Aussie riders well positioned in latest FEI rankings

The latest FEI rankings are out with Andrew Hoy (Eventing), Scott Keach (Jumping) and Emma Booth (Para-Equestrian) posting strong recent performances to significantly escalate them up the FEI ranking ladders in their respective disciplines.

Rankings are not necessarily an indication of who may be in the run for Rio, however many riders with consistent performances are setting their sights and campaigning for nomination.

Who are the top ranked Australian riders in each discipline?

Eventing

Australia has four riders in the top 30 of the FEI Eventing Rankings. 

Chris Burton (2^nd) and Shane Rose (5^th) have maintained their top five positions while Andrew Hoy’s recent strong performances have seen him rise from 37^th to 11^th position. Paul Tapner sits in 30^th position. 

Burton has had consistent performances during 2015 with a variety of horses over 18 events. Solid performances at Waregem CIC2* (1^st Santano II), Blenheim CCI3* (2^nd Nobilis), Burghley CCI4* (3^rd TS Jamaimo & 4^th Haruzac) Gatcombe Park CIC3* (1^st TS Jamaimo), Cappoquin CIC3* (1^st Nobilis), to name a few have kept him at the top of the game at second position in the rankings.

Australian based Rose rocketed up the rankings at the end of 2015 from 25^th to 5^th place. Top performances saw him finish first and second at Adelaide CCI4* (CP Qualified and Virgil). Competing in the Oceania region in 2015, Shane showed his strengths consistently finishing in the top fold of placings including first and fourth at Goulburn CIC3*(CP Qualified and Virgil), first and second at Canberra CIC3* (Virgil and Another Biscuit), winning the CCI3* in Taupo NZ (CP Qualified) and again at Camden CIC3* (Virgil). Shane continues his campaign to Rio within Australia.

Andrew Hoy’s February 2016 win with Cheeky Calimbo, at Montelibretti CCI3*, along with placing 2^nd (Rutherglen) and 5^th (Algebra) at the same event gave significant weighting to his ranking points and he jumped from 37^th to 11^th position. Andrew intends to campaign to Rio.

UK based Paul Tapner over the past year has frequently finished in the top 10 at a variety of events with his string of horses including Waregem CICO3*-NC (Bonza King of Rouges), Wellington, Turgis CIC3* (Up in the Air), Gatcombe Park CIC3* (Vanir Kamira), Barbury Castle CIC3* (Indian Mill), Ratoath, Tattersalls CIC3* (Yogi Bear & Prince Mayo, Chatsworth CIC3* (Prince Mayo) landing him at 30^th in the rankings.

View the Rio 2016 nomination criteria for Eventing  

Jumping

Ranking in the top 30 for near on a decade, Edwina Tops-Alexander currently sits 20^th on the Longines FEI ranking list. Tops-Alexander Competes week-in-week-out predominantly at CSI5* competitions where often two ranking classes are on offer.

Competing against the world’s best riders is arduous, where horsepower and skill level has to be there to gain and maintain ranking. Edwina has a team of quality horses to draw from for the ranking classes above 1.45m.

USA based rider Scott Keach is the most pronounced climber of the Australians this month, rising from position 332 to 240.  This is attributed to a great win with a good performance with Fedor at the Nations Cup weekend in Ocala including the fantastic win in the Grand Prix. Numerous placings with his up and coming Grand Prix horse Viriato in ranking classes in Wellington and Ocala over the past month has added positive ranking credence.

James Paterson-Robinson (ranked #322) has begun his climb again after changing stables and his team of horses over the past 6 months. The London Olympian is now based in Putten,The Netherlands.  Climbing from his prior position of 389, Paterson-Robinson is sure to add to his rankings over the next period as he has been competing over the last month in Mijas, Spain with some good results in ranking classes.

View the Rio 2016 nomination criteria for Jumping

Dressage

Lyndal Oatley has increased her positioning on the FEI World Individual Dressage Rankings, inching ahead with each month. Her main partner Sandro Boy 9 started the 2015 season in Hagen, Germany CDI4*. Scores at CDI-W events held at Kaposvár, Stockholm and Neumunster during the indoor season has realised scores not less than 70% and placings not lower than 12^th, clocking up much deserved ranking points. Lyndal has been given a wild card entry to the FEI World Cup Final in Sweden this month.  

