Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire: Now in its fifth year, the prestigious Eqvalan Thesis of the Year Awards 2003 will be held in the Royal Pavilion at Stoneleigh Park on
1st November 2003 during the British Equine Event.

Five bright students selected from 20 equine colleges around the UK have been short listed to present their original research thesis to a panel of equine industry professionals in their attempt to win the Eqvalan Thesis of the Year Award for 2003.

The Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) initiated award is designed to reward academic excellence within colleges offering equine degree courses. Each of the 20 universities approached selected their sharpest students to represent them under the close scrutiny of the Eqvalan sponsored panel of judges.

After some deliberation due to the exceptionally high standard of submissions, five entrants were chosen to go forward to the final part of the selection process.

Mike Calvert, Chief Executive of the Royal Agricultural Society says: "The awards are designed to recognise student excellence and also to close the gap between colleges and the industry. We are spotlighting excellent research conducted by colleges that otherwise lays unrecognised. These students represent the research industry's executives of the future and we want to provide them with a showcase within which to highlight their work."

Eqvalan, is a leading equine parasite control product developed by Merial, one of the world's leading animal health care companies with the largest research and development investment in the animal health industry.

The five finalists are due to prepare a fifteen minute overview of their work to be presented to the judges on 1st November at the British Equine Event held at Stoneleigh Park. They are then subject to intensive questioning about their work which is then reviewed by the panel of judges.

Last year's winner was Lynne Uttley, a student of Hartpury College in Gloucestershire who is currently carrying on her research into equine dentistry via a master's degree also at Hartpury says: "Following the event went on to speak at the National Equine Forum in London which was a brilliant experience and a fabulous day for me. Winning the award has made a huge impact on my life. My name and work are now known within the equine research world and equine dentistry is now highlighted as a recognised
research field."

Each competitor will receive an engraved momento from RASE and a commemorative certificate. The winner will receive a cheque for £500, and the runner up £200.

The following five finalists will present their final year Bachelor's thesis to the panel:

Jessica Davies The molecular genetics of equine stereotypic behaviour
Royal Agricultural College (Circencester)

Hannah Jane Haskew The effect of different coloured ramp matting on loading behaviour in horses
Nottingham Trent University

Rachel Heenan Foal Pneumonia and subsequent race and sales performance
University of Limerick

Hannah Sweeting Storage of equine concentrate feeds: implications of mould and mycotoxin contamination
Writtle College

Kirsty Dougal Molecular mechanisms involved in equine regulatory motifs for transcriptional Factors controlling the expression of MMP-2 in the equine lamellae
University of Aberdeen laminitis:

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