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What is the Secretary of the Year Award?

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!

How are people nominated for the Award?

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.

The 2022 award has now taken place - details for 2023 will be posted here when they are available.

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 2022 it took place at Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Nomination Forms

To make a nomination for the 2023 award please click here - nominations close on 1st March 2023.

2022 Award

The winner of the 2022 Secretary of the Year Award was Diane Shepheard from the Rufford Hunt Branch. Diane was presented with her award at Royal Windsor Horse Show by Tim Vestey (Chairman of The Pony Club) and Clare Valori (Vice Chairman of The Pony Club). Photo: Nico Morgan Media.

"As a child Diane was a member of the High Peak Pony Club but due to relocating, came to the Rufford some 35 years ago and has been an extremely hard working volunteer and committee member throughout her time with the branch. Presently she holds the positions of Secretary, Treasurer and Safeguarding Officer and her commitment and dedication to the Branch, its members and fellow volunteers is nothing short of outstanding. Over the years Diane has cooked, cleaned, fetched, carried in all weathers and her energy and never ending enthusiasm is an example to us all. It has been said (most recently by our newly appointed Area Representative) that Diane can be scary! However, to those of us that know her well, we know that this couldn't be further from the truth as she is the most loyal, thoughtful, loving, caring and fair-minded individual with a mischievous sense of humour, and is a fountain of all knowledge. We at the Rufford would like to say a huge THANK YOU for all her hard work, and as she celebrated her 70th birthday earlier this year we think it would be the icing on the cake for her to receive such a well deserved award."
Rufford Hunt Branch of The Pony Club