It’s Barbury week: Jonelle Price back at third place in world eventing rankings : five Brits in top twenty
Jonelle Price With the Barbury International Horse Trials starting later this week, there is special interest in the International Equestrian Federation's new set of worldwide rankings for eventing riders. This list covers the twelve months up to June 30 - and Mildenhall's New Zealand rider Jonelle Price is back as number three in the world.
She had been at three last year, but dropped to fifth in the FEI's previous list. In June she came a tantalising second in the Luhmuhlen four star on Fairie Dianimo
Jonelle's husband Tim has dipped in the rankings from nine to sixteenth place - and that despite his brilliant performance coming a close second on Wesko at this spring's prestigious Rolex Kentucky competition.
The Prices are great fans of the Barbury International Horse Trials - not least because they are based so close by. And they have put their names to Barbury's fundraising for the Prospect Hospice.
The top two places in the new rankings see Germany's Michael Jung and Britain's William Fox-Pitt change places with Jung now top of the list.
Lockeridge-based New Zealander Andrew Nicholson is at five - down one rung. And another locally-based New Zealander, Sir Mark Todd is back in the top twenty at 17 - up from 42nd position.
There are now five British eventers in the FEI's top twenty - with two of them joining William Fox-Pitt in the top ten. Oliver Townend is at eighth - from seventh. Nicola Wilson stays at tenth place - with a good performance at Kentucky behind her.
Pippa Funnell has come back into the top twenty with a startling jump to fifteenth position from 31st. And Gemma Tattersall is at 19 - up from 21.
Many of these big eventing names will be competing at this week's Barbury International Horse Trials.