Equine vets honoured at awards
Steve Goody presents Mac Johnston with the BEVA Equine Welfare Award
BEVA ceremony recognises veterinary excellence Eight equine vets were recognised for their contribution to welfare, research and equine veterinary medicine as a whole at the prestigious BEVA Awards on September 12.
The awards were presented at this year's BEVA Congress in seven categories. Professor AM "Mac" Johnston was first awarded the BEVA Equine Welfare Award, for his contribution to the welfare of horses in the Scottish Highlands.
Alongside his role as lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), Prof Johnston provided much-needed help and advice to local people and vets in the Highlands, and has become a renowned authority in public health.
This year's Richard Hartley Clinical Award went to Dr Alan Nixon of Cornell University for his research on subchondral cysts, while Nikki Van Der Vekens was honoured for her paper,
"Atrial natriuretic peptides detect cardiac dilatation".
After being given the best travel report by a recipient of the Queen Mother Student Travel Award, Adele Williams was awarded the BEVA Trust Queen Mother Award for her report on her visit to SPANA in Mali, West Africa last year.
Co-authors Benjamin Jacklin, of the RVC, and Ian Wright, from Newmarket Equine Hospital, were recognised for their contribution to both the BEVA and Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ).
This award is granted for papers that add significantly to scientific knowledge and either influence or improve equine clinical practice.
Finally, Graham Capper, who is the senior enforcement officer for Wrexham Trading Standards, was awarded the BEVA Trust/FVE Equine Transport Enforcement Award.
Graham has actively worked to improve enforcement of the current transport regulations across the UK, bringing together the different agencies involved and developing standard operating procedures.
A further award for the best clinical research presentation from general equine practice will be presented to the winner after the BEVA Congress.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
