Irish equestrians nominated in FEI awards

This year’s annual FEI awards have been brought to a stand-still due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so instead, the FEI is looking back through the years and giving the general public the chance to pick the best of the best from the five FEI awards categories.

There are two Irish nominees in the running, Wexford’s Harry Allen has been nominated as FEI rising star of the decade. The 19-year-old was the first ever Irish winner of the rising star award in 2017 when he took the prize after a hugely successful year where he landed a pair of gold medals at the FEI Pony European Championships.

Allen has continued to make his mark on the international stage ever since and now his achievements are being recognised again.

Dublin native Lee McKeever from Portmarnock, long time groom to America’s McLain Ward, is in the running for the best groom award.

This year, the winners in each of the five categories will be chosen entirely by the public and votes can be cast on until 22 November. Winners will be announced during the second week of December.

There are 55 nominees representing 19 nations across the five awards categories of Longines FEI Rising Star; Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete; Cavalor FEI Best Groom; FEI Against All Odds; and FEI Solidarity.

You can cast your vote online here.