Who were the leading event horses and riders in Britain this year?
Oliver Townend has headed British Eventing’s (BE) top 100 list for the second year in a row.
The 32-year-old gained 2,086 BE points, over 500 more than he earned when he led the rankings in 2014.
Andrew Nicholson — who topped the list every year from 2010 to 2013 — takes second place with 1,262 points, despite his season ending early after he took a serious fall at Gatcombe’s Festival of British Eventing in August.
Another Kiwi, Tim Price, has claimed his highest place yet in the list, sitting third on 1,200 points. He is the first person other than Oliver Townend, Andrew Nicholson and William Fox-Pitt to appear in the top three since 2006, when Andrew Hoy was second to William Fox-Pitt.
William Fox-Pitt is fifth this year (1,100 points), with Australia’s British open champion Christopher Burton fourth on 1,149 points.
As last year, Nicola Wilson is the leading female rider — this year she is sixth on 1,034 points.
Mark Todd, Izzy Taylor, Pippa Funnell and Paul Tapner make up the top 10.
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Emily King is the leading under-21 rider on the list in 16th place overall. Young rider individual silver medallist Sophie Beaty is second under-21 in 61st and Bramham under-25 winner Holly Woodhead is third from 72nd position overall.
Wesko is leading horse
Tim Price’s ride Wesko, owned by Christina Knudsen and the Wesko Syndicate, has finished first in the horse rankings
The son of Karandasj is 63 points ahead of Leonidas II, who belongs to Diane Brunsden and Peter Cattell and is ridden by New Zealand’s Mark Todd. Another of Mark Todd’s rides, Peter Vela’s NZB Campino, is third equal, sharing the position with Frenchman Astier Nicolas’ Pau winner Piaf De Bneville.
With Classic Moet — ridden by Tim’s wife Jonelle, another Kiwi — fifth, the top British-ridden horses share sixth place. They are Jane del Missier’s Brookleigh, recently fourth at Pau under Emily King, and European team silver medallist Persimmon, owned by Frank and Jane Inns and ridden by Kitty King.
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.