Equita Lyon (FRA) and CP Wellington Masters (USA) have been announced as the winners of the Best Press Office awards for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Series 2015/2016. Equita Lyon takes the award for the Western European League and CP Wellington Masters is the winner of the new North American League award.
The Equita Lyon press team, headed by Martine Dolbeau, received extensive praise for its working conditions, particularly the press viewing box. The voting media also highlighted the friendly, efficient service of the press office and attention to detail as outstanding features of the event.
“It is an honour and a pleasure to receive this award and I’m proud that the media have elected our press service”, Sylvie Robert Equestrian events manager of GL events group and President of Équita Lyon horse show said. “I am really pleased that my press team has won this well-deserved reward for the work they have achieved over the years welcoming the press in the best way they can at Lyon horse show. I thank the media and the FEI for this formal recognition and look forward to welcoming everyone again in Lyon next October.”
The press office at the CP Wellington Masters, led by Mason Phelps, was commended for its ringside work stations overlooking the competition field, as well as its excellent flash interview zone and press conference facilities. The first-rate catering was also applauded along with the overall service provided by the press office team.
“The Wellington Masters is honored to be recognised by the FEI for its press office facilities and service”, Lou Jacobs, Co-President of the CP Wellington Masters presented by Sovaro, said. “We had the pleasure of hosting a wide range of media, reporting on the world’s finest riders and horses, and with the help of our impressive sponsors we aimed to produce an event worthy of everyone’s talent. We look forward to an even bigger and better competition next year.”
The official presentation ceremony of the awards took place during the Longines FEI World Cup™ Finals at the Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg (SWE).
“We are really delighted to present this season’s awards to Equita Lyon and the CP Wellington Masters”, FEI Director of Press Relations Grania Willis said. “Having two award winners makes it even more special now that we recognise the best press office in Western Europe and in the North American League of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping.
“The media is central to getting global exposure for our sport, so it is crucial that the event press offices provide them with top-class facilities to enable them to do their job. The press office teams work incredibly hard and are so often the unsung heroes. These awards recognise excellence and encourage organisers to put in place the best on-site and online media services for the thousands of journalists covering the sport each year.”
The coveted award, which was first introduced in 2011, is voted for by accredited media and celebrates the invaluable role of the press office at the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping events. The 2015/2016 season saw the introduction of a second category for the award to include the North American League.
Previous award winners:
2010/2011 Stuttgart Masters
2011/2012 Jumping Verona
2012/2013 London Olympia
2013/2014 Gothenburg
2014/2015 London Olympia
Source: press release FEI
