The first four winners of the performance prize money paid out to the riders leading British Eventing’s new Grassroots Opposition Beaten Percentage (OBP) Leagues have been announced. They will each receive a pay-out of up to £300 after topping the leagues at the end of the first two months of the season.
The recently announced grassroots leagues, powered by EquiRatings, are set to pay out a share of a £10,000 prize fund this season to members who are competing at BE80, BE90 and BE100 level, plus those who have recently started competing with British Eventing at those levels.
Prize money will be paid out every other month to the person at the top of each of the leagues as well as the overall winners at the end of the season and we can now announce our very first winners:
Newcomer OBP League – Lara Bailey and Carnsdale Hello
Lara Bailey and Carnsdale Hello (Maisie) will receive a pay-out of £200 for topping the Newcomer OBP League. Their OBP was 93.1% for March/April 2022.
Lara is 14 years old and a member of BE’s regional youth programme (South East). She goes to Sevenoaks School in Kent and is also a member of West Kent Sevenoaks Pony Club.
“I started competing at BE90 level last year on a pony called Rock Melody, who is just 14 hands. We have owned Maisie (Carnsdale Hello) since November.
“Maisie has been a big step up for me from ponies and we are really just starting to get to know each other, so has been amazing to get placed at our first events. We are currently competing at BE90 level and hoping to step up to BE100 by the end of the season.
“We do the U18 classes and Maisie has also qualified for an Area Festival, so we are planning to enter one this summer. At home she loves attention and keeping busy!”
BE80 OBP League – Deborah Burrell and Imperial Tangle
Deborah and Imperial Tangle (Impy) will receive a pay-out of £200 for leading the BE80 OBP League. Their OBP was 98.1% for March/April 2022.
“I have been riding since I was six-years-old and eventing since 2013, with some minor placings,” said Deborah. “My husband bought Impy for me in 2017 and she has given me five wonderful years of eventing. I have five children, so riding and competing gives me some ‘me time’. One of my children was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer and Impy helped me be strong and cope with the many hours of being in hospital with my son.
“Winning the Performance Prize is very rewarding; it makes the hard work and many hours of training and practicing feel really worthwhile. The money will certainly help towards the cost of entry fees, fuel, lessons and buying essential equipment needed. I think Impy will definitely get an extra bag of carrots too!
“Thank you British Eventing for rewarding and encouraging grassroots riders.”
BE90 OBP League – Sheila Williams and Boby
Sheila Williams and Boby will receive a pay-out of £250 after topping the BE90 OBP League.
BE100 OBP League – Lola Graham and Djakota EB
Lola Graham and Djakota EB (Hugo) will receive a pay-out of £300 for leading the BE100 OBP League. Their OBP was 97.9% for March/April 2022.
Lola, who has just turned 14-years-old is in her third season of competing with BE and she loves the challenges of eventing. Djakota EB is a new partnership this season and is described by Lola and her family as ‘a big step up from ponies, but one cool customer’.
“I have had a fantastic season so far riding Hugo and my main aim is to keep improving and hopefully move up to Novice by the end of the season,” said Lola. “Hugo is such a kind horse and we are working hard to hopefully get some more good results.
“Huge thanks to British Eventing for the Performance Prize, I am thrilled. I can’t believe it and Hugo will be getting lots of extra carrots! Thank you.”
The Leagues have been designed around the concept of the Opposition Beaten Percentage (OBP), the brainchild of Equiratings, and acknowledge how competitive a combination was in a particular class – the greater the number of fellow competitors that they finished ahead of, the better the score. Find out more about the leagues here.
