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National Equine Forum introduces special COVID-19 award
The National Equine Forum.
Sir Colin Spedding Award 2021 to celebrate 'exceptional efforts' during 2020.

Organisers behind the National Equine Forum (NEF) have changed the emphasis of the Sir Colin Spedding Award 2021 to celebrate those who have gone 'above and beyond' during this difficult year.

The NEF said the decision had been reached 'given the exceptional circumstances of 2020 and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic'. The deadline for nominations has also been extended to 16 October 2020.

NEF Chair Tim Brigstocke, said: “We have already received many nominations for individuals and organisations, as yet without accolade, who have made exceptional efforts beyond their usual job or remit, during this troublesome year.

“The pandemic continues to present challenges for the equestrian sector on an unprecedented scale and we believe we should acknowledge the trials, tribulations and extraordinary efforts undertaken to overcome the challenges we have all been living through over the past seven months.”

Introduced in 2013, the Sir Colin Spedding Award has become one of the most respected annual awards within UK equestrianism. Previous winners include Suffolk Punch champion Nigel Oakley (2020 joint winner); welfare-driven equestrian journalist Eleanor Jones (2020 joint winner); equine sector stalwart Gordon Wesley (2019), and exceptional farrier Dr Simon Curtis (2018).

The award is named after the founding chairman of the NEF, who chaired the event for 20 years until his death in 2012. He ensured that representatives of all areas of the equine sector felt welcome and that topics of general interest and concern could be openly discussed.

For 2020/21, the award will be re-named to the Sir Colin Spedding COVID-19 Award. Individuals or organisations from any equestrian field are eligible for nomination, as long as their outstanding qualities have not been formally acknowledged elsewhere.

Non-pandemic related nominations that have already been received will be carried over to 2022. For more information and submit a nomination, visit the NEF website.

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
Germany livestock import ban lifted

The UK government has amended its ban on the import of livestock, meat and dairy products from Germany.

Defra said the decision follows 'rigorous technical assessment' of the measures applied and the current situation. "If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity," it said.

The ban was implemented in January following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) near Berlin. Personal imports of meat, milk and dairy products will remain in place at a country level.