BEMA Awards Lunch 2025
Medallists, rising stars and life-long dedication to equestrianism were celebrated at the 2025 British Equestrian Media Association (BEMA) awards lunch, in partnership with Agria, at the London International Horse Show on Thursday (18 December).
Captain Mark Phillips, who signed off from cross-country course-designing with a masterful final track at this year’s home Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim Palace in September, was recognised for his many contributions to the horse world with BEMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mark was presented with the award by his son, Peter, in a pre-recorded video shown during the lunch.
Peter Phillips said it was “a huge pleasure and honour” to present his father with the award.
“This is a suitable reflection of everything that you have achieved and what you have done for the sport in being at the forefront of how the sport has changed over the last 40 years,” said Peter.
Mark’s daughter, former world champion Zara Tindall, also shared a message of congratulations to her father.
“What an incredible career throughout the sport you have had, from back in your riding days of Olympic medals and badminton wins to now a long career of designing some of the biggest and toughest courses in the world,” she said.
“Your knowledge of course design and riding a course really has made you one of the (well the best) in the world for course design. Your drive to make the sport better and of course train many people to ride at the top level.
“Very proud and to have been able to learn from your knowledge has obviously been hugely beneficial to me.”
Mark won Badminton four times (1971, 1972, 1974 and 1981), Burghley (1973) and was part of the British teams that won Olympic gold in Munich (1972) and silver in Seoul (1988). He also helped Britain to European team gold at Burghley in 1971 and at the 1970 World Championships, and to world team silver at Burghley in 1974.
He was course-designer at Burghley for some 30 years, plus many other major events around the world. His other roles have included running the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe. He also spent 26 years as US team coach, and is Horse & Hound’s longest-standing magazine columnist.
“I think I’ve been very lucky – my hobby became my sport and then became my profession. My heart is still in the sport today, even though I’m not doing quite so much,” said Mark, on receiving the award. “This is wonderful, thank you very much.”
Showjumper Scott Brash, who scored individual and team silver at the 2025 European Showjumping Championships and a phenomenal run of major grands prix victories, was voted BEMA Equestrian of the Year.
“I’m absolutely delighted to win this prestigious award, 10 years on from having won it last time which feels pretty special but also makes me feel pretty old too!” said Scott, whose achievements this year also include his third win in the grand prix at Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ and the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final in Geneva last week.
Ros Canter completing the 2025 Badminton and Burghley double with Lordships Graffalo, after winning Badminton in 2023 and Burghley in 2024, was voted BEMA Moment of the Year. The Worshipful Company of Saddlers' Award to the best under-25 rider went to young rider individual showjumping gold medallist and puissance hero Rachel Proudley. Jemima Green, who won double bronze on her senior championship debut at the 2025 Europeans aboard Fantabulous, took home the Agria Para Dressage Rider of the Year Award.
The 2025 Kit Houghton Photo of the Year, sponsored by Ariat, went to Julian Portch for a second year running.
Reflecting on the awards, chairman Rupert Bell said: “How wonderful to celebrate a great year of equestrian sport at the 2025 BEMA lunch. Congratulations to all our award winners and a huge thank you to BEMA's sponsors and supporters."