EVENTER Harry Meade has won the British Equestrian Writers' Association leading rider award for 2014.

Meade, who is based at West Littleton, near Chippenham, made a stunning comeback from career-threatening elbow injuries suffered in a competition fall 16 months ago.

He finished third at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in May, then gained selection for Great Britain's silver medal-winning team at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, where he rode a brilliant cross-country clear round on Wild Lone, only for his horse to collapse and die at the finish.

Even then, 31-year-old Meade faced the waiting media, when he paid an emotionally-charged tribute to Wild Lone and won many new admirers for how he coped with the tragedy.

Meade was presented with the BEWA Trophy by BEWA chairman Andrew Baldock at the Association's annual lunch and awards ceremony in central London on Thursday.

Dressage wonderhorse Valegro was again voted horse of the year after adding world title glory to the Olympic and European crowns already held with British star Charlotte Dujardin, while 21-year-old showjumper Spencer Roe received the Worshipful Company of Saddlers award of a new saddle.

The Liz Dudden Trophy, meanwhile, for an outstanding contribution to equestrian sport went to Daily Telegraph equestrian correspondent Pippa Cuckson.