Minutes from the Annual General Meeting 2025
Held on Monday 6th January 2025 at 7.00pm at Addington
1 Welcome address by Sam York FBHS – Chair.
Sam welcomed everyone to Addington.
2 Attendance and Apologies for Absence (Committee members in bold)
Attendance: Sam York, Judith Murphy, Alison Craig, Danny Anholt, Amy Bannister-Bell, Brendan Bergin, Becky Monk, Jen Morris, Liza Allen, Islay Auty, Ruth Baxter-Thompson, Carol Bennitt, Cheryl Bezants, Julie Biggs, Nicole Biggs, Anne Bondi, Ann Bostock, Beth Boyes, Biddy Brasted-Watts, Jess Campbell, Mandy Chaffin, Sam Champney-Warrener, Jo Chilcott, Annette Christey, Laurel Cooke, Becky Cooper, Sarah Corner, Mark Cunliffe, Maggie Doel, Tim Downes, Liz Eaton, Cherry Elvin, Emily Farleigh, Jason Ferguson, Kirsty Fontaine-Henley, Steph Geran, Chris Gillison, Jennifer Ham, Wayne Hamilton, Caro Haynes, Ellie Halsey, Judy Harvey, Sally Jackson, Gary Johnston, Richard Johnston-Smith, Sabrina Jones, Rachel Lee, David Llewellyn, Mandy Luesley, Leanne Macbeth, Sarah MacDonald, Mima Manning, Helen Martin, Debbie Melville, Becky Monk, Lisa Morris, Fran Norton, Rose Aherne O’Gorman, Ann Peate, Caroline Peatfield, Annette Philpot, Danny Reddan, Jane Reed, Sue Ricketts, Mark Robinson, Kylie Roddy, Tessa Ryley, David Sheerin, Jayne Smart, Eric Smiley, Simon Somers, Lisa Spence, Dan Spencer, Sarah Spencer-Williams, Clare Stryzyk, Angelo Telatin, Jenny Ward, Katie White, Karen Whiston, Rachel Wright.
Apologies: Nick Turner, Christian Allderidge, Alice Bannister-Bell, Andrew Bennie, William Blane, Frances Cattell, Carole Broad, Nicola Brook, Carrie Byrom, Julian Campbell, Sue Charters, Clare Chamberlayne, Donn Collins, Margie Craib, Stephen Cruikshank, Sarah Dale, Joanna Day, Linda DeMatteo, Becky Diamond, Ann Dicker, Ernest Dillon, Charlotte Duncan, Jocelyn Drummond, Liz Fellowes, Sarah Fitton, Debbie Follett, Victoria Gallantree, Lyndsay Gammon, Julia Gourley, Jennifer Ham, Beth Bradbury, Fiona Harrison, Amanda Holloway, Pippa Hatton, Nikki Herbert, Pammy Hutton, Jane Jarvis, Jennifer Johnston-Harman, Chris Hewlett, Hilary Hughes, Donald Kear, Posy Knapp, Dale Lasseter, Rosie Lord, Jennie Loriston-Clarke, Rob Lovatt, Anthony Lowry, Erik MacKechnie-Guire, Russell MacKechnie-Guire, Tessa Martin-Bird, Kathy Merrick, Oonagh Meyer, Jeremy Michaels, Alec Miles, Caroline Moore, Sandra Morrison, Maria Naynuk, Liz Neal, Sally Newcomb, Aart Noordijk, Kirsten Owen, Sue Payne, Linda Pearce, Robert Pickles, Sue Pimbley, Faith Ponsonby, Gemma Porter-Rawlings, Patrick Print, Heidi Reed, Liz Rennie, Sue Ringrose, Alex Robarts, Dianne Roberts, Sally Robinson, Alex Robinson-Barr, Jillie Rogers, Clare Sansom, Catherine Shine, Sarah Simpson, Caroline Stevenson, Sarah Stewart, Wendy Suddes, Sarah Thorne, Hugh Train, Melissa Troup, Elspeth Watson, Debbie Wilson, Jo Winfield, Lizzel Winter.
3 Minutes of last AGM (held 3rd January 2024 at Addington)
The minutes were approved as a correct record, proposed by Ann Bostock, seconded by Tim Downes.
4 Matters Arising from those Minutes
No matters arising that aren’t covered below.
