CBC Bold Receives 2008 Dressage Canada Media Award of Excellence

[left-right] Bruce Cowley, Donna Warner, Kathryn Atkinson, Rick Davis, Nancy Wetmore (Michelle C. Dunn Photo)

Dressage Canada is proud to announce that CBC Bold is the recipient of the Dressage Canada Media Award of Excellence in recognition of their outstanding television coverage of all the equestrian sports at the 2008 Olympic Games held in Hong Kong, China.

CBC Bold provided complete same-day coverage of not only the dressage competition, but also eventing and show jumping with a dynamic team comprising of lead commentator Nancy Wetmore, dressage and eventing commentator, Cara Whitham, and Beth Underhill who covered eventing and show jumping.

The coverage by CBC Bold had equestrian enthusiasts across the country glued to their televisions from August 9–21 to watch the Canadian Equestrian Team deliver incredible and historic performances.

"CBC Bold has done incredible work to help make dressage accessible to not only existing fans, but also introduce the sport to those who have never before witnessed the power, elegance and grace that is dressage," remarked the Chair of Dressage Canada, Kerri McGregor.

The award was presented during Dressage Canada’s “A Celebration of Dressage” reception held at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair November 13th in Toronto, ON. On hand to accept the award was Bruce Cowley (Creative Head, Digital Channels—CBC Network Programming), Donna Warner (Senior Producer, CBC TV Sports), Rich Davis (Producer/Director—CBC), Kathryn Atkinson (Assistant Director—CBC TV) and Nancy Wetmore (Colour Commentator—CBC Sports).

"We are so pleased to have been recognized by Dressage Canada. We poured a lot of resources into our coverage at the Olympics and our broadcast team did a terrific job in bringing the story home to Canadians,” noted Cowley. “It was very exciting." 

The Dressage Canada Media Award of Excellence is an annual award which recognizes a media affiliate who has made significant contributions to the sport of dressage in Canada.

In 2007, equestrian photographer, Cealy Tetley, won the award for her work covering Canadian dressage riders at major international events. CBC Country Canada was the inaugural recipient of the award, in 2006, for their coverage of the 2006 World Equestrian Games  (WEG) from Aachen, Germany.