The Dutch equestrian Federation (KNHS) has announced that it will not be proclaiming a "KNHS Talent of the Year" for 2020 due to the corona pandemic.
The Dutch federation annually names one up and coming rider, who is member of the KNHS Talent Team, as the Talent of the Year based on having achieved the most stand-out performance in the competition ring in the year against his peers. S/he is traditionally honoured at the CDI-W Amsterdam in January. This competition is also cancelled.
The Talent Team has riders from three disciplines: dressage, show jumping and eventing. Because of corona unfair competitions conditions arose between the disciplines, with only the youth dressage riders having had a European Championship this year.
The dressage riders in this year's talent team are Jeanine Nieuwenhuis, Kimberly Pap, Daphne van Peperstraten, Thalia Rockx, and Marten Luiten. Maud de Reu is the only para dressage rider on the team.
"We greatly regret this but we didn't think an election (for the title) was fair," said KNHSD technical director Iris Boelhouwer. "The inequality between disciplines is too great. In normal conditions it is already difficult to compare, but now it's not equal battle. The FEI also decided to change their FEI awards this year and we follow suit. Hopefully the current team can meet in January and we can review the past year and discuss their plans and wishes for next year."
Photo © Astrid Appels
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