Darragh Kenny is currently ranked ninth in the world in show jumping. \ Sportfot
Last week saw the publication of the latest Longines FEI World Rankings in which Irish show jumpers were strongly represented in the top 100.
This feat comes after Irish competitors enjoyed an excellent run of forms over the last three months at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida. Twelve Irish show jumpers are now ranked in the top 100.
Under the new COVID-19 rankings policy, which came into effect 12 months ago, the results counted are from the period of 1 March 2019 to 31 March 2021.
After first entering the top 10 in November 2019, Darragh Kenny has managed to stay there since and is still the highest-ranked Irish rider, in ninth place, sitting just behind Britain’s Scott Brash, who has spent the first four months of the year competing in Europe and Qatar.
Horse & Hound
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We reckon the horses of Badminton champion Piggy March are in eventer heaven do you agree?
The rider, who was also the 2017 and 2019 Burghley runner-up, is based in Northamptonshire, at a purpose-build yard belonging to Belinda and David Keir. Set in 24 acres of breathtaking countryside, the former working cattle farm was redeveloped in 2013 and now ticks the criteria on any eventer’s dream wish list.
The yard is approached up a grass-lined drive, with turnout paddocks each side
This 24-stable American barn is the hub of the yard, complete with wash boxes, a solarium, large tack room and feed room, plus a separate six box quarantine block
Horse & Hound
Trending: Credit: Peter Nixon
Piggy March has been crowned British Eventing’s (BE) top rider for a second year running – as her ride Brookfield Inocent took the top horse title.
Piggy scored 808 BE points during the 2020 season, while Izzy Taylor was second on 574 and Tom McEwen third on 518.
This season Piggy has enjoyed 27 wins and a further 46 top-10 placings. Her achievements included winning the BE six-year-old championship at Osberton on Cooley Goodwood, the CCI4 -S at Little Downham International on Brookfield Quality and the CCI3 -S at Wellington International on Dargun.
The 11-year-old gelding Brookfield Inocent, owned by Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry, clinched the 2020 BE top horse title on 286 points. London 52, the Pau-winning ride of Laura Collett, was second on 253 points, while Alexander Bragg’s ride Zagreb was third on 205.