The winners of the performance prize money paid out to the riders leading British Eventing’s Grassroots Opposition Beaten Percentage (OBP) Leagues for July-August have been announced. They will each receive a pay-out of up to £300 after topping the leagues at the end of the two-month period for July/August.
Prize money is 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. The bi-monthly ‘Performance Bonus’ can only be won once within each league, and it will go down the line if the current leader has already won it in the season. The Newcomer OBP League is solely for those in their first two seasons.
Congratulations to our July/August winners:
Newcomer OBP League – Sophie Williams and Caereini Helogorjys with a OBP of 98.1%
Sophie and Caereini Helogorjys finished second in the BE80Ou18 at Frenchfield (1), followed by winning their next two events at the same level – Epworth (2) and Northallerton (2). Sophie wins £200.
“I got Toby a year ago. He’s just turned six. I came off ponies straight onto him and this is my first season eventing. I’m so pleased with how much he has come on this season – he’s gone from a proper baby to going out and smashing it. He loves the cross-country – it’s his favourite part. I’d love to take him up the levels. I’ve been keeping an eye on the leagues so it was a great feeling to eventually win.”
BE80 OBP League – Emily Hingley and Noble Topman with a OBP of 99.3%
Emily and Noble Topman have had an amazing season, winning their first four BE80 events of the season (Chillington Hall, Eland Lodge (2), Aston-le-Walls (4) and Frickley Park, followed by second place at Sapey. Emily wins £200 for the BE80 league.
“‘Noble Topman, aka Todd, is a superstar. He turned to British Eventing after a very successful working hunter career with my brother, where he competed at both Horse of the Year Show and the Royal International. At the age of 19 we just want him to be able to enjoy himself, and to have been so successful this season is just a wonderful bonus, as is being the July/August BE80 League winner. He’s been on such great form winning all his events this season and qualifying for Bramham 2025. We have a few more events in the diary for the months to come, our next one being Chillington. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to own and compete such a lovely horse and thank you to BE for organising some lovely events which means both Todd and I can keep enjoying our partnership!’”
BE90 OBP League – Charlie Wells and Won Over Clover with a OBP of 97.5%
Charlie and Won Over Clover won their first event of the season at Shelford Manor (1) in May followed by finishing second at their next two events at Northallerton (2) and Frickley Park Regional Championships, before taking another win at Epworth. They win £200.
“She was off at the start of the season with an injury so she’s come back better than ever this year. I’m really thrilled with her. I’ve had her since a four-year-old. She’s qualified for Badminton so we’ll be working hard over the winter to hopefully do well there. I’ve been so pleased with her consistency. She has come out and stepped up to everything we’ve asked her to do.” (Image courtesy of Greenwood Photography)
BE100 OBP League – Matt Cavill and Woodcroft Harvest with a OBP of 98.2%
Matt and Woodcroft Harvest won their first two BE100 opens of 2024 at Oxstalls (2) and Kingston Maurward College in June, and then finished second at West Wilts (2) in August. They win £300.
“I have had Harvey (Woodcroft Harvest) for just about a year. He’s a stunning 17hh bay gelding with a cheeky but loveable character. Having not competed for many years, I made the decision to give him a spin around some BE100’s and he’s been a complete star, finishing first in two, and second in his last event. I’m thrilled to have won the league. I’m now planning to take him around my first novice in the coming months.”
Congratulations to our winners!
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, and how you could be winning your share of this amazing prize pot, here.
