Zara Phillips named in New Year honours

World and European eventing champion Zara Phillips is to receive an award in the New Year's Honours list.

Phillips, who is 11th in line to the throne, was nominated after her winning ride at the World Equestrian Games in August. The 25-year-old is the first senior member of the royal family to receive such an award.

Phillips was also named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Zara Phillips continued her sweep of the equestrian world's top prizes when she was named Equestrian Olympic Athlete of the Year for 2006 by the British Equestrian Federation. She was presented with the trophy by her aunt, BEF patron HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, accompanied by David Hemery, Vice-Chairman of the BOA.

Owners of Team GBR championship horses were invited to the event at Greenwich Park in London to celebrate the season, including drinks with the Duchess and tours of the Olympic site for the equestrian events at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The day was organised with support from the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and was held in recognition of the owners, who make such a generous contribution to the sport.

Representatives from UK Sport, the British Olympic Association, the British Paralympic Association, Royal Parks and Greenwich council also attended. The Reception was supported by the Equestrian World Class programme and the British Equestrian Federation Fund.

The day culminated in the inaugural presentation of two trophies, given to the British Equestrian Federation for presentation by the British Olympic Association (BOA). 2005 was a momentous year for the BOA and the Olympic and Paralympic Family in Great Britain and Northern Ireland with the BOA celebrating its centenary, and the awarding of the 2012 Olympic Games to London. To mark the occasion, the BOA decided to present each of the 35 Olympic governing bodies with a trophy which they can in turn present to their Olympic athlete of the year.

Zara Phillips was recognised for her major eventing wins in 2006; before this year only two people in history had won back to back European and World individual titles. On August 27, in the pouring rain at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, Zara Phillips became the third such person, when crowned Individual World Champion and a part of the Great Britain silver medal winning Team.

Similarly, the Owner of the Year Trophy is to be awarded on an annual basis to honour the Olympic Owner of the Year. The trophy, this year, was awarded to BGC Partners and Associated Companies, represented by Mr James Blackshaw.

James, better known as Jimmy, Blackshaw's formal connection with Zara Phillips and Toytown started in 2003 through Cantor Index; Zara and Jimmy had however known each other for a numbers of years through Racing. Jimmy Blackshaw and Cantor have provided great support and encouragement to Zara and are very much part of the team that has delivered such outstanding success.

Hugh Thomas, Chairman of the BEF said; “The event was the ideal setting to thank our owners for their ongoing involvement and support, especially as we look towards London 2012. The awards and the visit from our Patron ensured this will be a memorable day for all.”