4th May 2010
The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) presented BEF Medals of Honour to Brian Higham and Tim Holderness-Roddam at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials on Monday 3rd May 2010. The medals recognise outstanding achievement and contribution to the International equestrian world and were presented by BEF Chairman Keith Taylor.
The BEF Medal of Honour is primarily an award designed to recognise activities connected with international endeavour in relation to equestrian sport, it is awarded for outstanding services to the British Equestrian Federation or one of its member bodies. This can be in recognition of riding prowess or other support of the British international effort.
Brian Higham has completed more than 50 years service to the Duke of Beaufort estate. As a Stud Groom he consistently turns out fit and sound horses for Masters, hunt staff and visitors. As stable manager for the Badminton Horse Trials, he has been responsible for the preparation and maintenance of the stables, where his work and influence have enormously enhanced the reputation of the event the world over. He has been much in demand as a judge in the show ring, particularly of young stock, and has been a Council member of Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain. Brian retires at the end of the current season.
Tim Holderness-Roddam has been helping to raise funds for equestrian sport for over 30 years. He is currently Chairman of the British Equestrian Federation Fund, a committee that raises money to support British riders and their horses at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. He is also the Chairman of the Horse Trials Support Group (HTSG), a fund raising organisation which he helped start over 30 years ago and of which he has been Chairman for 20 years; the HTSG has raised over £2.5 million to support event riders. He was on the Business Committee of British Eventing (BE) and has been a BE Board Director since March 2010. His astute business awareness has enabled BE to build up good reserves and have sound financial systems in place.
"The British Equestrian Federation is very proud of all the hard working individuals who make equestrian sport the success it is in this country," comments Andrew Finding, Chief Executive of the BEF. "Brian and Tim are two of equestrian sports unsung heroes who work tirelessly in the background. They have both contributed over and above their specific roles in the equestrian community, Tim has always been a listening ear and is willing to help in anyway he can; Brian has made an outstanding contribution to horsemastership and will be much missed when he retires after this year's Badminton. We hope the medal of honour is a suitable mark of the outstanding contribution both these individuals have made to our sport."
