Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Welcome to York Racecourse for the British Show Horse Association AGM. 

My speech today will be quite short, I can hear you all say thank goodness for that. 

The Association has had a good year starting off with the Spring Show, although it would be great to see a few more members entering, it was still a successful event. 

Moving on through the season, members were out in force and enjoying their horses, this was especially evident at the RIHS, where there were some huge classes, most notably in the Amateur classes. The Association has had a meeting with RIHS and negotiated for next year a Home-Produced Championship, a wonderful addition to the timetable for the Amateurs at RIHS. 

HOYS as usual was hotly contested both in the qualifiers and at the finals and despite the controversies in the hack classes, everyone appeared to have enjoyed their respective classes. The National Championships were successful, fun and with very well filled classes. It was great to see the camaraderie and sportsmanship from everyone. 

On behalf of the Association, I can only apologise for the mistakes at HOYS. I spoke to everyone concerned to apologise and everyone was charming. 

We held a successful Judges Assessment Day at the Unicorn Centre in Stow on the Wold, where 23 candidates attended and those who were successful will undertake their probationary appointments next year. 

I would like to welcome the new Board members Darren Price, Debbie Harrod and Michelle Underwood and returning Board members. Our thanks and gratitude must go to Ian Darcy for all his years of hard work and dedication on behalf of the Association. 

Finally, my sincere thanks go to all our very generous sponsors, we would be lost without each and every one of you and to you, the members, for your support of the Association, the judges, stewards and everyone that supports the BSHA. 

Thanks also to the Board, who may I remind you, are all volunteers and work extremely hard on your behalf. 

Lastly, due to family reasons – aged parents – and it has been a very hard decision, I am standing down as Chairman and coming off the Board, I have enjoyed my time as Chairman and could not have done it without the backing of my fellow Board members but I must mention two people especially and they are Philippa and my friend of forty plus years Lucy Killingbeck, their support and advice has been invaluable. 

Simon Somers