Victorian Mary Hanna sits in 85^th position. Mary’s Grand Prix horse team consists of Umbro and Boogie Woogie 6. Returning from the European circuit towards the end of 2014, Hanna competed within Australia during 2015, with strong performances over 26 classes at eight events. Mary will compete at the FEI World Cup Final having won the Pacific League World Cup Final in December 2015.

Wins in the GP Freestyle, Grand Prix and Intermediate I competitions in 2015 has meant consistent ranking points for Brett Parbery with both DP Weltmieser and Larenso.  Brett who resides in NSW competed in the same top listed CDI3* and CDI-W classes as Mary Hanna. The GP Freestyle win with DP Weltmieser at Boneo in February 2016 along with other results added to his ranking tally to maintain position 98. Other riders vying for Rio team selection include fellow Australian based riders Maree Tomkinson and Sue Hearn as well as Kelly Layne who is campaigning out of the US.  

View the Rio 2016 nomination criteria for Dressage

Para-Equestrian

Limited ranking classes are available within Australia so rankings don’t provide a true reflection of where the athletes sit in the world.  Campaigns to Championships require strategic planning well in advance.

Riders aiming for Rio are required to obtain an eligibility score of 60%+ at a CPEDI that will certify that the athlete/horse combination has the required skills and experience to compete in the Paralympic Games. The one eligibility score that is required in the process of nominated entries needs to be obtained by the athlete/horse combination and others can be gained on borrowed horses. 

As only one qualifying CPEDI is held in Australia (Boneo Park) athletes who do not participate at Boneo and gain the required 60% would need to travel to Europe with their horse to gain this score elsewhere.

The EA nomination policy requires athletes in each of the 5 different grades aim towards a target score in that grade and the combinations whose average score from two of the three selection events is closest to the target in their grade will be selected onto the team, whilst still meeting the FEI requirements for the makeup of the team (i.e. maximum of two athletes in any one grade, plus at least one combination from either grade 1 or 2). Currently the target scores for each grade are well above 70%.

Athletes campaigning in Australia include:

Coming in at 116 on the FEI World Individual Para-Dressage Ranking List is Emma Booth from Victoria.  The 24 year old, with her newly acquired horse Mogelvangs Zidane, recently scored 79% for her Freestyle and 75.334% in the Individual Championship at the CPEDI3* at Boneo Park.  These results shot the Grade 2 rider up from the previous position of 215 and served as an FEI Eligibility Score for Rio.

Lisa Martin whose 73%+ scores in both the Grade 4 Team and Individual Championship tests put her well in the mix. Martin is also new to Para-Equestrian and will need a similar level of performance at the final qualification event at the Sydney CDI in April.

Other athletes who scored 70%+ at the Boneo Park event include Sharon Jarvis (dual bronze medallist from Kentucky) and London Grade 1b gold medallist Joann Formosa.  NSW based rider Katie Umback also hit 70%+ and has elected to complete the final stages of her campaign in Europe.  Six other Para-Equestrian athletes are also currently planning to campaign in Europe.  

View the Rio 2016 nomination criteria for Para-Equestrian

Driving

Boyd Exell is the number 1 athlete on the FEI Driving Ranking list.  Based in the UK for many years Boyd moved to The Netherlands in 2014, residing in Valkenswaard, which is also the training base of leading Jumping rider Edwina Tops-Alexander.

He dominates the sport of Driving and won every qualifying round of the FEI World Cup circuit this season and finished second at the Bordeaux Final. Boyd has been the winner of the FEI World Cup Driving series in 2008/2009, 2010/2011, 2011/2012, 2013/2014, 2015/2016 and was named FEI Reem Acra Athlete of the Year in 2015.

Although Driving is not a discipline of the Olympics Games we continue to follow Boyd’s fantastic performances as one of our leading athletes.