Olympian awarded for dedication to Pony Club

A former Olympian has received an award for 50 years of ‘outstanding dedication’ to the Pony Club.

Volunteers

Dawn Wofford (nee Palethorpe)was one of 18 recipients at the Torch Trophy Trust 52nd awards, which recognise and reward volunteers in sport in their local communities.

Dawn was a member of the Albrighton Woodland Branch of the Pony Club as a child. She went on to become an international showjumper, winning silver in the European Women’s Championships and competing at the Rome Olympics. She also won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hickstead, twice.

After retiring from international competition to bring up her family, she returned to the Pony Club where she held a number of roles.

Chairwoman

In 1985 she became the chair of the showjumping committee and went on to become the Pony Club’s national chair between 1991 and 1997. It was under her leadership the organisation became independent of the British Horse Society and a charity in its own right. Dawn also coordinated the re-writing of the Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship.

Dawn is still a member of the Pony Club training committee and until last year was the coordinator for the prestigious Pony Club ‘A’ Test.

She also runs a mini camp at her home every summer for the under nines.

“Dawn has a vast knowledge of riding and caring for horses and ponies, which she is always willing to share.” comments Cherry Michell, former chair of the Pony Club. “She is one of those very rare people who can inspire people of all ages and the Pony Club is privileged to call her one of their own.”

Contribution

Torch Trophy Trust is a charity that offers volunteers in sport and recreation bursaries to enable them to develop their skills. It also honours some of their achievements at the annual Torch Trophy Trust Awards.

Chair of the trust Sir Bobby Charlton, who spoke at the awards, said the winners have provided an “incredible contribution to our great sporting nation”.

“These volunteers are experts in their own field and we are pleased to bring attention to their tireless work,” he said. “Volunteering is more often than not a thankless task but we must remember that without volunteers’ grassroots sport simply wouldn’t be able to function.”

Dawn was nominated for the award by the British Equestrian Federation and her award was collected by her daughter, Valerie Wofford, on her behalf.