Alltech and the IAEJ announce 2016 A+ Award winners

Lexington, Ky. July 4, 2016. — Alltech and the International Alliance of Equestrian Journalists (IAEJ) are pleased to announce the winners of the 2015-2016 Alltech A+ Award for outstanding coverage of international equestrian sport.

The A+ Award was established in 2010 by Alltech, in collaboration with the IAEJ, to reward creativity, passion and excellence in equestrian journalism. Initially, the focus of the awards program was coverage of the 2010 and 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The theme for the 2015-2016 contest was “Stories of Triumph”.

The highly competitive contest, which attracted entries from around the world, was judged by Grania Willis, FEI communications director, Alan Smith, former Daily Telegraph equestrian correspondent, and photographer Peter Llewellyn, photo manager for the 2012 London Olympic and 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games. The judges deliberated without knowing the names of the contestants. No one from IAEJ or Alltech was involved in the judging process.

“It is a delight to continue to honor the creative storytellers within the equestrian world” said Susanna Elliott, corporate communications manager at Alltech.  “They captivate us with their words, mesmerize us with their photos and draw us into a deeper understanding and appreciation of the horse”

The winners of this year’s Alltech A+ Award are:

  • Article Category: Kim F. Miller, Newport Beach, California, USA; “The Comeback Kids” published in California Riding Magazine, August 2015 issue.
  • Broadcast Category: Jan Tönjes, Hamburg, Germany; broadcast from the FEI Grand Prix Dressage Freestyle featuring an interview with the top three riders; Aachen, Germany, broadcast on St. Georg LIVE on Aug. 16, 2015.
  • Photo Category: Julia Shearwood, Navenby, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom; photograph of Laura Collett and Grand Manoeuvre from the 2015 Longines FEI European Eventing Championships hosted by Blair Castle International Horse Trials; published as the cover photo in Horse & Hound magazine, Sept. 3, 2015.

Tönjes, the editor of St. Georg magazine, is a three-time winner, having also scooped the award in 2013 and 2015. Shearwood is also a repeat winner, having taken the top prize for another photograph in 2012. Each of the winners will receive an Alltech A+ Award trophy and a $500 USD prize.

“The IAEJ is extremely grateful to Alltech for its continued recognition of the media and its contribution to equestrian sport” said Pamela Young, IAEJ president. “Alltech’s generous support for these awards is much appreciated by our members, who work tirelessly to convey the passion and beauty of our sport worldwide.”

The dates, times and locations for award presentations will be announced soon. For more information about the Alltech A+ Award, IAEJ membership or to see past Alltech A+ Award recipients, visit equijournalists.com and click on Awards.

About Alltech:

Founded in 1980 by Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech improves the health and performance of people, animals and plants through nutrition and scientific innovation, particularly yeast-based technology, nutrigenomics and algae. With more than 100 manufacturing sites globally, Alltech is the leading producer and processor of yeast and organic trace minerals, and its flagship algae production facility in Kentucky is one of only two of its kind in the world.

The company’s guiding ACE principle seeks to develop solutions that are safe for the Animal, Consumer and the Environment and is actively supported by more than 5,000 team members worldwide.

Alltech is the only privately-held company among the top five animal health companies in the world. This is a source of competitive advantage, which allows Alltech to adapt quickly to emerging customer needs and to stay focused on advanced innovation and long-term objectives. Headquartered just outside of Lexington, Kentucky, USA, Alltech has a strong presence in all regions of the world. For further information, visit www.alltech.com/news.