New British Eventing Chair Announced

Paul is photographed here in the Prize Giving at Richmond Horse Trials August 2014 with Julie Lawson (winner of the Intermediate section). Image courtesy of Chris Lax.

Congratulations to Paul Hodgson, who will become Chairman of the Board as of 1st March 2015, following a decision made by the British Eventing Board of Directors on Tuesday 3rd February.

Paul, who has been Vice Chair of the British Eventing Organisers Association (BEOA) in recent months and is Joint Organiser of Richmond Horse Trials, replaces Hugh Thomas, Director of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Beyond his love of the sport of Eventing, he has been deeply involved in hunting and has been MFH and Field Master of the Bedale Hunt for the last six seasons, 2008 – 2014. His whole family are supporters of the Bedale Hunt. Paul’s step daughter, Chloe Page is regularly, to be seen competing on the BS circuit.  Prior to his current responsibilities, Paul had a career in the Army, initially as a Regular Officer and subsequently as a Reserve Officer.

BE Chief Executive Mike Etherington-Smith said: “We are hugely grateful to Hugh for stepping in to Chair the Board since April last year. He has been a fantastic asset to BE and head office during this time. I am delighted to welcome Paul to the Board. He comes with a wide breadth of experience not just in the equestrian world but also commercially and we are all looking forward to working with him”

Paul who has a portfolio of responsibilities which include Richmond Equestrian Centre (REC), a family Leisure business, and works for a Pension Company commented: “I am committed to this wonderful Sport. I will look to bringing a practical and pragmatic approach, as you would expect from a Scotsman who has lived in Yorkshire for 20 Years.”

“I feel privileged to take the Chair of the BE Board. This is a fantastic Sport which has a wide spectrum of participants, with whom I am looking forward to working and interacting with, from our British teams, to grassroots level riders, to the Volunteers, to the Owners, to the Riders, to the Organisers, to our great home team within the Office and all our Officials in the Field.”

“As part of the BE Board, I wish to face into the current challenges so that we drive forward with a clear strategy to benefit all. I am looking forward to working with the Board to shape this strategy.”

“Finally, I wish to pay tribute, thank and recognise Hugh Thomas for his wise contribution as Chairman. He has certainly left some rather large boots to fill!”

The BE Board

Paul joins the existing Board which comprises: 

• Suzi Cotterill
• Mike Etherington-Smith (ex officio)
• Alex Fox
• Tim Holderness-Roddam
• Guy Prest
• Giles Rowsell
• Nigel Taylor