His Majesty the King, Mohamed VI, King of Morocco, owner of the top ranked bay Stallion Quickly de Kreisker, has been named Owner of the Year for 2015 by the Jumping Owners Club.

Ridden by Moroccan star Abdelkebir Ouaddar, Quickly de Kreisker enjoyed a string of successes throughout 2015, including notable victories in the CSI5* Al Shaqab Grand Prix and in the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Doha, as well as victories in the CSI4* in Bourg en Bresse; CSI5* Saint-Tropez and CSI 5*Chantilly. The pair also placed many times in various high-level classes in 2015.

The Award was presented by Christian Baillet, President of the Jumping Owners Club, to Prince Moulay Abdellah Alaoui, President of the Royal Moroccan Federation for Equestrian Sports and Abdelkebir Ouaddar, on behalf of His Majesty the King Mohamed VI, during the CSIO 5* La Baule (FRA) .

“It is so important to recognise the incredible commitment and passion the owners dedicate to our sport, as well as the support they provide to ensure our athletes have access to world-class horses", FEI President, Ingmar de Vos said. "Owners play such a crucial role and go unrecognised far too often. Without them we wouldn't have a sport. This award is to acknowledge that dedication and loyalty, and we are delighted that the 2015 Owner of the Year award goes to His Majesty Mohamed VI, King of Morocco for his wonderful horse Quickly de Kreisker. Quickly and his rider Abdelkebir Ouaddar are a joy to watch and have given so many people so much pleasure. We wish them every success for their Olympic debut in Rio where they will be the first Moroccan equestrian athletes to compete at the Olympic Games.”

The FEI Owner of the Year Award was created in 2004 to recognise the most successful owner of each year in the discipline of Jumping. To determine the winner, a classification is established for all horse and rider combinations based on points during the calendar year. The owner of the horse of the winning combination receives the award; a bronze sculpture specifically created for the Jumping Owners Club.

Christian Baillet, President of the Jumping Owners Club was pleased to hear that a horse competing for Morocco was named best horse of the year, “The Jumping Owners Club is proud to highlight the importance of owners in Equestrian Sports. This year’s award is very special as it is going to His Majesty Mohamed VI, King of Morocco, who is greatly helping to promote equestrian sports in his country. It is also a perfect illustration of the growing universalisation of show-Jumping which is very promising for the future of Equestrian Sports”.

The choice of the CSIO La Baule is noteworthy, Christian Baillet continued: “The Club was glad to have the opportunity to present the trophy in France, home country of legendary rider Marcel Rozier, who has been successfully training the Moroccan team for many years.”

Previous winners of the Owner of the Year Award are John, Pat and Lisa Hales (GBR) for Arko III in

2004 and 2005; Mrs Serena Hamberg (AUT) for The Sixth Sense in 2006; Mrs Nancy Clark (USA) for Shutterfly in 2007; Mr Eric Lamaze (CAN) & Mr John Fleischhacker (USA) for Hickstead in 2008, 2009 and 2010, Mrs Beverley Widowson (GBR) for Carlo 273 in 2011 and Big Star in 2012, Jane Clark for Cella in 2013 and the Holsteiner Association for Casall Ask in 2014.

Created by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) in 2004, the Jumping Owners Club is an exclusive organisation of international owners which works towards growing the popularity of the sport around the world. It is the only body which represents the views and opinions of the owners, and works closely alongside the FEI in building the profile and inclusiveness of Jumping.

Photo caption (from L-R): Prince Moulay Abdellah Alaoui, President of the Royal Moroccan Federation for Equestrian Sports, Abdelkebir Ouaddar & Quickly de Kreisker, Christian Baillet, President of the

Jumping Owners Club and Rémi Cléro, President of the CSIO5* La Baule ©PSV/Jean Morel

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Jumping Owners Club with FEI Email info@compear.ch www.jumpingownersclub.com
Tel: +41 22 735 13 22
Cel: +41 78 608 03 23