New eventing league launched for rising stars
A new league that aims to recognise talented British combinations making their way up the rankings has been launched by British Eventing (BE) for the 2015 season.
The new BE future talent two-star league has received sponsorship from an anonymous supporter.
It will run throughout 2015, with the winner being the combination that amasses the most BE points at CIC2* and CCI2* events. Both the owner and the rider of the winning horse will receive a shared prize fund of £5,000 at the end of the season.
The league is only open to British riders on horses that have not competed at three or four star level and are nine years old or younger.
“I think it is very important that our British riders are supported, and we wanted to find a way to encourage owners to do so,” said the anonymous supporter.
“We want the best combinations available for team selection and in my view, two-star competition is the time when talented partnerships between horse and rider are first identified.
“The hope is that they become cemented as a team to go forward onto three and four star level, perhaps even winning a medal for Great Britain one day.”
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As well as the prize-money the leading owner of the league will also receive a bronze trophy.
BE’s chief executive Mike Etherington-Smith added: “This is yet another innovative new development that BE has been able to introduce, in response to feedback from our members.
“I feel sure that it will attract considerable support from riders with up and coming horses, as well as giving their owners the recognition they deserve.”
Last year BE launched the Britannia League, which rewards the top three highest-ranking horse and British rider combinations that have not competed under the British flag at senior championship level. Jodie Amos was the inaugural winner at the end of the 2014 season.
For more information visit: www.britisheventing.com/fixtures
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.