Now in its fifth consecutive year, the FEI Awards aim to "highlight and reward excellence, commitment, dedication and courage" within the equestrian community, with the President Princess Haya set to chair the panel of three international judges that will decide the winners.

"We are delighted that Longines has the opportunity, through the FEI Awards, to extend their support of young sport talents to outstanding athletes from the equestrian world," Princess Haya said.

"I am sure that future recipients of the Longines Rising Star Award will be honoured and encouraged by this prestigious recognition of their achievements, commitment and sporting attitude."

Longines President Walter Von Känel added: "The support of young sport talents is very important to Longines and we strive to reflect our values in the several sports in which we are involved.

"We organise a tennis tournament for children in the frame of the French Open at Roland Garros and we support young tennis talents from all over the world.

"In addition, a race of young and promising jockeys is run during the Prix de Diane Longines and in alpine skiing we support young talents with the prize Longines Rising Ski Stars.

"Together with the FEI we now decided to extend this concept and to award a talented young athlete between 14 and 21 years of any FEI discipline with the Longines Rising Star prize which is part of the FEI awards."


This year's champion will join the likes of Thai London 2012 Olympian Nina Lamsam Ligon; Chinese Beijing 2008 Olympian Alex Hua Tian; and American Caroline Roffman, who last weekend rode to a second place finish in the CDI-U25 Grand Prix Test of the CDI-U25 Grand Prix at the 2013 CHIO Aachen, on the roster of Rising Star Award winners.

"I can't express how much winning the FEI award back in 2010 boosted my confidence and my belief in myself," Roffman said.

"I am grateful to the FEI and everyone who made that happen for me.

"Most importantly, I want to encourage everyone who has the opportunity to nominate a worthy candidate, to please do so.

"They can't win if they aren't nominated and winning an FEI award is life changing."

Nominations for the 2013 FEI Awards are due to close at midnight on July 31.

The winners will then be contacted in September and invited to attend the special FEI Awards ceremony in Montreux, Switzerland, on November 7.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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