award was sponsored by the SPSS. Carregcoch Bleddyn is the sire of exceptional stock from show ring to sport including the double Pony European Jumping Champion and most successful show jumping pony stallion to date, Machno Carwyn.

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