A new award will be included at the BETA Gala Dinner held on the first evening of BETA International.

The BETA Riders Award will go to the sponsored rider who has been nominated by their sponsor, a retailer or associate for being a good ambassador for the industry and under the following criteria:

" Level of commitment to the company
" Product support and knowledge
" Attendance at events and exhibitions
" Promotion and sales awareness

Those companies who do not sponsor a rider are still eligible to nominate someone who they have had dealings with and feel put something back into the industry and sport.

Leading equestrian PR and Marketing Agency TSM is sponsoring the new initiative which is aimed at encouraging riders and their sponsors to work together more closely.

Tim Smith of TSM said: "We are delighted to be supporting the awards. As a company we work with a number of high profile riders and it is important to promote the whole equestrian industry through those sponsorships.

"The success of any sponsorship is team work, with the rider, sponsor and their agency or sponsorship manager working together to make the most of the relationship and activity."

The Gala Dinner and awards evening is set to become a major event at next year's BETA International.

The evening is being organised by the British Equestrian Trade Association and will aim to showcase the industry and become a celebration of the equestrian trade on the Sunday evening.

Held at the Metropole, the evening will take place on February 15, with a pre-dinner reception, charity raffle and awards presentation.

The judges for the BETA Riders Award are Will Connell of the British Equestrian Federation, Nikki MacKenzie, of SEIB and Tim Smith of TSM.

The association is hoping to raise funds for Riding for the Disabled from a charity raffle held during the evening and is looking for prize donations.

For a nomination form please contact the BETA office on (01937) 587062.

www.beta-uk.org

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