Top Rider

After a phenomenal year, Piggy French catapulted herself into the top spot as BE’s Top Rider of 2019. With a total of 1,768 BE points Piggy takes home the prestigious Tony Collins Award.

Out of over 160 starts this season, Piggy secured 38 wins with a further 74 top ten placings. Fifteen of those wins were secured at International level, including taking the coveted Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*-L title on Trevor Dickens’ Vanir Kamira, a CCI4* win at Blenheim Palace Horse Trials riding Brookfield Inocent owned by Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Parry, and another CCI4* win at Hartpury International aboard Jayne McGivern’s Quarrycrest Echo. Commenting on her success Piggy said "I am absolutely delighted to be the BE Top Rider for 2019. It has been an incredible year and I am very proud of everything my team have achieved. I must thank all my horses, my staff at home and all my owners, sponsors and supporters for helping me make it a reality". 

Less than 100 points behind, Oliver Townend finished the season on a total of 1,666 points to take second place in the BE Top Riders League. Oliver’s 25 wins out of 175 starts, including four of those at International level, along with his ninth place at the 2019 FEI European Eventing Championships, aboard Angela Hislop’s Cooley Master Class, helped him cinch second place in the top rider league.

Tom McEwen took third place in the league with 1,339 points, with highlights of his season including winning his first CCI5* riding Alison McEwen, Fred and Penny Barker and Jane Inn’s Toledo De Kerser at Pau and a second place at Luhmuhlen CCI5* with Barbara Cooper’s Figaro Van Het Broekxhof.

Full league results

Top Horse

With 423 points apiece Ballaghmor Class and Zagreb share the top spot in the 2019 BE Top Horses league.

Mr and Mrs Ellicott’s Zagreb, ridden throughout his career by Alexander Bragg, took the joint top spot through impressive performances at several 3* and 4* events, along with a third place at Luhmuhlen 5* in Germany and a fourth place at Pau 5* in France. Alexander said about the win; “Zagreb has been an instrumental figure in launching and developing my career in eventing. Through thick and thin, Zagreb has remained solid and reliable in his performances. We all love his enthusiasm and joy for the sport – what a horse!”. Mr and Mrs Ellicott, Zagreb's owners, commented; "We are surprised and delighted and thank our exceptional rider Alex Bragg!"

Ballaghmor Class, owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan and ridden by Oliver Townend, had an incredibly strong season, placing in the top three at every event he completed including taking second place at Badminton Horse Trials and third place at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Oliver commented; “Ballaghmor Class is one of the all-time greatest horses that I have ever had the pleasure of riding, he has been so consistent and has already achieved more than most horses would ever do in a lifetime ten times over.  We put in place very long term programmes for Thomas, to help him develop his talent mentally and physically which will continue as there is so much more to come, because he deserves many more top results to his name that I will do my utmost to help him accomplish. It is also due to the support of the owners, sponsors and team as well as UK Sport for their great support that have enabled us to get these results thus far. I would like to also congratulate Alex and his family and Zagreb's owners, as these are massive accomplishments in any horse's career, showing great consistency at top level”

Ballaghmor Class’ owners, Karyn, Angela and Val, said; “As the lucky owners of Ballaghmor Class, we are delighted and privileged to own a horse such as Thomas – it's what you dream of when you become an eventing owner and we have had too many highs to mention. Anything Oliver and Thomas do in the future is a purely just a bonus”

Vanir Kamira, ridden by Piggy French and owned by Trevor Dickens, takes third place in the BE Top Horse league 2019 on 368 points. The 14-year-old mare started off the season on fantastic form, taking the coveted title at Badminton Horse Trials, and finished the season with second place at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Full league results

The Goldman Cup

Heidi Coy has gone from strength to strength in recent years and has concluded a fantastic season in 2019 by taking the prestigious title of leading Under 21 Rider in the BE leagues, taking home the Goldman Cup with 410 points. Two strong finishes at Le Lion D’Angers on both her own Halenza and David Ottewell’s Russal Z, and a bronze medal at the Young Rider European Championship in Maarsbergen aboard her own Royal Fury helped catapult Heidi into the lead in the Under 21 league for 2019.

