Townend ends year with the No 1 ranking

Townend has amassed 1,556 points during the 2014 season, helped by his runners-up finish at the Badminton Horse Trials CCI four-star and eighth-place finish at Burghley’s CCI four-star.

The 31-year-old was also fourth in the CCI four-star event at Luhmuhlen, which resulted in his selection for the Senior British World Equestrian Games squad.

Townend won nine international and 24 national classes this year and he has now been in the top three of the British Eventing points rankings every year since 2004.

The former Salendine Nook High School pupil also wins the Tony Collings Award for being the best British rider and Townend is optimistic that the only way is up.

“It’s been a good year, and a bonus to finish at the top of the table again,” said Townend. “Thanks to my great group of loyal owners, who are friends as much as owners, I have an exciting team of horses who have really stepped up to the plate. There’s a lot of work to do over the winter, but I have plenty to be excited about thinking ahead to next season.”

Another British rider, William Fox-Pitt, has retained his second place from last year, with a points total of 1,272.

Last year’s leader, New Zealand ace Andrew Nicholson, has dropped to third place on 1,246.

Plans for the 2015 Equi-Trek Bramham Horse Trials have been boosted with a three-year sponsorship agreement with long-term supporters of the Under-25 CCI three-star, Bishop Burton College.

Next year’s Bramham takes place from June 11-14 and the Under-25 section has hosted some worthy winners since its 1997 inception, including Piggy French, Zara Phillips and Lucy Wiegersma.