As of now, Chris Hunnable will be taking over from the BE Chief Executive, Mike Etherington-Smith, H&C has learnt.

Mr Hunnable will be chairing the Sport Committee, whose responsibilities include Rules, Training, Performance, Safety and Fixtures.

Mike Etherington-Smith commented: “This is an exceptionally important committee at the very heart of the sport and I am delighted that Chris is taking on the role of Chairman. His experience in the sport as a rider and an organiser combined with his business background gives him a superb insight in to the issues that the Sport Committee has to consider."

The move also allows Mike to concentrate on developing the Business Plan and direction of British Eventing as well as realigning the structures and operating procedures that started in 2009.

Chris has a long association with the sport and the equestrian world which started with show jumping and working hunter ponies at an early age. At eighteen he trained with Richard Meade OBE and fell in love with Eventing. He has been competing ever since for the last twenty seven years, which includes over fifty International events and representing Great Britain in Atlanta in the 1996 Olympics.

Chris was also was responsible for running the day to day business at Towerlands Equestrian Centre which was established by his parents. He also ran a number of successful Horse Trials and served on the Sport Horse of Great Britain board for four years.

For the past five years, Chris has been running an investment company trading in financial markets with his good friend, dressage rider Robin Hudson. In addition to this, Chris is also a Sport Horse Hunter judge.

“I am incredibly excited about the prospect of this role and really pleased to be invited. I hope that I can achieve and give the time and effort back to a sport that I owe so much to and love so much” commented Chris.