Melissa Joannides and Silken Creme at Firle International
With the 2018 UK eventing season having drawn to a close, the winners of this year's British Eventing Leagues have been announced and it isn’t just the top professionals such as the 2018 British Eventing Leading Rider, Oliver Townend who are celebrated
BE Foundation Points are won at BE90, BE100 and BE105 level and this year’s top rider is Melissa Joannides while Alison Walton’s homebred gelding Midnight Blues, takes top honours in the Foundation Points League for Horses
“I am absolutely thrilled to have topped the BE Foundation Points leader board for 2018” says Melissa, who has had a busy season “All credit to my horses who have put in outstanding performances this year. We started the season with a win at the very first event and ended it last weekend with a win - it was a sign of a good year!”
“My team and I have worked endlessly hard, so it’s great to have that recognised in the form of the results. I have to say a huge thank you to all my owners for the ride on all of their super horses.”
Melissa ran away with the Foundation Point League on a huge total of 516 Foundation Points (FP). Second place goes to John-Paul Sheffield on 349 FP with Italy’s Vittoria Panizzon taking third on 282 FP.
Watch Melissa and Craan Bob win the BE90 Open at Chilham Castle (1)
In the Foundation Points League for Horses, Alison Walton’s six year old Midnight Blues, won on a total of 159FP. Ridden by John-Paul Sheffield, the gelding by Mighty Magic finished ahead of Caroline Bridge’s eight year old gelding Eldyno in second place on 146 FP, and Ashford Cleave Little Man – ridden by Melissa Joannides - ended the season in third place for owner Suzannah Priest after amassing 124 Foundation Points.
“I am highly delighted that my homebred Midnight Blues has topped the leader board” says proud owner and breeder Alison “ And I must thank JP Sheffield for the patient professional way he produces my young horses – a very happy owner and horse.”
Here's JP and Midnight Blues on their way to winning the BE100 Section E at Keysoe (2)
