Harry Meade and Grafennacht at Kentucky. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
British Eventer Harry Meade has risen to the pinnacle of the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings, overtaking American athlete Boyd Martin, whose brief stint at the top lasted just a month. Meade’s climb marks a significant milestone, as he claims the number one position in the world for the first time in his career.
The 41-year-old has climbed two places in the latest rankings update, leapfrogging both Martin and fellow countryman Tom McEwen thanks to a string of stellar performances on both sides of the Atlantic.
“It’s a great honour to be world number one, and a real milestone,” Meade said. “It’s particularly rewarding for the wider team behind me – they are so invested, and their hard work and support has led to this. I’m proud of all of them. I think my eleven-year-old son is most excited about it though – he’s been following the rankings over the past year and was the first to call it!”
Meade’s ascent has been fueled by a series of solid results at several of the sport’s most prestigious eventing competitions. In April, he delivered a standout performance at the CCI5* in Lexington, finishing third with Et Hop du Matz and fourth with Grafennacht.
Returning to home soil for the iconic Badminton Horse Trials in May, Meade continued his strong form, placing fourth with Cavalier Crystal and sixth with Superstition. Last year at the CCI5* in Burghley, he finished third and fourth with Cavalier Crystal and Annaghmore Valoner respectively, showing his consistency at top level competitions.
Asked about the key to his recent success, Meade pointed to his long-term philosophy. “It’s about producing horses in a “softly-softly” way and making sure they enjoy their job. My focus is always on each horse’s development, both mentally and physically, with their longevity in mind. I’m always learning, and the key to ongoing success is being able to do it with all kinds of horses.”
He was also quick to credit those behind the scenes: “Our owners and sponsors have fully bought into our way of doing things. They have faith that it works and are in it for the long term. My aim is to do them justice.”
Having grown up immersed in the sport, Meade reflected on the journey with humility and pride. “I’ve followed Eventing since before I could walk – it’s the sport I love. There are still mountains in front of me that I want to climb, but for a brief moment in a life where you rarely stand still, we’ll take a moment to pause, look back, and feel some pride in what everyone has achieved.”
Right behind Meade (588 points), compatriot Tom McEwen remains in second position on 577 points, followed by Rosalind Canter (GBR – 560 points), who is now third after climbing two spots. New Zealand’s Tim Price is fourth with 549 points while former number one Boyd Martin (USA) sits in fifth on 543 points.
You can check the full FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings here.
