Oliver Townend Is New Number One in the FEI World Eventing Rankings
Oliver Townend became eventing’s new world number one, taking over top spot from long-time leader Michael Jung of Germany. Jung, the reigning Olympic champion at the time, had held the position since the middle of 2015 before being displaced by the British rider in the latest FEI World Eventing Rankings.
The result that took him to the top
Townend, then 35, moved to number one following victory at the Lexington (USA) CCI4* the previous weekend. He had briefly topped the rankings once before, in 2009 — a standout year in which he won the Badminton and Burghley four-star titles.
On the eve of Badminton
The ranking change came immediately before that year’s Badminton Horse Trials, where a Townend win would have seen him emulate Jung and Pippa Funnell in completing the Rolex Grand Slam — consecutive victories at Burghley, Kentucky and Badminton.
“It’s very good. I like the sound of that,” Townend said following the release of the rankings. “It has been a while. I only had a fleeting spell as number one once upon a time, and especially to knock someone off who has been there for so long is very, very good.”
How the top of the rankings looked
- 1. Oliver Townend (GBR)
- 2. Michael Jung (GER) — one ranking point behind
- 3. Tim Price (NZL)
- 4. Gemma Tattersall (GBR)
- 5. Ros Canter (GBR)
With three British riders inside the top five, the rankings reflected the strength in depth of GB eventing during the period.