Chartered Surveying firm’s MD appointed to the world’s governing body for equestrian Olympic sport

World's only judges' representative

21 December 2017

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Andrew Gardner, Managing Director of Cooke & Arkwright, has been appointed a member on the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Dressage Committee. Founded in 1921, the FEI is the world’s governing body for equestrian Olympic sport.

It regulates equestrian programmes at championships and continental and regional games, as well as the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Andrew became a 5*/O-dressage judge in 2011, adjudicating at the highest level achievable in the dressage discipline. He replaces outgoing member, Mexican 5* judge, Maribel Alonso on the FEI Dressage Committee as the world’s only judges’ representative.

Andrew’s ‘alternative career’ in judging began 30 years ago and has progressed through many posts. He was originally a member of the British Horse Society’s Dressage Committee, including a period as Chairman of International Selection. He was part of the working group that helped form British Dressage Limited and is a past Board Director. He was Chairman of British Judges for two terms and has sat on the committee that oversees judge training and examinations. His latest appointment is the culmination of many years of dedication to the specialist equestrian sport, which has taken him to Australia, the USA, Canada, South America, Scandinavia, Russia and the Middle East, and all over Europe.

Andrew comments, “It is a great honour to be appointed to the FEI Dressage Committee. My judging career has taken me on many trips throughout the world and I have been very lucky to see the sport grow in strength and popularity, especially in Great Britain.”

Andrew is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He joined the firm as a graduate in 1985 and became a Director in 2002, and Managing Director in 2011. He has conducted major asset valuations and provided professional advice for leading Welsh organisations and public bodies, and is active in residential development land agency, where he advises both public and private sector land owners.

Cardiff Waterside is a significant property holding for Aviva Investors at almost 500,000 sq ft. Our experiences show the benefit of working with a regional specialist where occupational markets can be unlocked with a good team with excellent local contacts. Ben Bolton and his team have done this for us for many years and been fundamental to our success and a very low void rate in Cardiff.

Matthew Leach, Arriva Capital Waterside