5 Chairman’s Review for the Year 2024
See attached “F&I Chairman’s Report for 2024” presented by Sam York FBHS.
6 Treasurer’s Report for the Year 2024 (details attached)
Jude Murphy reported that as of 31/12/2024 we have just over 200 members, and have acquired 5 new BHSI members during the year, 4 of whom were present tonight. See attached financial summary (available just 2 days after the year end and already audited and signed off by our independent examiner). Events in 2024 either made a small loss, broke even, or were profitable – and the Committee had agreed to subsidise events as needed so that they all ran. Detailed analysis by event available if anyone wishes to go through the detail – email our Treasurer Jude Murphy.
The £2,408 profit for the year reflects the excellent events run that were well supported and made money for both charitable donations and the Association. This all helps to subsidise the costs of running the Annual Course each year. See attached financial statements /report. The accounts were proposed by Jen Morris, seconded by Danny Anholt.
7 Election of Committee for 2025
As outlined in the “Committee elections and planning for the AGM” document and emails sent out to all members prior to the meeting, we have received two nominations for the two places arising from Sam York reaching the end of her 9 year stint on Committee, and Nick Turner’s resignation from the Committee due to pressure of work.
The nominations were as follows:
Anne Bondi BHSI – proposed by Tim Downes and seconded by Wendy Suddes
Emily Farleigh BHSI – proposed by Becky Monk and seconded by Mark Cunliffe.
Both were duly voted onto Committee.
In addition, it is in the gift of the Committee members to choose their Chair from amongst their number, and, as announced earlier by email, Liz Eaton FBHS put herself forward and was duly voted into post by the Committee. At the AGM she introduced herself, and explained that her Vice-Chair would be Danny Anholt FBHS.
The F&I Committee for 2025 will therefore be Chaired by Liz Eaton FBHS, with Vice Chair Danny Anholt FBHS, supported by Treasurer Jude Murphy FBHS, and Committee members Amy Bannister-Bell BHSI, Anne Bondi BHSI, Brendan Bergin BHSI, Emily Farleigh BHSI, Becky Monk BHSI, and Jen Morris BHSI.
The permanent (non-voting) Hon Secretary will be Alison Craig BHSI.
8 Remembrance
Sam York acknowledged that our one loss during the year 2024 was of our Founder and Life President, Barbara Slane Fleming FBHS, who died at home at the age of 103. Much has already been publicised in her various obituaries, both in F&I correspondence and within the BHS, including fulsome tributes from many F&I members who knew and worked with her over the many decades in which she taught, trained, judged and contributed to the equestrian community. We are all incredibly grateful to Barbara for founding this very special Association.
9 Presentation of Annual Awards
Sam Champney Warrener BHSI – thank you from everyone for running the closed Facebook page so well for us.
Sally Newcomb BHSI – thank you from everyone for running the website so well for us.
Jude Murphy FBHS and Alison Craig BHSI – thank you for keeping everything running so impeccably for F&I throughout the year.
Thank you to all those running Study Groups over the 2 days, our excellent discussion group Day 1 speaker Angelo Telatin FBHS, and our superb trainers this year Dickie Waygood MBE and Judy Harvey FBHS. And all the riders!
Thank you to the incredible Ann Bostock BHSI, who runs this annual course magnificently!
Presentations of the F&I Annual Awards:
The Tom Searle Award – for “an up-and-coming member who is supportive and inspirational” – Dan Spencer BHSI.
The Achievement Award – for “determination and commitment to the path they want to follow” – presented to Jen Morris BHSI
The Pat Smallwood Award – for “exceptional effort, service and support to F&I” – presented to Sam York FBHS
The Kiitoss Award – to the horse who has supported the F&I and BHS – presented to Annette Christey BHSI for Kiitoss
The Queen Elizabeth II Award – for “dedication to the wider equine industry, as recognised by F&I” – (presented earlier in the day) to Pammy Hutton FBHS
The Barbara Slane Fleming Award – for “dedication to education in the BHS and the wider equestrian industry” – presented to Tim Downes FBHS
Much celebration!
10 Any Other Business
Dates for 2025 will be on email, the F&I closed facebook page and the F&I website as soon as announced.
Next Scottish Equine Coach Assembly – 2/3 February 2026 SNEC
11 Date of next AGM
Annual Course Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th January 2026, at Addington.
AGM Monday 5th January 2026 at Addington.