Every year, the British Equestrian Federation presents Medals of Honour to those who have made an outstanding contribution to the sport of eventing.

Jane Tuckwell (pictured), director of MARS Badminton Horse Trials, has been associated with this event for more than 50 years, starting as a Pony Club runner, then event secretary under Col Frank Weldon, Assistant Director to Hugh Thomas and, on Hugh’s retirement in 2019, Director.

The award recognises Jane’s exceptional eye for detail, her vast experience and the people skills and charm that keep the world’s oldest, most famous Horse Trials at the top of the sport after 76 years plus riders, owners, spectators and some 800 volunteers coming back year after year.

Nicky Salmon, Badminton’s Chief Steward, is a familiar and reassuring face at international events and championships. She has been involved in the sport for decades as a British Eventing steward and as an owner – her horse Lord Killinghurst, ridden by Andrew Nicholson, was the Badminton runner-up in 2004 – who was pivotal in setting up the Event Horse Owners Association. She is currently on BE’s Sport Committee.

In addition, one of the behind-the-scenes mainstays of Badminton, Harry Verney, is retiring after 35 years as site manager. His is an enormous job – everything from the arenas and tentage to loos and infrastructure – and he will have been in residence in the park here for some months before the event. He will hugely missed.