Great Britain’s student riders are on top of the world after taking the World Number 1 ranking for show jumping.
In the Student Riding Nations Cups rankings, announced on 1 January, the British squad was in first place for show jumping and in second for both dressage and combined rankings (covering both disciplines).
Hannah Westropp, equestrian chairman for the British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS), said: “After a clean sweep of wins over the four Student Riding Nations Cups across the World in 2008, the British squad had gained an unassailable lead before the World Finals in Luxembourg, in December 2008, where once again they were the lead nation.
“In addition to this the squad ranked as World Number 2 for both dressage and combined rankings in a close contest with Germany for the second year in a row.
“Squad members hope to go one better in 2009, starting their campaign at the Belgian Nations Cup in March.”
At the World finals, the team of Bea Meitiner (of Aberystwyth University), Fiona Davidson (Hartpury College) and Rebecca Stephen (Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen) made the podium in all three team ranking events, including winning team gold in the dressage.
Meitiner capped a successful year with individual overall bronze.
Student Riding Nations Cups (SRNC’s) are competitions on borrowed horses for higher education students that combine dressage and show jumping.
For more information visit www.britishuniversityequestriansport.co.uk
