FEI: FEI Announces Panel of Judges for 2010 Year End Awards

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The Fédération Equestre Internationale, the governing body of horse sport, is delighted to announce the names of the judges who will select the winners of the 2010 FEI Awards. The awards reward outstanding dedication to horse sport in five categories.

This year’s international panel of judges, presided by FEI President HRH Princess Haya, is composed as follows:

Professor Vittorio de Sanctis (ITA), FEI Honorary Vice-President. A former FEI 1st Vice President and member of the Council of the Italian Equestrian Federation for 25 years, he introduced the sport of Endurance to Italy.

Dalma Rushdi Malhas (KSA), the first female athlete from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to have competed in an Olympic event. At the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, her performance on Flash Top Hat in the individual Jumping competition earned her the bronze medal.

Mary K. B. Binks, a member of the FEI Bureau and Chairman of FEI Group IX, which brings together Botswana, Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Mrs Binks is also an FEI International Jumping Judge, a 3* FEI Course Designer and a certified FEI Level 1 Coach. 

Marie de Ronde (NED), wife of four-in-hand driver Koos de Ronde, with whom she collaborates as a groom. Mrs de Ronde was Show Secretary of the 2008 FEI Four-in-Hand World Championships™ in Beesd (NED).

The five categories of the FEI Awards are: Against All Odds, Groom of the Year, Development, supported by Alltech; Rising Star, supported by HSBC and Athlete of the Year. The 2010 Athlete of the Year Award is supported by internationally acclaimed fashion designer Reem Acra, the new title sponsor of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League and Final.

The winners will be flown to Chinese Taipei, courtesy of the Jih Sun Education Foundation, which is a member of the Jih Sun Enterprise Group and is chaired by Edward KH Chen.  In Taipei, they will attend the FEI Awards ceremony, which takes place on 5 November during the FEI General Assembly.
For further information, visit: www.feiawards.org