THE top student of the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority Companion Animal Medicines (GSL) Sales Staff Examination has been awarded.

Best Student Award, sponsored by the Pet Care Trust, was awarded to Joanna Boughton, Technical Manager at Dorwest Herbs, who specialise in licensed herbal medicines and are based in Bridport, Dorset. Mary Boughton, her mother, also from Dorwest Herbs, collected the awarded on her behalf from Mr Ted Chandler, Chief Executive of the Animal Health Trust at the Annual Dinner of the National Office of Animal health on 20 April, in London.


The Training and Certification of Companion Animal Medicines (GSL) Sales Staff award, which comes under the umbrella of the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority, was devised by the Pet Care Trust, with full support from NOAH and AMTRA. It is designed for retailers of GSL pet medicines to the public and for manufacturers’ sales representatives selling pet medicines on the General Sales List to retailers.

Speaking in London, NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley explained why NOAH was delighted to host the presentation of these awards. “The importance of the companion animal sector to our industry continues to grow, indeed now makes up about 55% of the turnover.

“To fulfil their important role, animals need to be healthy. Advice on medicines, which animals need to keep them healthy, needs to be good. Joanna’s excellence - and indeed all those with the AMTRA qualification - has proved that they are excellently placed to help people make the right choices for the health and welfare of their companion animals”, he added.

Joanna Boughton

Joanna was born and raised in West Dorset, moving to Cardiff to complete her studies at the University of Cardiff, where she gained a BSc 2.1 in Environmental Geoscience and went on to obtain a MSc in Applied Environmental Geology, obtaining a distinction in her dissertation which can be found in the University of Wales library.

Several years after graduating she decided to return to West Dorset to work for her family business, Dorwest Herbs, which was founded by her grandparents over 50 years before. Dorwest Herbs is the leading company in the UK producing licensed veterinary herbal medicines and dietary supplements for dogs and cats. She joined as their Technical Manager over three years ago and thoroughly enjoys her varied role, although she is specifically involved in the licensing and regulatory affairs.

She is very much a country girl at heart and is joined at work every day by her two whippets, which are her main interest. She is on the committee of the South West Whippet Club and participates in lure-coursing events and has also enjoyed considerable success showing her dogs and was at Crufts this year on the green carpet!

She also enjoys keeping fit and skiing and gets away to the mountains whenever possible!