Talking about her win, Heidi said; “I'm thrilled to have won the BE Top U21 Riders league as this tops off a fabulous season I've had this year! I couldn't be more proud of all my horses, especially the ones I've had from four year olds, that were not necessarily the most talented but have a great work ethic and with my amazing home team and coaches they have all shone and helped me achieve this award. It has been an honour to ride such genuine horses for a sport I love!”

In second place, only five points behind Heidi, Bubby Upton finished 2019 with 405 points after an excellent season. With 27 top ten placings and 16 of those being top three, Bubby secured some fantastic results this year with highlights including a silver medal at the Young Rider European Championship in Maarsbergen riding Rachel Upton’s Cola III, and another win aboard Cola III at Belton Park International in the CCI3*-S.

Felicity Collins rounds off the top three in the Under 21 Riders league with 321 points, thanks to strong performances throughout the season and a third place at Cappoquin CCI4*-L riding her own Just Amazing III.

Full league results

Britannia 4* League

With a total of 152 BE Points collected at four star events and FEI Nations Cup series, Mollie Summerland and Charly Van Ter Heiden take the title this year in the Britannia 4* league. The Leicestershire based rider has enjoyed a successful year on her own Charly Van Ter Heiden, with six top ten finishes British 4* events and FEI Nations Cup classes. Ninth place in the CCI4*-L Nations Cup leg in Boekelo gave the pair the boost they needed to claim the top spot.

Mollie commented on her win; “To have won the 4* league is such a privilege and comes as a big shock! Charly is the most wonderful horse to ride and I feel so lucky to have a horse like him. I am beyond grateful for the fantastic team I have behind me and very much looking forward to the 2020 season with an exciting string of young horses”

As part of her prize, Mollie will receive a BE Membership for 2020, a season ticket for Charly Van Ter Heiden, and will be presented with a beautiful bronze courtesy of Nigella Hall.

Richard Coney and Wendy Coney’s Kananaskis cinch the runner up spot with a total of 138 points, after strong placings at Bramham International, Boekelo Nations Cup and Saracen Horse Feeds Houghton International. Emilie Chandler and Maria Doel’s Gortfadda Diamond complete the top three in the Britannia 4* league for 2019 on 136 points, only two points behind Richard, after a win in the CCI4*-L at Land Rover Blair Castle International won the pair 110 points.

Developed by longstanding BE supporter and owner Nigella Hall, the league is open to British riders who have not started for GB at a senior European or World Championships, or an Olympic Games. It takes BE points awarded at British 4* classes and any FEI Nations Cup classes, providing up-and-coming British riders with an exciting target each year.

Full league results

3* League

Two combinations have cinched the top spot in the 2019 3* league, with Piggy French riding Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry’s Brookfield Quality and Kitty King on Camilla and Alex Wakeley’s Cristal Fountaine, both amassing 62 points at 3* events this season. Three wins at 3* level gave Piggy and Brookfield Quality the points they needed, and Kitty gained hers with top three finishes at four of the five 3* events they attended this season.

Kitty commented on her win; “I’m absolutely delighted for Cristal Fontaine and his owners Alex and Camilla Wakeley to have jointly won the 3* league with Piggy. Cristal Fontaine has had a fantastic season and this rounds the year up for him wonderfully, it’s like the icing on the cake!”

Piggy said “Brookfield Quality has had a really super year for his owners John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn and it’s great for that to be recognised in the BE 3* League. After wins at Hartpury, Barbury, Rockingham and Chatsworth in 2019 he'll step up to Advanced/4* level next year and we are excited to see what he is capable of."

Piggy dominated the 3* league this season, also finishing in third place with Highdown March, owned by John and Judith Addicott and the March Stud, on 52 points after three top five placings in 3* events this season. 

Full league results