AWARD - Toni Venhaus is the winner of the 2017 EA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Toni has acted in the role of Honorary Secretary of Dressage NSW for 17 years, finally stepping down at the end of 2017. In this role, Toni has been the main organiser of Dressage NSW, working a minimum of 30 hours per week overseeing accounts with the Hon Treasurer, co-ordinating the NSW dressage event calendar, dealing with day-to-day administration and enquiries and taking on special tasks in 2017 such as reviewing the National Dressage Rules for input to the EADC, updating the DNSW Constitution to bring it in line with the model constitution 2017 and championing the Regional Dressage Festival initiative.

She has also been the Event Director for the iconic Sydney CDI 3* since 1992 and in 2017 the Sydney CDI was the first event in Australia to include the SAP Spectator judging App that has been so popular at large international shows in Europe. In 2017, Toni was also the Event Director for the NSW State Dressage Championships – the largest dressage event held in NSW with over 400 tests ridden and inclusive of Open, Pony, AAOR and Para-Equestrian competitors. In addition, Toni volunteers as an official at almost all of the DNSW Clarendon competitions (9 per year) and is also an FEI Steward.

In 2017, Toni was the Chief Steward at the inaugural Willinga Park Dressage by the Sea CDI2* event and also Technical Delegate (TD) at the Australian Dressage Championships at Boneo Park. Toni is an outstanding contributor to the sport of Dressage in NSW and Australia and it is hard to imagine a more dedicated and thorough volunteer than Toni. There is no-one in NSW (and possibly Australia) who knows more about the National and FEI rules and Regulations than Toni. Toni’s unflappable nature and cool head in a crisis making her an invaluable asset to our sport!

RideWithUs #EquestrianAUS #Dressage SYDNEY CDI - International Dressage Event Dressage NSW Inc

Video Courtesy of Equestrian Australia