Awards

The Pony Club is always keen to celebrate our volunteers’ dedication, devotion and contribution. We couldn’t support our Members without such fantastic support!

 

There are 4 volunteer Awards:

  • Cubitt and Cubitt Bar Awards
  • Cherry Award
  • Secretary of the Year
  • Volunteer of the Year Awards (Awarded by friends of DAKS)

 

2026 Nominations Are OPEN

Nominations for the 2026 Volunteer Awards open from the 1st June 2025

For details about the individual volunteer awards or to find out whether someone you know could be eligible for one, please scroll down this page.  Nominations are open from the 1st June to the 1st March each year.

 

November 2025 saw the launch of the MacDonald Coach Award, a prestigious new accolade within The Pony Club. This award celebrates outstanding dedication, skill, and innovation in equestrian coaching, recognising those who go above and beyond to develop both horse and rider. Coaches who foster a positive, supportive training environment and demonstrate professionalism, creativity, and sportsmanship deserve to be honoured — and now is your chance to make that happen. Nominate a coach who has made a significant impact in our community and help us celebrate excellence in coaching!

 

Cubitt & Cubitt Bar Award Secretary of the Year DAKS Volunteer of the Year Cherry Award
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Cubitt and Cubitt Bar Award

 

Overview

The Cubitt Award represents a volunteer’s years of service; the Cubitt represents a volunteer’s dedication of 20 years whilst Cubitt Bars represent 30 years, 40 years and 50 years.

In 1987, Patrick Langford, a past Pony Club Chairman, suggested that there should be a special award for those special people who volunteer so much of their time and energy. Subsequently, The Pony Club Council created the Cubitt Award in 1988 and it is named after the late Hon. Guy Cubitt, a former Chairman of The Pony Club (1945 to 1970).

Nomination

Any Branch committee member, Centre Proprietor, Centre Coordinator or Company Member can nominate a volunteer for a Cubitt Award – just fill out the form via the button below. The nomination is then ratified by the Area Rep and the Chairman of The Pony Club.

Awards Process

A Cubitt Award Celebration is held anually, where all ratified nominees are invited to receive their badge and certificate. Details on the next Cubitt Award presentation will be listed here once available.

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Secretary of the Year

 

Overview

‘Secretary of the Year’ Award, recognises and thanks an outstanding Branch/Centre Secretary’s achievements.

The Secretary of the Year Award is an annual award, presented to a Branch Secretary in recognition of their outstanding contribution throughout the year. It recognises the vital part that Secretaries play in making The Pony Club such a rewarding experience for our Members!

Nomination

Any District Commissioner or Company Member can put forward a nomination for a secretary to be considered for the Secretary of the Year Award. The nomination is then ratified by their Area Rep and the Chairman of The Pony Club.

Awards Process

Once all nominations have been received, the Volunteers and Officials Committee will meet to decide the winner of the award. The presentation will usually happen at a national event – in 2023 it took place at Royal Windsor Horse Show.

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Volunteer of the Year

Awarded by Friends of DAKS.

Overview

The Friends of DAKS ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Award, in partnership with DAKS, to recognise the many unsung volunteers who have quietly dedicated a lifetime of service and devotion within The Pony Club.

Nomination

Any District Commissioner, Centre Proprietor, Centre Coordinator or Company Member can put forward a nomination for a volunteer to be considered for the DAKS Volunteer of the Year Award. The nomination is then ratified by their Area Rep and the Chairman of The Pony Club.

 

Awards Process

Once all nominations have been received, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of The Pony Club, along with the Volunteers and Officials Committee, will decide on a shortlist of five candidates. This shortlist will be presented to DAKS who will choose the overall winner of the award.

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Cherry Award

Overview

Launched in 2022, the ‘Cherry Award’ is presented in recognition of exceptional voluntary service to The Pony Club. The award is named in memory of Cherry Michell, former Chairman of The Pony Club from 2008 to 2013.

Cherry was inclusive, warm, friendly and caring. She was passionate about The Pony Club and never failed to engage volunteers and members with her enthusiasm and charm.

Award Criteria

This award does not require a particular length of service, but it does require exceptional voluntary contribution to a Branch, Area or Centre or nationally, with evidence of achievement in the citation.

It needs to demonstrate an extraordinary level of effort creating lasting change, for example:

  • Establishing a new sport or training programme
  • Embracing IT, Health and Safety or Safeguarding
  • Taking responsibility for an aspect of the Branch, Centre or Area in co-operation with the DC, Centre Proprietor or Area Rep
  • Going above and beyond

Award Process

Once a nomination is validated, the person making the nomination will be sent a certificate and badge so that they can arrange for the nominee to receive their award at a local Branch, Centre or Area award ceremony.

Nomination

Cherry Award nominations should be made by a District Commissioner, Centre Proprietor or Company Member. Nominations can be made at any point during the year, and once received it will be validated at the next Volunteers and Officials Committee meeting.

Nominations can be submitted using an online form through the button below

Cherry Award Nomination
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MacDonald Coach Award

Overview

Launched in 2025, the MacDonald Award is presented in recognition of exceptional service to the Pony Club. The award is named to honour Vicki MacDonald BHSI who has contributed so much to PC Training and Assessment over so many years. Vicki has been a member of the Training Committee, an A test Assessor, a developer of the Pony Club Tests as well as the driving force behind our highly valued Badges.
This is specifically for PC Coaches and is parallel to the Cherry Award for volunteers.

Award Criteria

This award does not require a particular length of service but does require exceptional coaching contribution to a Branch, Centre, Area, nationally or to a specific sport, with evidence of the achievement in the citation.

Award Process

Once a nomination is validated, the person making the nomination will be sent a certificate and badge so that they can arrange for the nominee to receive their award at a local Branch, Centre or Area award ceremony.

Nomination

MacDonald Coach Award nominations must be made by an Area Representative, District Commissioner, Centre Proprietor, Sports Chairman or Company Member. Nominations can be made at any point during the year.  This award is managed by the Volunteers and Officials Committee with the approval of the Training Chairman

Nominations can be submitted using an online form through the button below

MacDonald Coach Award Nomination

Need more information?

Please see the contact details to the right.

 

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Beverley Laurie

Volunteering & Safeguarding Development Officer
T: 02476 698300 E: volunteering@pcuk.org